FAQ
Q: Where can I purchase this winch?
A: We have more and more dealers now. Click
here to get to the dealer/distibutor page. We suggest that you
contact them prior to visiting them to make sure they have the winch
stock. You can also contact us directly at info@portablewinch.com.
However, if you know of any good businesses that might be interested,
please, feel free to contact us at info@portablewinch.com to
let us know.
Q: Is it fast to get pieces after purchasing a Portable WinchTM?
A: All the related HondaTM engine parts are available at any HondaTM dealership, generally within 24 hours. The winch parts are available both through our dealers or directly from us. We ship any part orders the same day. Our objective: Only satisfied customers!
Q: Why chose 1/2'' (13 mm) rope instead of 3/8'' (9.5 mm)?
A: Double braided polyester 3/8'' (9.5 mm) rope has a break strength of about 4200 lb (1900 kg). It should be enough in theory to pull the maximum output from the winch (2500 lb (1136 kg)) but let’s consider the following:
1) The knot in the end of the rope will reduce the rope strength by 30% in the best conditions. This leaves the rope without any safety margin (4200 lb – 30% = 2940 lb) or (1900 kg – 30% = 1330 kg).
2) More important is rope stretch. Polyester rope will stretch 12-15% at breakpoint. This means if you are using a 3/8'' rope at maximum winch capacity, you are about at 60% of rope capacity (2500 lb / 4200 lb (1140 kg / 1900 kg)). This means that you will also be stretching about 60% of 15%, 9%. This means that if you have 100 feet (30 m) of rope and are trying to move a 2500 lb (1136 kg) load, you will stretch 9 feet (2.7 m) of rope before the load starts moving. If you have 300 feet (91.5 m), that would be 27 feet (8 m)! So you end up with a great elastic band stretched up with nothing moving. If the winch stalls, you must release this tension, which can lead to dangerous situations. But it also less effective because the energy used to stretch the rope is not applied at the end of the rope for moving the load.
This is why we only recommend using 3/8’’ (9.5 mm) rope for small loads. 1/2'' (13 mm) will also have a much longer useful life because it can withstand more damage and wear before breaking.
Q: Is the double-braided polyester rope durable?
A: As a matter of fact, it’s actually one rope braided on top of another. Which means that the outside core can be damaged without causing and damages to the inside one. The security factor is about tree, so you can use it for a while before it’s not usable anymore. It’s hard to evaluate the lifetime of a rope, but for an occasional usage, we can safely say that it will last a few years.
Q: What is the maximum skidding distance?
A: There is no maximum skidding distance, however, practically, it is better to make short pulls 165’ (50 meters) or less and move the winch. The main reason is that the rope will stretch, and the longer the rope, the more it will stretch. The energy used for stretching the rope is not applied at moving the load.
Our standard rope is a 1/2'' (13 mm) double-braided polyester rope, which will stretch approximately 12% to 15% at break point. Since we use it at approximately a 1/3 of its break point, it will stretch approximately 5% in use.
It is also possible to use ropes made of dyneema fibers with a polyester core for wear and heat. A 3/8'' (9.5 mm) double-braid polyester w/ dyneema core will have approximately the same break point (a bit higher) but less elongation (only appromately 4% at break point). So for longer pulls, it will work better. But is it about twice the price of the DBP polyester rope.
Q: We recently purchased the PCW-5000 for pulling inflatable boats/trailers up onto a Lake Michigan sand beach. The set up works very well and we're quite happy with it. One issue is occurring, however. Both the rope pulley guide and rope pulley are wearing at a very quick rate. I am sure this is due to the sand that sticks to the rope -- causing the rope to act like sandpaper. And actually, even the rope hook is starting to show a slight groove. We're using about 100 feet (30 m) of rope which essentially drags through the sand, giving the rope ample chance to pick up a lot of sand.
I know that you specifically recommend against nylon rope. However, given that we're only pulling, at most, an 800 lb (363 kg) load -- on balloon tires -- might we get by with a nylon rope? Or do you know of a polyester rope that might not "hold sand" very well.
