A winch is a unit that is used to move or vertically lift heavy structures using a flexible cable, rope or chain. The latter are connected to a drum, which can have several drive options.
The simplest of them is manual: it is more durable than the others, but it is not suitable for daily use and heavy loads: the operator will quickly get tired. Electric winches are reliable, structurally perfect and solve a much wider range of problems than manual ones. The only negative is the dependence on power supply, which is not always available in the field or on rough terrain. The most practical and trouble-free unit is a winch based on an internal combustion engine: it creates high power and works in any conditions, even in places where no one has gone before.
Unfortunately, production models of such equipment cost a lot, and not everyone can afford them. In this case, homemade products come to the rescue - homemade winches driven by a chainsaw or special ready-made adapters that will turn an ordinary household chainsaw into a miniature analogue of a crane - a motorized winch. Let's take a closer look at how you can do this at home.
We make a winch from a chainsaw with our own hands
A winch is a unit that is used to move or vertically lift heavy structures using a flexible cable, rope or chain.
The latter are connected to a drum, which can have several drive options. The simplest of them is manual: it is more durable than the others, but it is not suitable for daily use and heavy loads: the operator will quickly get tired. Electric winches are reliable, structurally perfect and solve a much wider range of problems than manual ones. The only negative is the dependence on power supply, which is not always available in the field or on rough terrain. The most practical and trouble-free unit is a winch based on an internal combustion engine: it creates high power and works in any conditions, even in places where no one has gone before.
Making a winch from a chainsaw: where to start?
This question is asked by all those who take on such a responsible and, at first glance, difficult job for the first time. Let us reassure you, because everything is not as complicated as it appears at first.
To turn a chainsaw into a motorized winch, we will need:
- chainsaw - you can take the domestic Ural or Druzhba, or turn to products of European origin. It is advisable not to take household models - with a thrust of less than 2.5 kW;
- drum - we take a ready-made one from an old manual winch or make it ourselves;
- gearbox – to reduce motor torque;
- metal pipes or a square pipe - they will be used to create a supporting frame and an anchor: it will help to accurately fix the structure on the surface;
- lever arm;
- cam clamps;
- clamps.
- Using available materials, we weld a rigid structure - a frame;
- On it we assemble the engine from the chainsaw and the drum where the cable will be wound;
- We attach the gearbox to the motor with clamps;
- Through a metal shaft we aggregate the drum with a reduction gearbox. Thus, the engine speed passes through the gearbox to the shaft, and from it to the rotating drum;
- So that the latter can start in auto mode, we connect a control lever, which is connected to the shaft with special cam clamps: this will allow the movement of the lever in one direction to turn on the drum, and in the other to stop, thereby controlling the work process;
- we make the anchor from pointed corners: they will have to stick into the soil or catch on a stationary object on a plane;
- we aggregate the anchor to the frame with hinges and weld a metal hold to lift it;
- We are carrying out the first tests - our chainsaw winch is ready.
An example of the use of such a motorized winch is plowing a garden with a plow - it is dragged by a winch and can be easily controlled even by a woman, or transporting logs.
More complex designs are also possible: with a double gearbox, where the gear ratio will be 1:10. They are no less effective than the one described above and also contribute to the careful use of the constituent components.
Moped with motor
All chainsaw crafts are distinguished by their practicality, but where would we be without it if the power unit is a real engine.
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Happy chainsaw crafts to everyone and don’t get bored.
The “Winch” attachment for a chainsaw is a simplified way to make a traction structure out of a chainsaw
Designing and assembling a winch from a chainsaw with your own hands, although it does not require global technical knowledge, does require a certain skill, which not everyone has. For most, an easier way is to purchase a ready-made set - a “Winch” attachment.
Additional devices - “Winch” attachments for chainsaws are produced for most modern chainsaws and differ in traction force, cable length and dimensions. With their help, you can easily move a fallen tree from the roadway, pull a car out of a ditch, moor it to the shore, or clear debris in case of an emergency.
What determines the durability of homemade motorized winches?
The main factor that influences this is the build quality. Therefore, please pay attention to the following:
- reliability of the clutch of motorcycle tools;
- no problems with starting the motor part of the saw - slipping, unexplained shutdowns: the saw should run smoothly and hold idle and high speeds equally well;
- trouble-free starter - otherwise a minute’s work will turn into many hours of agony;
- the presence of safety systems, hooks, belts, which should help bring the structure to perfection.
