Restoring a Vintage Army Tirfor Winch and Pulling over Trees leaning towards the House

I was given this broken Tirfor TU-16 winch in pieces, the owner pulled it apart and couldn't fix it.
After making a new guide roller, straightening the bent housing and giving it a good clean, it works like new. Should be good for another 50 years..

[@iRiselyTech]

Petition for Marty to get a much bigger ultrasonic cleaner!

[@happychappy2b252]

Preferably by finding it in the bush and then fixing it up

[@johnjordan4647]

Nice one Marty. Have been a big fan of the tirfor hand winch ever since we pulled a Army Land Rover out of creek in five foot of water and mud away back in 1980.The anchor point was at 90 degrees to the vehicle but it pulled it around and out no sweat. Thanks for the video Mate

[@Da5idc]

And a bigger toothbrush 😂

[@brianelliot2719]

I think he will find an old cast iron bathtub and lid along with making the electronic gizmo made out of old microwaves … and shopping baskets for parts dipping. Shouldn’t take more than a couple hours.😊

[@FACELOWNER]

@@brianelliot2719 If anyone can do it "THE MIGHTY MARTY T" can..🤣🤣There's not much he can't do.!!!

[@michaelpage7691]

In the 70s I used these big tirfors to extricate trucks, 4x4 s and tree stumps in the Australian outback. They are incredibly powerful to the point of breaking steel cabling. You’re lucky finding one of the old models. Great job. 🇦🇺👏😁

[@GARDENER42]

I still have the one I used in my forestry business here in the UK back in the 1980s. If I'm out deer stalking in rough country, it's in the back of the truck & has pulled myself & others out of some pretty sticky holes.

[@dfross87]

The best way to teach somebody not to get stuck is to hand them a Tirfor and make them extract the vehicle themselves!

[@usedcarsokinawa]

Nothing better than hearing rain on the roof as you work in the shop. Very satisfying!

[@BigFella73]

It was a throw back to "Gods must be Crazy" when the Jeep was winching up into tree.

[@emf333]

I was waiting for Marty to shout, "Done, Drill Sargeant!" like those Army boot camp movies where they're cleaning their rifles. 😅

[@markjennings2315]

It did sound like a No4 Mk1 didn't it!!

[@dougstubbs9637]

13:00 had flashbacks to ‘The Gods must be Crazy’. New Zealand has weird friut on its trees.

[@graeme02]

Same !

[@kiwi_welltraveled4375]

The old Tirfor Winch As a RNZE combat engineer, I spent a lot of time lugging that bit of kit around, along with its handle and the wire rope with attached hook, coiled onto its steel cage. Hi tech in its day and built the last. Perfect for dragging a Bailey bridge or MGB across a gap. Massive Respect 😀👍🏼 Be Kind

[@brettn4337]

As we did in the RAE

[@robertwalmsley755]

As did we in the Royal engineers 1974 to 1989

[@kiwi_welltraveled4375]

​@@robertwalmsley755 I was also in the RE, in 1990 579 EOD SQN.

[@waterbourne9282]

Mans ingenuity in conceiving, designing, perfecting, and producing the many, many things which surround us, both useful and beautiful, simply astounds me.

[@horatiohornblower868]

You got yourself a very useful piece of equipment there, Marty! In the US they call these winches come along, for obvious reasons. BTW thx for all the fascinating videos and keep surprising us in the new year!

[@chrispbacon3042]

In Australia we tell our wenches to come along.

[@lowtech_1]

Tirfor was the Manufacturer of these come alongs.

[@JHruby]

​@@lowtech_1It's not a come-along. Those are completely different.

[@etorepugatti9196]

@@lowtech_1 It was in 1941 that Tractel invented the Tirfor winch, a traction and lifting device with a continuous wire rope. The Tirfor winch was a revolution in its day. Since then, Tractel has constantly improved its operation, registering numerous patents and maintaining a high level of quality and endurance, enabling this winch to be used in a wide range of industrial applications. Commercial from the manufacturer tirfor (in French means "pull hard" tire fort)

[@bigredc222]

@@JHruby It does the same job you would use a come along for, but it's much nicer.

[@srh1101]

Those Tirfor winches are great, I used to use one in my younger days. The three pins holding the pulling lever are shear pins and are designed to split if you pull something greater than the capacity of the winch so you don't damage it. Always handy to keep a few spare ones.