Also, do you offer a hardened rope pulley guide and or rope pulley?
Any ideas/suggestions will be very much appreciated.
A: I understand your situation; sand is very abrasive and difficult to keep out of the rope.
To answer your questions:
1) NYLON ROPE: In terms of strength, there should be no problem, the break point is about the same as Polyester but elongation is greater, which should not be a problem in your case. However, nylon will absorb up to 15% water, while polyester does not; I think a wet rope is more likely to pickup sand than a dry one.
2) ROPE CLEANLINESS: It is difficult to keep ropes clean, but here are a few suggestions:
Keeping the rope off the ground would help a lot; I was just talking to a customer in California who has made a tripod with two folding legs attached with small wire rope, he has hung a small pulley using the front rope pulley and a carabiner, attached at the top of the tripod to keep rope off the ground for most of the pull;
Mountaineering stores sell brushes that can be placed over the rope and will clean it;
Using a pad (piece of fabric or other material) where the rope accumulates during pulls will help to keep it clean;
Washing the rope once in a while doesn't hurt; use a front loading washing machine otherwise it will get tangled by the agitator (unless you use lingerie net).
3) WEAR PARTS:
Rope hook: it will wear but should not be a problem, try to change the pulling angle to wear it evenly.
Rope guide: This is the part that sits over the drum and prevents the rope from going over itself. We now have a new one that is hardened. It should last a lot longer than the old one. It is now available to order and comes with new winches.
Front rope pulley: The brass pulley should be turning under pressure, and is not supposed to wear. Lubricate the shaft with light oil (like 3 in 1 or sewing machine oil) before every use, if it get really dirty, you will have to remove it and clean the shaft.
Capstan drum: You can use the worn drum until the wear is such that the rope may get squeezed between the drum and the rope guide under pressure; this can damage your rope. We have experimented with hardened steel drum, but it is difficult to get the maximum out of the winch because of the lower coefficient of friction of hardened steel vs. aluminum. However, in your application it could work, but it adds a couple of pounds to the unit.
Q: How would I use the winch to get the boat down the slope in a controlled way?
A: Lowering the unit: It can be done using the friction of the drum, with the winch not running. I recommend using the optional large drum (PCA-1100), as its larger diameter provides more friction, so you can use only 2 wraps and control the load efficiently. For added safety, the self-locking pulley (PCA_1272) can be used but it requires that someone pulls on the rope attached to the locking cam to allow going down.
Q: If the 4-stroke were to tip over, is there anything to prevent oil from draining into the cylinder and carburetor? I know it is not likely, but that is the nature of the 4-stroke motor as I understand it.
A: Yes, you're right if the engine is left leaning on the front side oil can flow into carburetor and cylinder. However this is unlikely to happen in operation as it will more likely tilt from side to side because of the weight distribution. Only in transport is it important to prevent forward tilting in case of sudden stop or other event by securing the cargo.
Q: How noisy is the motor?
A: The HondaTM engine is a 4-cycle, so it is a lot less noisy than a chainsaw. We do not have accurate Db rating but it should be in the 90-100 range.
Q: Can you tell me how big the gas tank is and how much time can I expect out of a full tank.
A: The fuel consumption is 340g/kWh, and the engine generates a maximum of 1.8kWh. So a full tank of gas (1.2 liters = 900 g) can power the winch continuously at maximum output for 1-1/2 hour approximately. But in reality, it’s impossible to work at full throttle 100% of the time which means that in reality, it’s approximately 3 hours that you could get. But in practice, we never were able to empty a gas tank in a day working in normal conditions since you will be starting and stopping the engine many times in a day.
Q: Can the winch really pull 15'' (40 cm) x 20' (6 m) logs?
A: Yes, it is possible to pull such logs with the winch. The use of a pulley
will increase the winch power. We invite you to visit our ‘Video
gallery’ to see the winch in action.
