Lewis Winch

Lewis Winch, Without it... I am a Mere Mortal.

2012-02-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

“I love the Lewis Winch and without it, I’m just a mere mortal.”

- Shane Morris, Hartland, Wisconsin

For more information please visit www.LewisWinch.com

Lewis Winch is the Envy of the Neighbourhood in Alaska

2012-02-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

“Great product. I love it. We use it for launching boats, moving rocks, hauling trees, etc. All this is done at an off-the-grid cabin near Petersburg, Alaska. It's the envy of the neighbourhood!”

- Dave Seris, Juneau, Alaska

“I agree! I found one at a yard sale couple years ago and it works great. Awesome piece of equipment. Whether you are working on building a remote cabin and moving logs or just needing to get the boat unstuck from the mud in the back country of Alaska, works great!”

- Anthony J. Robbinson, Anchorage, Alaska

For more information please visit www.LewisWinch.com

Hunters love the Lewis Winch

2011-07-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

All hunters love the lewis Winch!!

Duck hunters mount the Lewis Winch on their bow to pull their boat over a dyke or off a sandbar.

Deer hunters can pull an animal up though a steep ravine in any weather conditions

Big game hunters can pull a full animal right into the back of their truck

For more information, please visit

http://www.lewiswinch.com/Hunting.html

Lewis Winch saves plow truck from snow bank

2011-02-23T15:11:00.000-08:00

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Dear Lewis Winch,

I purchased the Lewis Winch a couple years ago.

I love it!

This winter was extremely brutal here in Massachusetts.

We have had over three feet of snow on the ground all season.

On one occasion, I got my plow truck stuck sideways down a hill off of the road.

Plow truck stuck in snow bank

The winch pulled it right out. My cousin couldn't believe it!

Thanks, Lewis Winch!

Ken B. - Massachusetts, USA

This Lewis Winch anchored to a tree can easily pull large vehicles from the snow bank.

For more information, and to watch instructional videos about the Lewis portable winch

please visit http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Lewis Winch Operating Tips: Checking Oil Level

2011-02-01T12:51:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch

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Checking Oil Level: The Lewis Winch requires very little maintenance, but one thing is very important, there must be sufficient oil in the gearbox or gear damage will occur.

When you receive your new Lewis Winch from the factory, it will already be filled with 5 ounces of 80/90 weight gear oil. As long as there was no leakage in transit, then you should be good to go,

right out of the box.

After every few uses it is a good idea to check the oil level. This is a very simple procedure, kind of like checking the oil in the differential on your car or pick-up truck.

Oil fill and check plug on modern Lewis Winch

The first step is to stand the Lewis Winch on it's spool with the back end pointing straight in the air, then locate the oil fill plug (see picture).

Remove oil fill plug while maintaining the Lewis Winch in a vertical position. When the plug is removed insert your finger tip into the hole slightly and tip the winch slightly forward. If your finger gets wet with oil then it is full enough. Replace plug and continue working.

If you have an older model Lewis Winch then you will find the fill plug on the bottom (see second picture). The procedure is still the same, stand the winch on its spool then remove fill plug. Tilt the winch slightly forward and oil should start to drip out.

Old style check and fill plug

If you have to tilt the winch too far forward to get a drip or to wet your finger then the level is low and should be topped up to the bottom of the hole when the winch is vertical.

Remember, 5 ounces of 80/90 weight gear oil is best, too much oil can cause damage also.

While you are checking the oil, have a quick look at all the nuts and bolts on your Lewis Winch and make sure everything is tight.

Then give the chain, sprocket and other moving parts a squirt of oil as well. That should keep everything moving freely.

Watch this video for more details
on Lewis Winch maintenance.

For more Lewis Winch Instructional Videos
- please visit our website:

http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Lewis Winch Operating Tips: Pull A Vehicle Out Of The Ditch

2011-01-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch
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Q...How do you pull a large vehicle out of the ditch using a Lewis Winch? Isn't a full size pick-up truck too heavy for the Lewis Winch?

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A....No, a full size pick-up is not too heavy for the Lewis Winch.

Actually it is easier to pull a truck out of the ditch than skid a large log because a vehicle is on wheels and there is less friction to contend with.

The Lewis Winch is designed to efficiently skids logs weighing thousands of pounds across the ground and through dense bush, so a vehicle on wheels is child's play for this portable chainsaw winch.

Just remenber to block the wheels so that the vehicle doesn't roll forward or backwards once it is out of the ditch.