Diagnose gasoline saws for malfunctions, and only then adapt them for homemade projects: this way you will ensure your safety and save time.
How to make a winch from a chainsaw
For plowing, a chainsaw-driven winch has a number of advantages. The main advantage over a motorcycle engine is the speed of installation of the chainsaw. There is no need to design engine cooling, install a fuel tank, air filter, electrical equipment (switch), or wiring. Make a homemade exhaust system. Secure the muffler.
1 – chainsaw; 2 – gearbox; 3 – drum; 4 — drum control lever; 5 – frame; 6 – anchor.
Chainsaw attachment winch
The attachment or attachment is a reduction gear. If you remove the cover and look inside, you will see a whole series of different gears, small and large. With the help of which the number of drum revolutions changes depending on the number of revolutions of the engine crankshaft. In this regard, the load on the power unit is reduced. That's what we need in hard work.
The connection between the attachment and the chainsaw is made using a clamp and a stand. Due to this, the winch is compact and lightweight, easy to use during assembly and repair.
3 – drum; 4 — drum control lever; 5 – frame.
The torque, from the crankshaft, passing through the reduction gearbox, is transmitted to the shaft on which the drum with the cable is located. The drum has the ability to be connected and disconnected from the shaft. It occurs using a lever and special cams located both on the shaft and on the drum. We move it, use the lever towards the chainsaw to connect it, reverse it, and turn it off.
We selected material for the supporting frame of the entire homemade product. Old used water pipes and an unwanted metal bed. For ease of use, the frame is made in the form of a sleigh. During plowing, you do not need to lift the winch, you just need to move it.
It takes a lot of effort to cultivate the soil. Our homemade product turned out to be light, so it needs to be firmly secured to the soil to prevent spontaneous movement towards the plow. For this we installed a special anchor. Attached to the frame using a hinge. By pressing the anchor from above, special knives easily sink into the soil. Hold the homemade product firmly in one place. You can and should press with your foot, and pull it out with your hand using a special bracket.
8 — hinge; 9 — bracket; 10 - knives.
The control of a homemade winch is very simple. We only have two levers, one on the chainsaw and the other on the attachment. Plus anchoring and dragging towards an unplowed area. Even a woman can easily figure this out. BUT for all this to work you need:
- perfect clutch operation;
- trouble-free easy starting of the power unit;
- stable engine operation at idle speed;
- precise operation of the chainsaw starter.
Cons: Long-term operation of the power unit often becomes unstable. High fuel consumption compared to engines from light motorcycles Minsk or Voskhod.
Are old chainsaws still needed today?
Probably, many people have old chainsaws of the “Friendship” type lying in their sheds and storage rooms. For a long time it was a pity to throw away the saw, but it came in handy for making a drill
This saw has a fairly powerful and, importantly, low-speed engine. There should be no difficulties with mounting such an engine.
We install the fuel supply control handle on the upper (smaller) frame. The soil is very uneven in its structure - layers of varying density and viscosity, stones, roots, etc. The drill can jump off, suddenly increase speed, or move to the side, so we strongly recommend placing an emergency engine shutdown system next to the fuel supply control mechanism.
old chainsaw "Friendship"
Some old Soviet saws are quite large, which requires an increase in the size of the gas drill. Before starting work, consider whether it will be convenient to operate such a structure. Otherwise, the Druzhba, Ural and similar chainsaws are quite suitable for our task.
Gas winch made from a chainsaw and gearbox
Hello everyone, in this instruction we will look at how to assemble a chainsaw-based winch with your own hands. Such a useful device can be used for various purposes, because it is mobile and runs on gasoline. The author uses it to drag logs from the ravine. This is very convenient and useful when preparing firewood, building materials and other things. Also, such a winch can easily be used as a lift, which will be convenient during construction work. For example, you need to lift several buckets of cement, this winch will easily cope with the task.
The author used a chainsaw as a motor. You will also need to obtain high torque for the winch. For these purposes, an old worm-type reduction gearbox from some equipment was used. All other materials are easy to find or make. So, let's look in more detail at how to make such a winch.