Q: Is this equipment prepared to skid logs with a diameter of around 3' 3'' (1 meter)? Is the diameter a restriction? As the weight restriction is around 5000 lb (2272 kg), if we want to skid a log with, let's say, 8000 lb (3635 kg), should we use two winches in parallel? Can we do that or it is not advisable?
A: There is no restriction with diameter; however your logs are really big! The single line pull of the winch is 2500 lb (1136 kg); using a pulley it can pull 5000 lb (2272 kg). Using 2 winches in parallel is a possibility; using double pulleys will work as well but the speed will be reduced.
Q: How can I get 10 000 lb (4544 kg) of power with the winch?
A: If you attach one pulley to the load, a second pulley and the end of the rope at the winch anchor point, you multiply the strength by 4, less the losses due to friction. However, it’s not always practical or safe to have the winch anchored to the same point as the rope end and the pulley. In that case, if you anchor the winch to another anchor point, the strength will be reduced depending of the angle. But it is more practical to have a single and a double pulley than two double pulleys.
Q: I'm at 8400 feet (215 m) elevation. My understanding is that 4-strokes loose power at elevation. Do you happen to know if there would be too much power loss at my elevation?
A: We have a few winches working at higher elevations in Colorado, and we have not received any complaint from the users. However, air density decreases approximately 3% per 1000 feet (305 m) of elevation, thus at 8500 feet (2593 m), the air is approximately 25% less dense than at sea level. This means there is less air entering the carburetor, altering the air/fuel mix ratio. This is equally true for 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines. The only way to retain the horsepower is to increase the amount of air (altering porting and carburetor size). Many shops specialize in this work for snowmobiles that work at high elevation. Running a standard engine (2- or 4-stroke) at high elevation will result in improper combustion and plug fouling. The common remedy is to change the gas jet to a smaller one; and a local HondaTM dealer can probably fit the winch with the proper jet. But there will definitely be a significant loss of power; a portion of the power loss will be offset by the lower weight of objects at high altitude (lower gravitational pull). However, working with 1 or 2 pulleys will compensate the power loss. But again, we had no complaints so far.
Q: My major doubt has got to do with the 5000 lb (2272 kg) figure. If the log stands on the ground and we skid it along the soil, the maximum weight we can drag is the 5000 lb (2272 kg)?
A: The weight can certainly be a problem. The rating for the winch is the force applied to the load, so it should lift approximately 2500 lb (2272 kg) at its peak capacity. If you are dragging, you are pulling the weight of the log plus you must factor in the friction. For example, a skidder will normally be able to pull approximately its own weight in payload, with logs suspended. But the skidder winch normally has more pulling capacity to overcome friction. And if the log comes against a root or a small stump, the winch will not be able to pull it (wire rope and chokers often break).
The same principle will apply to our winch. If you use a pulley to create some lift while pulling, it will move larger pieces; if you shape the log end to reduce friction, it will help too. The length of the log dragging will also affect its winchability.
So it is very difficult for me to say how this would work. One thing I know is that using blocks, you will be able to move them, but not as quickly.
Q: It appears that this winch is rated/designed only for PULLING rather than LIFTING. I am looking for a winch to do tower communications work and would like to know what the issues would be for lifting a person or material.
A: You are right; the Portable Capstan winch is designed for pulling, not for lifting. Although we have many customers using the winch for lifting in the telecommunications sector, the following issues must be considered:
1) SET-UP: For your particular application, the winch can be anchored to a vehicle (using the receiver hitch attachment PCA-1262) or to a tree or vertical post. The line goes horizontally to a pulley at the base of the tower, them up to a jib and another pulley, and back down.
2) BRAKE: Although the winch is equipped with an internal anti-reversal brake (the drum cannot turn backwards even when the engine is stopped), there is nothing to prevent the load from falling if the operator lets go of the end of the rope. The solution is to have one of the self-locking pulleys equipped with a one-way cam (PCA-1272) that will block the rope in the event of operator mistake, anchor failure or mechanical winch problem (out of gas in the most likely!). This pulley is equipped with a spring-loaded cam with small cordage that can be pulled for lowering the rope after a pull.