Here is what our customers have said about pulling stuck vehicles using the Lewis Winch:

Lewis Winch recues car stuck in snow

"My wife and kids took a bit of a wild winter ride on our snowy driveway last night.

They got part way up, lost traction and slid backwards on the 15% grade for about 40 very anxious feet. In three easy pulls, the winch walked the car up the remaining 200 feet like a champ. No snatch block, it pulled the car (a Nissan Maxima) with far greater ease than most of the logs I've dragged around the forest.

This is a tool that my wife now fully supports!!!"

- Scott M., Pemberton, BC

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The Lewis Winch will easily pull a 3/4 ton truck out of the sand

"I work in sugar sand, and vehicles get stuck weekly.

I direct mounted a stihl 066 that I don't get much use out of because all the hurricanes have taken down all the big trees.

Well the Lewis Winch will actually start pulling a 2500 truck buried in the sand with barely any throttle...

This winch is awesome!"

- Mark Stewart, Jensen Beach Florida

Lewis Winch rescues ATV from mud

Watch the video below to see how to pull vehicles out of the mud

For more information visit our website
http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Lewis Winch Operating Tips: Winding Cable Evenly On Spool

2011-01-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch
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Q...How do you keep the Lewis Winch cable wrapped evenly on the spool? I have difficulty controlling the cable when I am pulling a heavy load.

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A.... Like you, I found that there was a concern with cable loading on one side of the spool, but I easily control that by positioning a Snatch Block right in front of the Lewis Winch.

Snatch Block anchored to tree to control cable

You can see this set-up in the first photo.

I watch the spool and if the cable is loading up too much on one side, I back off a little to ease the tension on the cable and change the angle of the unit so the cable winds on the other side of the spool.

Winch and Snatch Block used on lumber rack

I also use the chainsaw winch to load 8 foot logs into my pick-up or my logging trailer.

I have a stout lumber rack on the pick-up and I run the winch off of the top of the rack.

This allows me to load logs right into my truck box - also utilizing snatch blocks to guide the log, and again watching the cable, backing off the throttle when nessesary to change the angle and insure the cable winds evenly.

Beside my Norwood portable sawmill I have a cedar post in the ground and I attach the Lewis Winch to it to drag the logs out of the pick-up or my logging trailer.

Keep with it - like everything else, you have to figure out what works best for you.

Watch video about how to use Snatch Blocks

For more information visit our website
http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Lewis Winch Operating Tips: Unspooling Cable

2011-01-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch

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Unspooling Cable: The Lewis Winch is a drum winch, and it has similar operating challenges as any type of drum winch. Unspooling the cable and rewinding it back evenly on the spool becomes second nature to a seasoned winch operator, but can be a challenge to a newbie.

This Lewis Winch tip is about unspooling the cable without causing the cable to expand on the drum and become tangled, commonly called a "birds nest".

A "birds nest" is a result of the cable being unspooled in such a manner that the free-wheeling drum starts to increase in speed and turn faster than the operator is pulling out the cable. The cable then becomes loose on the spool and will eventually cause a jam.

There is a very simple solution to this annoying challenge.

The Lewis Winch is equiped with a hand brake which slows or stops the drum from turning. The brake handle has a small hole at the end which will accept the hook of a small bungee cord.

Bungee cord attached to brake handle

If you connect a bungee cord to the brake handle and pull back to apply a little tension, then attach the other end to the back of your Lewis Winch or to your saw, then you can easily adjust the tension and control the drum speed.

With a little practice you will find just the right tension to allow you to pull the cable out easily but not allow the drum to run faster than you are pulling, thus eliminating the possibility of a "birds nest".

Watch this video for more details on unspooling cable.

For more winch tips please visit our website:

http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Your "Dear Santa" Letter

2010-12-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch

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You know how it is.

Nobody asks you what you want for Christmas

and you end up owning another ugly sweater.

So here's a suggestion... write a letter to Santa

and ask him to team up with the raindeers if necessary,

but ask him to bring you a brand new Lewis Winch -

because that's what you really really want for Christmas.

_______________________________

Make it easier for Santa and ask him

to sign up with us for our Christmas Special,

Click here to receive big discounts and funny bloopers

Visit our website http://www.lewiswinch.com/

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Lewis Winch under the Christmas tree!!

2010-12-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

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Posted by: Lewis Winch
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Did you know that Lewis Winch “Inside Scoop” members get special deals on Lewis Winch Products?

A lucky someone is getting a Lewis Winch for Christmas.

If you haven’t signed up yet for our funny Blooper Videos, then you are missing all our special offers, too!

