The winch works very well.
The PTO drives a motorcycle chain link to the winch drive.
This has worked perfectly (I can't take credit... previous owner set it up).
Cable is about 100' of 5/8 cable. I actually think the cable could be 3/8 thick and still do all I need.
It only drives in the wind-up direction.
If the load won't move, it will drag the crawler back to the load with engine just idling... brakes locked and all. Very strong. I straightened out a cast-iron end-hook with it once.
The drive clutch is a castellated coupling. The weakness here is I can't disengage the drive clutch if the winch is under serious load, the friction of the clutch under load is too strong. I've had the cable taut as a piano string before... scary. No amount of grease will slip it! I just have to remember to maintain back-up room behind the crawler so I can put slack in the cable if needed. (I have got into trouble by neglecting this before. Now I use end-hooks with a cottered pin to connect to the cable leader. I can always smack the pin out to release the cable.)
The winch barrel is open, so you gotta be aware and stay safe around it. I don't even want to think about getting my A** pulled in there.
I use the winch to skid logs for firewood and to yank thankless neighbors out of the ditch. My buddy has a plow truck he can't keep on the road... If I had a dollar for every time....
Emmett
