battery advise

[tanusfarms]

i have a rig the sports a 8000# warn winch on the front, dump bed on the rear, and a 360 under the hood. when i bought it i t had a dead battery so i swiped the battery from my 69 chevy c20. It can start my truck but it really struggles with it. It acts like its dead, however last time i cranked 3 times on the 3rd time it continued to crank normally and the started. Is this a result of a battery with low cold cranking amps, a altenator thats not recharging my battery enough, or could my battery be bad. If i might be better served by a new battery can anyone suggest a brand and perameters to go with? thanks for your time.

[heviarti]

If you have money? Get two Optimas and slave them together if the app guide says one ain't got the poop to do it.

Be sure to check your charging system, and starter. Two weak cranks with a third that acts normal sounds like an intermittent connection... Weak solenoid or failing starter?

[tanusfarms]

So I know I have a few cables on the winch that need to be replaced they are very short if I run into more that need replaced is it easiest to just make my own or is there a good source to buy them from?

[heviarti]

you got a truck like that and only an electric winch? F'really?

Generally there are specialty shops that make battery cables.

[tanusfarms]

Yeah it has a warn model 8274 on it, never really had a rig before where the winch could be big enough to help me out that much. You mentioned it as if the electric winch was a negative, should I consider something else?

Making cables isn't hard l, I had to make some for the drag truck my father and I built. Just unsure about weather proofing them as they will be exposed

[heviarti]

Never really liked electric winches. They're hard on batteries Included is a pic of my winch on my other pickup. It's a Braden MU2 10,000 pound winch, runs off the transfer case so you have four speeds of pull and a power payout, as well as freewheel on the winch. I've pulled a stuck Case IH combine full of corn out with it, and pulled a sunk to the floorboards '99 Dodge 2500 uphill, out of mud created by seepage. I've pulled some little stuff too... as well as hung some jerks' pickup in a tree. Cost me a chain, but it was worth it.

That's a little more truck than my Ford. I know that's the last thing anyone here wants to hear... but then I don't think I could stick the PW on a cow turd. I've stuck the Ford on one more than once.

[tanusfarms]

that does sound like it would make a nice replacement, however with me being new to the winch setups i think it might be best for me to find my limits with what i have first. Most of my friends that do go wheeling and do have winches don't even have one as large as mine and i know i won't be wheeling much. this is mainly going to be used for wood, and hauling.

[heviarti]

deadman + snatchblock + winch = force the tree to fall where you want. You can also yard logs with your winch. I've used mine to put up a basketball hoop (long story) and to pull a non running car into the shop... 90° from the door with a cable thru the window of the shop. I've hung carcasses with it, heck, I nearly ran a horse drawn scraper in a mud pit with it. I'm sure I could use it to raise and lower a snowplow too. winches are useful. start looking for excuses to use it and you'l become an addict.

[tanusfarms]

deadman + snatchblock + winch = force the tree to fall where you want. You can also yard logs with your winch. I've used mine to put up a basketball hoop (long story) and to pull a non running car into the shop... 90° from the door with a cable thru the window of the shop. I've hung carcasses with it, heck, I nearly ran a horse drawn scraper in a mud pit with it. I'm sure I could use it to raise and lower a snowplow too. winches are useful. start looking for excuses to use it and you'l become an addict.

ok i know what the snatchblock is but what is the deadman? I've used the winch a couple of times already, haven't even owned the truck for a week yet. I know it will be usefull.

Has anyone ever hooked up an under the hood pully driven generator? I was thinking of grabbing one i believe they put out about 2500 kilowatts, just curious if that will effect my battery?

[heviarti]

the deadman is an immovable object you hook the snatchblock to to cast your cable at an angle so you can pull the tree indirectly, i.e. not right on top of your truck.

A high stump collared with a log chain is often a good choice. For light jobs I've used a 4x12 in a doorway. I was helping an old man put some newly restored 350 pound cast iron heating radiators on the second story of his house. I just run my cable right in his door, up the stairs, to the board... 180° with the snatchblock, back down the stairs and onto the radiator which was nailed to some 2x6 'skis'. Did it three times. Took my yarding commands via CB. signalled with my siren modulator's 'air horn'. neighbors hated me.

[tanusfarms]

I do know i will need a good snatch block any good sources to buy one out there?

[Mach428]

The problem is that you removed a battery from a chevy.......and infected your Ford.

[heviarti]

Look in your phone book under 'rigging' or if you know a logging outfit that uses cable yarder, including high lead they can tell you where to get one. You might make yourself a spreader bar and get a cable choker as well. very useful.

[tanusfarms]

i'll start looking for those i know we ahve a couple of logging outfits up here that can help steer me as well. thanks