So what are you waiting for?

Click on the link below to join.

Sign up for our blooper videos and periodic special offers!!

And if you sign up before Christmas, you’ll get a GREAT DISCOUNT on a new Lewis Winch!

HO! HO! HO!

http://www.lewiswinch.com/

What if the cable breaks on a Lewis Winch?

2010-12-06T12:51:00.000-08:00

Posted by: Lewis Winch

Q...Can the aircraft cable supplied with a Lewis Winch break and snap back and hit the operator?

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A... We have never heard of this happening with a Lewis Winch, but wire rope can - in some conditions - fail (break) and in so doing release stored kinetic (elastic) energy. The key to how much kinetic energy gets stored in a tensioned wire-rope, is the length of line that is out. A short length will not have enough energy to do much at all, even if it parts at the hook, while a much longer length parting in such a manner might snap back with enough force to hurt a person. As the Lewis Winch comes with only 150 feet of 3/16 "cable and the maximum single line pull is 4000 pounds this length and weight is unlikely to snap back with any force.

We also offer a 250 foot cable as an option for the Lewis Winch. There could be more stored kinetic energy in this cable because of it's length and therefore more potential of a snap back.

The simple cure is that if one has a lot of single line out and expects a hard pull, to drape a jacket or towel over the winch line at around the mid point. This way if the line were to part at the winch then the line is going away from you anyway, and if it parts at the hook then the jacket or towel will absorb the energy (unless the cable is damaged, it's very unlikely that wire rope will part in the middle somewhere).

If you have say 150 - 200 feet of line out and you drape a jacket at mid point, then if you are still winching by the time you reach the jacket then simply pluck it off and carry on. The amount of line still to go won't have enough stored elastic energy to do anything, and besides if you are still winching you probably aren't pulling hard anymore.

-All of the above is based on a person pulling very hard on a single winch line.

There's little need to do that if you are properly equipped.

Just put a snatch block on that really hard pull, and take it easy on everything.

Please visit our website to watch instructional videos.

http://www.LewisWinch.com/

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Lewis Winch gives good service!

2010-11-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

Posted by OasisTree:

I bought my Lewis Winch in the spring of '08, and mounted it on a Stihl 650.

I love it!

Last summer I noticed that a piece that you turn to lock the winch in place was starting to bend. Later I was winching a large Mulberry stump onto my trailer, the stump caught, and instead of my choker breaking, that piece on the winch broke. When I took it apart, the roll pin that held it in place had actually broken in two.

I called Lewis Winch headquarters, and they sent my new pieces free of charge. Was very happy with the service, just alerting any of you other Lewis Winch owners that it might be a possible weak point.

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Posted by Lewis Winch:

We are very happy that you are satisfied with our service and like so many others, that you love your Lewis Winch.

The roll pin that you mentioned, also acts as a shear pin. You are running a very powerful saw on your Lewis Winch, so when your stump caught, something had to give.

We make the clutch and drum roll pins "the weak link" on purpose, so they act as a safety device for the Lewis Winch.

It is much less expensive to replace the roll pins than a broken gear or the cable.

We hope you continue to safely enjoy your Lewis Winch and please feel free to contact us anytime for advice, parts, service or just a friendly chat! And remember, we are always looking for good photos and video footage of you using your Lewis Winch.

info@lewiswinch.com

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Lewis Boat Winch

2010-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

Posted by AK Dutch:

I've heard about using a chainsaw winch to pull your boat off a sandbar when stuck. I was looking for information on this setup. Does anybody have any suggestions to brand, availability in Fairbanks, size, cost? How big of one do I need to pull my XS off the beach?

In addition, what is the most popular type of anchor for river use, I have used a big Brucefor my AK Searunner, but that wouldn't work too good in the river I think.

Thanks, John

Posted by Mr. Pid:

I've owned and worn out two Rule winches. I got my money's worth from them, but my next winch will be a Lewis.

www.lewiswinch.com

Put this baby on any heavy duty chainsaw you have (not a small homeowner model) and it will get the job done. I know guys that like capstan winches, but I wouldn't give you a nickel for one. I like steel cable and the ability to use pully blocks to increase the pull capacity.

Posted by Crumm:

Any other reason other than the ability of doubling the line with cable? I have never used a capstan other than the hand-powered rope along style but the continuous pull looks like a good feature on a gas powered unit.

