Chainsaw winch?

[Kapow]

Just wondering if anyone on here has used one? How does it compare to an electric winch ( 4000lb). Want to pack in my jetboat since the chainsaw is already in there. Will it work ok with a Stihl 290? And would it pull my Sidekick out of the mud, if needed? Any info appreciated. Thanks

[bcsteve]

I bought a Lewis Winch two years ago and got to use it for the first time last year. Pulled my bull moose across the pond wthout any problems. It's rated for 4000lbs single line and 8000lbs double line with a block. Comes with 150' of cable. To get the max pulling rating you need a chainsaws big enough but any saw will work. I can't remember the size you need to get the max. I had mine mounted on my Husky 365 Spl and it never bogged down wile pulling that moose. To show you how powerful it is, I had the cable around the antlers and when the bull got to the shore the antlers dug in the mud and before I noticed it, the antlers pulled right out with pieces of skull attached.

I found it much faster than an electric winch and it would have no problem pulling your Sidekick out of the mud.

[Citori54]

We have a Lewis winch with a 2100 Husky saw. Lots of pulling power. Used a smaller one years ago with a 266 husky....worked OK but really didn't have enough power. Agree with bcsteve it will pull your Sidekick out of the mud.

[ultramafic]

I was present for the above said moose coming out of the swamp... I would say the lewis winch is about 3 times faster maybe more than an electric truck winch... it was pretty skookum...

mike

[bcsteve]

I was present for the above said moose coming out of the swamp... I would say the lewis winch is about 3 times faster maybe more than an electric truck winch... it was pretty skookum...

mike

I hope we get to use it again this year!!

[Brno22F]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?102149-blocks-winches-and-hoists

there are a couple threads on chainsaw winches from last year. Lewis is great. I have one on a 2100 Husqvarna power head. Check out the portable winch (just google it) as well. Lewis is a fixed drum configuration. Portable Winch is a capstan winch with its own Honda engine. There is another capstan style winch that will bolt onto your chainsaw. It is called a Simpson Winch. Again- google it. All have advantages and disadvantages but they ALL pull way better than an electric winch.

[longstonec]

I run one on husky 372, and another on older 61's... with a block. I think they have a shear pin inside so after a certain point using a bigger saw won't help much. Use for pulling logs around, and 16-18 foot fibreglass boats out of the water onto logs. Works great!

[klondikemike]

I have a lewis winch with a stihl 044 on it. We use it to load 2 or 3 cord trailer loads of tamarack firewood all winter and it works awssome. One thing i would suggest is to cut down on the 150 feet of wire rope to about 100 as it gets wound up to high on the spool. I made some attachments so i could connect it to the trailer hitch sort of like the one sold for hitch receiver. I modified the loop under it to a swivel pin instead so there was more control so i could watch the load coming in and not have to worry about how it was spooling in. I also bought some amsteel blue winch rope for safety reasons because the winch can really pull. I have a machine shop so I get to have lots of fun designing attachments and testing them. The whole unit seems heavy till you try lifting the the electric equivilent.

[tyreguy]

Simpson winch all the way. Winch attaches to your chainsaw and weighs 10lbs. 300ft of low stretch rope weighs much less than a winch/cable set up. I have a jet boat and this is what myself and friends use when moose hunting as its powerful enough and lightweight, and a snatch block will increase you pulling if you want. When you see one work you'll agree they're the cats a$$.

[Brno22F]

I have a lewis winch with a stihl 044 on it. I modified the loop under it to a swivel pin instead so there was more control so i could watch the load coming in and not have to worry about how it was spooling in. I also bought some amsteel blue winch rope for safety reasons because the winch can really pull. I have a machine shop so I get to have lots of fun designing attachments and testing them.

Not to hi-jack this thread but I am interested in the swivel pin set up you mentioned above. Please PM me with details or pics.

[bcsteve]

I have a lewis winch with a stihl 044 on it. We use it to load 2 or 3 cord trailer loads of tamarack firewood all winter and it works awssome. One thing i would suggest is to cut down on the 150 feet of wire rope to about 100 as it gets wound up to high on the spool. I made some attachments so i could connect it to the trailer hitch sort of like the one sold for hitch receiver. I modified the loop under it to a swivel pin instead so there was more control so i could watch the load coming in and not have to worry about how it was spooling in. I also bought some amsteel blue winch rope for safety reasons because the winch can really pull. I have a machine shop so I get to have lots of fun designing attachments and testing them. The whole unit seems heavy till you try lifting the the electric equivilent.