Materials and tools used by the author:
List of materials:
- chainsaw; — reduction gearbox; - bicycle spare parts; - Sheet steel; - corner; - steel pipe; - screws, nuts, etc.; — cable for control; - cable for winch.
List of tools:
- lathe; - drill; - Bulgarian; — welding; - screwdrivers, wrenches, hammer and so on.
The process of making a homemade winch:
Step one. Disassembling the chainsaw
Let's start by preparing the chainsaw. First of all, we need to remove the clutch and sprocket. To unscrew it, the engine needs to be fixed; for these purposes we need to remove the top cover and unscrew the spark plug. Insert a cord, a piece of leather or something similar into the spark plug hole. Now the engine will rest against the skin with the piston and will no longer turn. Using a special wrench, unscrew the clutch and remove the sprocket. An angle grinder wrench will do if the clutch is not tightened too tightly.
Step two. Drive sprocket installation
The author decided to use a bicycle sprocket as a drive sprocket. For these purposes, disassemble the cassette of the rear wheel of the bicycle and select the desired sprocket. It is welded to the outside of the clutch. The author had to adjust the internal holes of the sprocket on a lathe so that it would fit accurately on the ebb. Well, then we carefully weld the star using welding. First, it is advisable to grab it in a circle and make sure that there are no distortions.
As a result, after installing the structure on the saw, we have a drive sprocket equipped with a clutch, which is very convenient.
Step three. Drive sprocket installation
The driven sprocket is also made from a bicycle sprocket; it has a larger diameter than the drive sprocket to increase torque. To install it, the author decided to use a pulley from the selected gearbox. We drill holes in the sprocket, we will fasten it with screws. We also drill holes in the pulley and cut threads for the screws.
The author fastens the pulley itself with three screws, two of them secure the pulley from turning in a circle, and another one is screwed in so that the pulley does not come off the gearbox shaft.
As for the shield, which is installed opposite the driven sprocket, the author makes it with his own hands. For these purposes you will need sheet steel. Using a homemade machine from a grinder, the author cut a circle out of steel, and then welded a rim to it, making an excellent shield. All that remains is to weld a few plates to secure the shield to the device using screws.
Step six. Making a winch pulley
The winch pulley is needed so that the cable can be wound around it and the desired work can be done. To make it, we first take a piece of steel pipe of a suitable diameter so that it can be put on the gearbox shaft. Next, drill holes and cut threads for the screws. Using screws we will secure the pipe to the shaft; there is a groove there. The ends of the screws will need to be ground to the diameter of the groove.
Types of homemade winches
Any drawing will tell you how to assemble a useful device. A car winch remains a necessity, so don't give it up. First, you should get acquainted with the available options that guarantee ease of assembly. There are the following types of these devices:
Homemade winch - a simple device
In accordance with the schemes used, it will be possible to select the optimal winch. If desired, a person will independently make a suitable model that will meet his needs. This is why it is worth considering each type in detail, giving it a general description.
Manual
A homemade hand winch is an excellent choice that guarantees ease of operation. This is its main advantage, allowing you to freely use the device without facing the problem of a low battery. The only problem is that it requires a lot of effort.
The design of such an accessory becomes complex. Calculations must be made to obtain sufficient power. Otherwise, it will correspond only to the physical strength of a person. He will not be able to pull the SUV out of the ditch, so the installation will not give successful results.
A manual winch from the starter is the most affordable option that you can choose for your own car.
By using it, you will be able to quickly assemble a reliable structure that can cope with the task in any weather.
Chainsaw winch - design features
The versatility of chainsaws makes it possible not only to perform a wide range of work, but also to replace many special devices.
In addition to cutting wood, clearing territory, caring for a garden and using it for repair and construction activities, the saw engine can become a drive for devices for various purposes. Attachments allow you to design a powerful winch driven by a chainsaw.
Making an angle grinder
An angle grinder is a multifunctional tool necessary for a number of jobs. Despite its availability and prevalence, craftsmen made an angle grinder from a chainsaw (a sample is shown in the photo below).
Assembling an angle grinder using a special device for a chainsaw goes like this:
- remove the chain and bar from the gasoline saw;
- install a pulley on the gearbox shaft;
- instead of a tire, they mount a special attachment, also with a pulley, after putting a belt on it;
- tension the belt drive like a chain;
- attach the protective casing;
- install the disc.