Posted by Mr. Pid:

Because I don't trust rope. It abrades easily, it stretches, and it behaves differently when it's wet, let alone muddy. I'm not comfortable standing at the winch with any heavy load on the line, but I am more comfortable with cable. My winches have been multi-use tools. Dragging trees, pulling boats up the bank for winter, etc. I can't imagine pulling stumps with rope. I often use two snatch blocks with my winch and the cables about as tight as an A string on a guitar. And then I get to root around with an axe and a handyman jack while the winch line is loaded. No rope for this kid.

Also, I had to use my chainsaw winch to drag my Yamaha Viking (heavy) out of a deep hole I found when a snow bridge broke and I dropped into a creek (now very heavy). I wonder how a capstan winch would have worked pulling very wet rope in zero degree temperatures.

Not good I'd imagine!

Come to think of it, I've also used it to pull a skidplane out of overflow.

Yep, the've served me well.

Lewis Winch,best purchase I have made in a long time.

2010-02-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

Question:

I move my logs on an 18 foot dual axel trailer. I have a few large cherry logs 40 inches x 8 feet. I need help loading them and getting them on the mill. I have about 600 bucks and figured a winch to be a resonable start. Would like to hear which winch you use and what you can do with it.

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From contributor W:

I bought a Lewis Winch. Powered by a chainsaw powerhead. Rated at 4000 single line, 8000 doubled. You can go anywhere with it and pull from any direction. Best purchase I have made in a long time. Costs about 800US if you buy just the winch. You can put any powerhead on it. It is best if it has an outboard drive gear (sprocket).

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From contributor L:

I've been wanting a Lewis Winch but been trying to talk myself into it. They seem very universal. Also, they don't need a bat and a truck ot tractor running to keep the bat up. Most of my saws have an outboard sprocket, which I like because they run cooler. Lewis Winch didn't mention anything in their ad.

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From contributor W:

You can use the saw with an inboard sprocket, but you have to use the adaptor that utilizes a short piece of bar and a chain with no cutters to drive the winch. It works but there is some flex in the system that you may not like. I would advise changing the saw head or modifying it to an outboard sprocket. The price you got is pretty good for just the winch. I bought the whole kit and caboodle for just under a grand with a new 029 powerhead. A lot of uses I found for it...once last year I pulled a nice buck I killed in a draw. With a truck mounted winch, you have to walk down and hook it up, then go back down everytime there is a snag. With the Lewis Winch. you hook the dead end to the truck and go down with the powerhead and come back up one time with whatever you're pulling.

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From contributor L:

I see you used a 029. I have a 024 and love it, but probably too small. I have two Husky's - probably too big. My 029 is inboard sprocket and also 394's. I noticed the new stihls are outboard sprocket. I suppose Lewis will give me the right info, seeing they want so much for their winch.

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From contributor W:

You're welcome. Just remember - gravity can kill!

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From Lewis Winch.com:

We recomend any chainsaw from 3 - 7 horse power. The best is an outboard sprocket because you can then use the direct adaptor kit. Most modern saws such as Husqvarna, Stihl, Solo, Makita, Dolmar etc. come with outboard sprockets, however both style adaptor kits come with the Lewis Winch so you can mount it on any chainsaw.

The current price on the Lewis Winch website is $899. That may sound expensive but Lewis Winches are made to last and made in North America. The Lewis Winch is the most powerful chain saw winch made. They are a quality product!

See video of log pull at this link

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Welcome to my Blog

2009-11-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are not familiar with the amazing Lewis Winch, it is a portable winch powered by a chainsaw that can pull up to 4,000 pounds in a straight line and 8,000 pounds using a Lewis Winch Snatch Block.

I want to share with you today what we are planning to do next with the Lewis Winch.

One of our neighbours has a large but unwanted wild bush growing in front of her house that completely blocks her view. Each time she cuts it down, the bush quickly grows back.

A friend of hers tried pulling this big bush out of the ground with his off road atv, but failed miserably when all four wheels just spinned in the soft dirt so much that he couldn't even budge the bush.

He also tried pulling out the bush using electric winches such as the one mounted on the front of his off road atv, but all that did was power down the battery. Again, the bush wouldn't budge.

That's when our neighbour came to ask me for help. She knows I am the president of Lewis Winch Inc. and she figured I might be able to help her get rid of this pesky bush using our portable winch.

I know that landscapers use the Lewis Winch for these jobs all the time, but I haven't attempted it myself. So this upcoming weekend, we plan to attempt to do what others have failed to accomplish: pulling this bush out of the ground by the roots using our gas-powered portable winch.

I will post the results of our bush-pulling experiment after we perform the task, whether successful or not - but if you have had similar experiences, I welcome your stories and comments.