How's the Amsteel working for you? I thought of doing the same thing but after asking Lewis they said they didn't recomended it and it would void the warranty. And yes, show us some of the mods and accessories you've made.

[Brad talkkari]

A buddy of mine has the Lewis winch. Pulled a 04 F350 up onto our goose neck the other day. Awesome winch!

[klondikemike]

I dont use the amsteel directly on the winch but to extend the reach of the cable. It has no stretch so it doesnt come back at you like a regular rope. I dont know how to post pics yet so when the brother comes out here ill get him to post some. I think the lewis winch is made in BC. I cant see how it would void the waranty if anything it has to be easier on the drum and guide bar than that shitty steel cable that always sticks barbs right through the gloves.

[bcsteve]

I dont use the amsteel directly on the winch but to extend the reach of the cable. It has no stretch so it doesnt come back at you like a regular rope. I dont know how to post pics yet so when the brother comes out here ill get him to post some. I think the lewis winch is made in BC. I cant see how it would void the waranty if anything it has to be easier on the drum and guide bar than that shitty steel cable that always sticks barbs right through the gloves.
Yeah, they are made in New Westminster, that's where I picked up mine. They told me it would void the warranty. I'm not sure if that's their concern but I know some winch company will tell you not to use Amsteel type rope on certain models because the rope winds tighter on the drum than steel cable and can actually crush or bust the sides of the drum.

[nap]

How's the Amsteel working for you? I thought of doing the same thing but after asking Lewis they said they didn't recomended it and it would void the warranty. And yes, show us some of the mods and accessories you've made.
Mike asked me to post a few pictures for him, sorry for taking so long. He can fill you about what he made up. Sorry Mike I could only load up five, I will post the other 2 on a later date.

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p488/nap-lou/DSCF2914_zpskk64xfna.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nap-lou/media/DSCF2914_zpskk64xfna.jpg.html)

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p488/nap-lou/DSCF2915_zps99iewb2j.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nap-lou/media/DSCF2915_zps99iewb2j.jpg.html)

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p488/nap-lou/DSCF2916_zpsi10mcdkl.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nap-lou/media/DSCF2916_zpsi10mcdkl.jpg.html)

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p488/nap-lou/DSCF2917_zpsuncgjikk.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nap-lou/media/DSCF2917_zpsuncgjikk.jpg.html)

http://i1152.photobucket.com/albums/p488/nap-lou/DSCF2919_zpsgbawkmfr.jpg (http://s1152.photobucket.com/user/nap-lou/media/DSCF2919_zpsgbawkmfr.jpg.html)

[bcsteve]

Thanks for the pictures. How does that contraption work? Anchor the "saw horse" to a tree or a fix point?

[killman]

My work sells porta winches. They work well, light and no smoke.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Exact-Welding-Boats/887614514662970

[klondikemike]

The saw horse thing works pretty good. I have a mount on the front of my trailer that I use with a wood arch to load the trailer. I can remove the legs and insert it into the receiver directly into the truck or chain it to a tree, stump, or anchor point. The legs help to keep the winch from twisting making it easier on the operator when your using it all day. The plastic pad in the front and the pipe thing in the back help keep the chainsaw moving freely side to side so you can keep the cable reeling in nice and even.

[bcsteve]

Cool, thanks.

[okas]

one on the atv and the best place to have one is on the jet boat mounts bow and stern . i had two used one for work and play sold it last year on a hunt and keep the old spare one as the work one was beat for 550.00 :smile:

[klondikemike]

Yah looks like i could have used some paint on that rig and washed the grease and dirt off my hands before letting it be in that pic eh. One time my friend and I were skidding logs out and his 8o year old dad was watching us, at first he thought we were doing everything the hard way but after said it looked easier than climbing up and down the skidder.

[TARCHER]

Not to change the subject but I was way up the Muskwa this fall. If we didn't have this in 6000lb wed still be up there. Pulled a 20ft boat off the gravel 4 times. I was sooooo impressed. https://youtu.be/3_QQNAW9Zdk

[killman]

Not to change the subject but I was way up the Muskwa this fall. If we didn't have this in 6000lb wed still be up there. Pulled a 20ft boat off the gravel 4 times. I was sooooo impressed. https://youtu.be/3_QQNAW9Zdk

We are a dealer at Exact Welding. http://exwelding.ca/