The entire process is shown in detail in the video below.
A self-assembled grinder-petrol cutter will help in performing many practical tasks. Its power is sufficient for productive work on concrete.
Using a chainsaw winch
The winch attachment on a chainsaw is used for lifting and moving construction materials, pulling out stuck equipment, and towing boats to land. It will become an indispensable assistant in emergency situations.
Peculiarities:
- The pulling force of a chainsaw winch directly depends on the power of the unit involved. The denomination can reach from one and a half to two thousand kilograms. If you use an auxiliary unit, this figure will increase significantly.
- In order for a winch driven by a chainsaw to correctly perform its functions, it will be necessary to equip the unit with additional elements, such as a pull-out block with an increase in traction force and the ability to change the direction trajectory, various anchors, brackets, hooks, and sling belts.
It is recommended to use the most powerful chainsaws to create a winch. This is necessary so that the clutch does not burn out and the engine does not overheat.
How to extend the life of a homemade mechanism?
The reliability of a homemade winch directly depends on the quality of its assembly. In addition, there are a number of other factors that affect the duration of the application of the mechanism.
These include:
- well-coordinated clutch operation. To do this, the owner of a chainsaw winch must constantly monitor the condition of the main parts of the unit. If necessary, any worn part must be replaced;
- ideal engine condition - operation of the mechanism is not allowed if the engine is not running well. This will not only lead to increased wear on the internal combustion engine, but will also increase the risk of damage to the object that needs to be pulled out. The engine must operate equally stably, both at idle and at high speeds;
- reliability of fastening of safety elements. During intensive use of a homemade winch, you need to regularly check the condition of the anchor hooks, belts and other parts. If at least one of the spare parts is faulty, this will increase the risk of injury to the operator and loss of the towed object;
- correct operation of the starter. If the trigger mechanism works intermittently, then this will turn the use of the winch into a real test for its owner;
- reliability of the tow rope. Safety when working with the mechanism depends on its serviceability. If one of the cable strands breaks, it will need to be completely replaced;
- proper quality of fuel and oil. In order for the engine to last for a long time, you need to use only high-quality branded oils and gasoline with an octane number not lower than that specified in the instructions to refuel it.
A winch driven by a chainsaw can last much longer than its full-fledged branded counterparts. However, to do this, you need to regularly check it and replace faulty parts immediately after detecting a breakdown.
How to make a winch from a chainsaw with your own hands?
Having certain components, you can easily construct a winch from a chainsaw with your own hands. To do this you will need to do the following:
- For a chainsaw winch, it is necessary to prepare a steel angle from which a support frame will be welded, with hooks and loops for fastening to a fixed base.
- The chainsaw engine, which is connected to the gearbox, is attached directly to this structure.
- To ensure tension of the cable with a pulley, you will need a cord belt installed on the gear shaft. It transmits torque to the coil.
The winch attachment for a chainsaw, made in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and safety requirements, can withstand maximum loads. The operation of this equipment is quite simple and at the same time extremely effective. A chainsaw winch is useful for various activities for private use, small farms and construction.
What is needed to make a winch?
Despite the simplicity of the initial design and ease of self-assembly, the winch designer will still need to prepare a certain list of parts and mechanisms. Their installation in the overall structure of the device will allow you to assemble equipment that will work as stably as possible and will not let the owner down at the most inopportune moment.
To assemble a winch based on a household chainsaw, the manufacturer will need:
- a fully serviceable and ready-to-use gasoline saw - domestic models Druzhba and Ural, as well as high-quality brand saws Stihl, Husqvarna, Patriot and Al-Ko, are very popular among assemblers. The main requirement for the engine is that its power must be at least 3 liters. With.;
- gearbox - this mechanism will connect to the power unit of the chainsaw and reduce the initial torque created by the internal combustion engine;
- metal pipes, couplers, brackets, steel sheets - needed to assemble the support frame and winch body;
- drum and reinforced metal cable;
- steel hook;
- cam metal clamps;
- fastening clamps;
- lever for controlling the winch.
It is best to pre-coat metal and steel components with a primer and several layers of paint. It will protect parts from the formation of pockets of corrosion and rotting caused by regular use of the device under conditions of constant exposure to moisture.