[@thierrybilson9634]

Silver Steel was the (very un-Health & Safety Executive) answer

[@benny1952]

The extra shear pins are kept inside the round hollow handle, usually has a plastic cap on it.

[@georgefeener8682]

Thanks for sharing that knowledge

[@evisin77]

By watching this video I discovered of myself I don't even have to care about what he's working on Marty seems like such a good dude I'll watch his videos even if the equipment doesn't have an interest to me

[@paulriggers1558]

in the 80s, my tirfor used to permanently lie on the back of the recovery truck, but one dark night, i needed it to winch a car on, 6 pumps, then BANG, it exploded + i lost the car... all the casing bolts had rattled out over time, me being too young + daft to notice this each day for 3yrs. got a new fangled electric winch to replace it, YAHOO... [never a fan of slow, hard work on a recovery] all the best for new year young man

[@TheByard]

You have taken me back to the 1960s/70s when we used Tirfors to install the equipment trailer behind Tunnel Boring Machines, the trailer were mounted on rail track and we'd pull them in from the pit bottom and couple them up. Each would have a conveyor belt to carry the excavated muck out to rail cars. Underneath would electrical cabinets, compressed air compressors, cable storage bins etc. No forgetting a small mess room to grab a cuppa in the shift. Large Tirfors would be used to load cranes etc. onto low loader trucks, smaller ones as tie downs together with chains and toggles. Steel shutters would be used as a form to line rock shafts with reinforced concrete. The form hung on maybe 6 Tirfors with a safety drop chain. A very versatile tool but do keep an eye for cable wear at the used end. Thanks for posting

[@logik100.0]

I'm in awe of all the tree ferns. Cracking view.

[@Motumatai3]

Great bits of kit, those style winches. Extremely capable and actually safe to have people hanging from. The original steel 'cage' that the rope was stored in was a right pain for catching on everything in sight. It is much easier to store your steel wire rope in a worn out road bike rear tyre.

[@bertoltb1358]

This channel always has an irresistible pull to it.

[@PS-Straya_M8]

LoL Marty hangs jeeps off his Christmas tree instead of baubles 🤣 Thanks for all your great videos this year Marty all the best for you and your family next year! 😂❤

[@MsLancer99]

To many levers and springs for some one like me to take apart, clean up and put to gather. So well done Marty

[@PaulG.x]

That's why one videos it to allow reassembly after the memory of disassembly expires

[@terryrogers1025]

Nice salvage, handy winch to have in the maintenance arsenal of tools available. Thanks for the video young man, I enjoyed it and appreciate your taking the time to post it.

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

Dear Marty T. 👍👌👏 Very well done again and as always (video and work)! Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and especially health to all of you.

[@billholemo2518]

I always. As a lifelong mechanic,the logic you apply to every single thing. !!

[@jamesflett1887]

As Marty wipes down the toothbrush and gently places it back in the bathroom before his wife misses it and wonders where her toothbrush is 😉 another great video thank you

[@harrytaylor6854]

They work great I tore mine apart to clean and grease used it to help people with trees leaning towards homes we had two at work to pull modular home on to basements .You need to get a unit to run your cable through so your not in the way of the tree .Well done sir Marty thank you for sharing

[@tj006smith6]

This takes me back to my Pioneer course back in the mid-90s when I was still in the Army. We had 2 types one might have been this one and the other was a T-35 from memory. We used them to make aerial ropeways (Army for flying fox) to be able to transfer stores, equipment and personnel across obstacles. We did it with telephone poles as the gin and shears to suspend it from. Key life lesson, never be the first guy to test the line as it always goes a lot faster than planned. The rover tires spaces over the line at the end are designed to slow down and cushion stores and equipment but offer bugger-all cushioning to people. We also used them for vehicle recovery

[@usmcraid5332]

Wishing you and your family all the best in 2024 Move to USA - we need intelligent people like you brother!!!!!