3) SAFETY FACTORS: For lifting, safety factors must be increased. We recommend having 10:1 safety factor on the rope and the winch. The winch’ anchors are designed for 5000 lb (2272 kg), so we recommend lifting loads averaging 500 lb (227 kg). We offer an optional drum (PCA-1100) which will limit the lifting capacity to approximately 1000 lb (454 kg), and offer better control on the rope (more friction) and speed around 60 feet/ minute (18 meter/minute).
4) POSITIONING: Because there is no clutch on the winch (it has a direct gear drive), it is not recommended to try to position pieces precisely with the winch because the continued friction will generate heat and may cause rope damage. If your application involves lifting to a station where the piece can be stabilized without staying suspended for an extended period of time, it should be no problem.
5) LIFTING PERSONEL: We definitely do not recommend lifting personnel with the winch. We do however have customers who use the winch in rescue situations, but they are highly trained and always involved a secondary life-line attached to the person and manned on the ground in the same fashion rock climbers are belayed.
6) PORTABLE HOIST: We are developing a new product; a portable hoist, which is designed for lifting purposes. Stay tuned, we should start commercializing it in fall 2008!
Q: How many pulleys can I use?
A: It does not matter how many pulleys you use, you can use the same rope to apply 2500 lb (1136 kg) directly, 5000 lb (2272 kg) with one pulley, or 10 000 lb (4544 kg) with 2 double pulleys. The fact is that you end up with 2, 3 or 4 lines, so it is like having that many ropes pulling. You should however beware of the attachment of the pulley on the load. Rated shackles should be used when using double pulleys.
Q: I have some questions about controlling the speed. My slope is not perfectly smooth, and there will be some obstacles, so one person will need to walk with the boat to correct its path, while another person operates the winch. It will be necessary to stop the movement for brief periods. I envisage that for hauling a log, one would set the speed of the wheel and control the movement of the log by regulating the tension on the rope. But in my case, where I will be hauling the boat uphill, there will always be tension on the line. So, to stop or slow the boat, would I stop or slow the speed of the wheel? And how does one do this? And can it be done while holding the line, (for example with a foot pedal) or will I need two people at the winch: one to hold the line and the other to regulate the speed.
A: Stop & Go on hillside: You raise a real concern, as you are pulling a rolling object uphill, there will always be friction on the drum when you stop pulling for realignment of the load. Therefore excessive heat could be generated which could cause rope damage or failure.
The simple way of solving this is to use a self-locking pulley (PCA-1272) at some distance in front of the winch. This pulley will take the load whenever tension is not applied to the rope (i.e. when you stop pulling on the rope), allowing stop/start motion. We can let the engine run at whatever RPM it's running and simply resume pulling the rope when ready.
Q: Portable WinchTM vs. competition:
A: 1) HondaTM (4-stroke) engine:
2 cycle is noisy (and always at full throttle) more pollution (especially with 25:1 mix);
Need to carry canister with special gas (not same as chainsaw);
Engine often designed for less than 100 hours vs. 1000 hours for HondaTM;
HondaTM engine is a HondaTM!
2) Gearbox:
Bigger gears in Portable Winch’s;
All shafts mounted on ball bearings instead of bushings.
3) Anchor:
Portable WinchTM provides polyester sling (no damage to trees);
No need to remove R-pin; undo wing nut and flat washer to anchor;
Portable WinchTM provides many anchor accessories.
4) Speed:
Competition is slower than Portable WinchTM;
No faster speed option (Portable WinchTM offers two different drum sizes).
5) Accessories:
Very limited vs. full line with Portable WinchTM.
6) Price:
Portable WinchTM is built for commercial/professional use;
Portable WinchTM will last a lifetime.
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