hydraulic winch

[SavageBurro]

Thought I'd share my most recent purchase.

My cousin picked up a 68 bronco recently that came with a hydraulic winch. He doesn't want the winch so I'm buying it from him.

I don't know too much about it yet. Haven't actually put my hands on it.

It's not the more common Koenig Dana 20 pto shaft driven winch and it's not powered by pump directly off engine accessory. It's powered by pto output on side of NP435 trans that runs the hydraulics. (which works best for me)

I already have an electric winch that works great. However, because of it's sheer power, I 'may' swap to the hydraulic winch, if I can get it high n tight, figure out how to fab easy controls in the cab, fab some safety features etc...

That said, I'm more interested in using the pto output for other nifty things like running York compressor tucked up under the driver seat for on-board air; maybe add removable 3 pt arms on rear to run misc pto driven implements (hoist, post hole digger, log skidder, log splitter, blender, mower...). 'Bronco tractor' comes to mind.

Oooh… I could put hydraulic rams on each corner of the axles - to lift rig up when stuck on a rock or to change a tire.

If I don't put the winch on my bronco, I may put it on my ole ford OR... I may offer it up for sale here.

Anyone have any cool ideas for pto driven hydraulic pump? I'm thinking a manifold to run several things?

 

[Broncobowsher]

Once you said "manifold" I knew you don't know how to make hydraulics work. They are plumbed in series, even the big multi lever controls. You only get work out of the system and you choke flow and create backpressure. Look at a power steering system. The control valve and piston are in the steering box (unless you add a ram) but the high pressure hose isn't holding back high pressure until you load the power steering. If you tried to manifold that the flow will just blow through the open system. Or if it were fully closed the pump will burn itself up running full time.

OK, back to the winch. I really like the hydraulic winch on the tow truck. It allows finesse. Something besides on/off. You can throttle it. Just like the bucket on the tractor. Plenty of times you is simply full boogy as fast as it will go, but there are times where you want it just there.

Hydraulics are messy. They will leak. If not now, eventually. Running high pressure hydraulics into the cab, you will never have anything close to clean ever again. Typically what I see is the control valve outside the cab, typically under the hood, and a remote push/pull cable attached to it. Now you do loose a bit of feel, that finesse with the cable. But when you are done fixing the leak you just put the pressure washer to it and call it good, down to a small dribble.

Now for all the crap you want to add, a lot of complex and bulk with no real usefulness. Better off getting the right tool for the job, go get a Kubota. In the end it will cost less, work from the start, work better at every tractor thing you ask it to do.

 

[gnpenning]

I have 2- 1 tons with PTO's. One has a salter/sander, the other runs a dump bed. Can't believe I lived without a dump bed for so long.

Some of the things you mentioned had been used on broncos back in the day.

 

[unimogger]

Hydraulic winch driven by the 435 PTO will be unstoppable. Get some new lines and ask a hydraulic shop about adding 12 volt solenoid valves to operate it so you can use a small switch style remote.
If you are serious about using the hydraulics for other purposes, connect the winch with some tractor or skid steer style quick connects. That way, you could disconnect the winch and connect something else. That would be a much cleaner, cheaper approach than a bank of spool valves for things you'll rarely use.

 

[SavageBurro]

"Once you said "manifold" I knew you don't know how to make hydraulics work."

That is absolutely true... I dont but it could be fun figuring it out / learning. I very much appreciate the info and tips. I have operated many pto driven equipment....including winches and dumpeds... but never really looked at how the hydraulics were setup or as u said....how they work (other than simple service and replacing a few leaky parts).

"Get some new lines and ask a hydraulic shop about adding 12 volt solenoid valves to operate it so you can use a small switch style remote.
If you are serious about using the hydraulics for other purposes, connect the winch with some tractor or skid steer style quick connects. That way, you could disconnect the winch and connect something else. That would be a much cleaner, cheaper approach than a bank of spool valves for things you'll rarely use."

This is perfect. I especially like the idea of being able to mount / remove the hyd winch in rear...using quick connects! I'll talk to local hydraulic shop about 12v solenoid valves n switch style remote!.

Btw.. I do use tractors excavators skidsteers dozers etc around the place when needed... rent em. Haven't convinced the wife yet to lemme spend the cash to buy)
I just really think its fun to also be able to use the bronco as a tool. I would definitely use it to yard some logs (medium sized) or to go rescue/ recover a buddy reeeally stuck somewhere!

Thx guys!