[@oioi8037]

Brought back a few memories - Used them a lot on the power-board in the 60's when we had to pole and erect subs cross country

[@ernestospadolesto8126]

A very clean revision of the winch. It will definitely run again for years. You can hang your life on these things. When we were assembling the escalators in the shopping centers, we climbed up them and hung on them like monkeys under the roof and pulled the rope up again and changed the direction of pull. Those were the days...unimaginable given today's occupational health and safety requirements. It would be better to use grease instead of oil for such a total overhaul. Under no circumstances should you lubricate the plastic rollers with normal oil. This sticks together and causes the roll to block after a while. There is the same gooey mass as ON the rollers, which was clearly visible during disassembly. That's why use grease instead of oil, as it doesn't run onto and into the plastic rolls after a while. And another great and very interesting KZbin film.

[@MartyT]

I found the manual online, it says to use plenty of gear oil and never to use grease or lithium

[@ernestospadolesto8126]

@@MartyTIn my years of experience with elevator doors, never apply oil or grease to plastic rollers! If they write in the operating instructions to use enough oil, then it is certainly not harmful and should be followed. We only applied oil to both rope insertion holes when it stopped pulling. Then things ran smoothly again. I have also temporarily overhauled such winches, this is a special grease for such gearboxes. You can tell the age of these winches, the new ones are much simpler. This was a good revision of the winch - very interesting to watch.

[@heathwellsNZ]

Had this exact model! When I was a member of the Canterbury Landrover Owner's Club this was a common winch used for recovery. This was the days when electric winches mounted on the front of vehicles was VERY exotic and fancy! I've buried many a spare tyre and used the TU-16 for recovery! Good memories!

[@hoyks1]

I have one in the shed. For 20 years it was my go-to if I got stuck... it made me a much better driver as if you were foolish enough to get yourself stuck, then you had to do penance for the sin.

[@dave1455]

I use this Tirfor and have it's baby brother. too with the wire cage .My word they are good for pulling shrubs and small trees out if you have a decent anchor point . I got a branch hooked up in a conifer one day and didn't realise until it sprang off ,hit me in the head and knocked me to the ground. Have you ever seen those cartoon characters with the bruise growing when they get bashed ,well it was just like that. That taught me a lesson that day to wear a hard hat as thought my day had come ..

[@richl6827]

Marty, Please consider a Q&A streaming video. We’re so curious and have so many questions.

[@beachbum5118]

Marty I had a flashback when you started winching your jeep up the tree. I reembered a hilarious part of the movie" the gods must be crazy" when the fellow's jeep gets accidently winched up a tree. Thought for a moment maybe your winch would get stuck in the pull position and you would say "bugger" and tell us the next video would be you getting the jeep back down off the tree. 🙃🙃😊

[@MRrwmac]

Good restoration and will definetly be a good new tool for you! I like that the inspector came by with his popcycle to check your work!

[@MartyT]

😂

[@scotty2307]

Quite a surprising performer for a winch that only has a friction hold on the cable.

[@brunomckay1875]

Ex Army dude here, the most brilliant manual winch ever invented, you can honestly crush a house using these. Slight issue is over oiling, thats just a sand and grit magnet. Running them with the lightest touch of lube works well. They stand the test of time now and will in a hundred years.

[@meirionevans5137]

Simple, portable, should be good another 50yrs now.

[@IGDZILLA]

I found one of these on the roadside yesterday, no cable though. Without the videos you made on these I would not have known what it was. But under the first rule of scavenging I snapped it up. I hope it cleans up nicely and now I have some idea of how it works inside. Thanks Marty. I call it "shopping at La Strada". You can buy heaps of amazing stuff there.

[@ArdieStranger]

The Tirfors are incedible reliable tools. You need to use special steel cables, but then they are absolutely save. The original instruction says "oil generously", "too much oil never harms".

[@user-sr5tk8hb2u]

Didn’t need to be thrown away , just needed to thrown towards Marty T . Good Job Marty , 🎉Cheers !

[@malcontender6319]

14:23 What an amazing, almost prehistoric rainforest! NZ is gorgeous!

[@juncusbufonius]

Boy do you have some nice tree ferns at the back there. On the video I'd say the usual. That is: a welcome calm and interesting time that I wait for always.

[@MartyT]

Apparently there are some very rare tree ferns there

[@tutekohe1361]

They looked to be either Wheke Ponga or Mamaku.

[@ron827]

Very cool tool and thanks for showing us the extensive cleaning which most of us may not have ever seen before.

[@graemezimmer604]

Wonderful things Turfors! I had mine out yesterday to drag some Shipping containers around. I bought mine new about 50 years ago. Was interested to see what's inside. Thanks Marty.

[@tutekohe1361]

Some nice firewood in those Kanukas, Marty.

[@Trey4x4]

I have a tirfor which hanging from my 18 wheeler at all times here in America. Used it once when I hit black ice and had to pull myself out of a rut

[@shooterjohn7163]

I bought one of those come alongs back in 1968 when I got my first Jeep. It’s still working like new and is a great piece of equipment to have. Those ultrasonic cleaners sure come in handy. I use mine more than my old parts cleaner. Good video

[@SweIceMan]

Seasons Greetings to you and your family, Marty. Cheers from Sweden!

[@greenbimoon]

I didn't realise that Punga were so strong in their roots and stem!

[@AndyM.]

I just spent 7:53 minutes watching YOUR video and I had cup of coffee too! WELL PLAYED YOUNG JEDI, WELL PLAYED INDEED!!!!

[@jackrichards1863]

Cute little tirfor. Never saw them in the army. They had them apparently. Discovered them in Building construction where we used 20 ton models that used a 1" or 1 1/4" cable . We were able to pull the big steel into position with them, when a footer was laid fractionally incorrect. Those ones would pull a D4 bulldozer up your tree, but they were riveted together and no way to service them really. Also had to keep them clean and dry!

[@chrissmith7655]

Hi Marty, yes handy bit of kit the old Tirfor, used many a one in my working days, adaptable in all sorts of ways. Many thanks from UK.

[@bsimpson6204]

We borrowed one from the stores 40 years ago, used it to pull a telegraph pole back upright after it had snapped off at ground level. No training, none expected, we used it and got the job done. Well done restoring that one Marty, very useful tool.

[@danbentsen]

Liked the video. I am doing sort of the same thing you are doing, I am thinning a few trees on my overgrown Xmas tree farm, so the trees left will have more sunlight and water. Been using snatch block pully & wire rope w/a TO-30 Ferguson tractor to fall the 50-60' Fir trees in direction I want so they are easier to skid out . Thanks for the watch.

[@stephenwagener349]

I’ve seen this before. Oh no I haven’t. That vid two years ago was the first tirfor restoration. Good to see he now has two of them.

[@bobbonner1314]

I used Tirfor winches *we called them Tirfor Jacks for some reason) in the British Army, really useful tool for many apps.

[@k13ehr]

It always amazes me that someone sat down and designed these things, probably had to re-design many times and then finally it just works as it was supposed to do, then Marty gets it all broken and makes it work again, magic.

[@dougstubbs9637]

Marty fixes a winch. I just knew once he got the drum, he could pull it together.

[@burlatsdemontaigne6147]

It's a lovely bit of engineering and well worth the trouble you took to put it back in service. That's why I watch this channel.

[@TishaHayes]

Amazing how well those four little nylon rollers work to keep the mechanism sliding in the split-case. I can see how an annual bath in some mineral spirits can remove the sand, gunk and grit from the internals.

[@40cleco]

Great video Marty. I got to say that putting a ladder on the tree freaked me out as a good friend of mine is now paralyzed from a ladder and tree incident. Be safe.

[@vincentricher9038]

Nice one mart brilliant bit of old Kit saved by the wizard of engineering

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Always very interesting Marty thanks for sharing 🦘

[@bishopkinlyside8477]

Hi Marty, it was good to see the managing director coming out to make sure you’re doing the right thing and the chickens. keeping a eye on you , Cliff from over the ditch at Logan city, Queensland, Australia 🇦🇺👨🏻‍🦽

[@lonhoschar1943]

Looks like an exceptional piece of equipment. Much like a "Handy-Man" (HighLift) jack for those long-distance pulls!! Great video! You always have something different to show us. Love watching your channel!!

[@marcellino1956]

Marty T either you got a great Memory on how to put things back together or you taped yourself taking it apart and went back to see....LOL any way its always great seeing you fix things...I always learn something.

[@MartyT]

I confess I had to check the footage 😂

[@marcellino1956]

LOL Marty you're an all right guy...BTW I'm a big fan !!@@MartyT

[@Chris-ji4iu]

Awesome that you did this with minimal tools. Proof that you can do almost anything with a hammer & screwdriver (and a lathe always helps!). Great job!

[@gshooty55]

Wow! I have one of those and will now attempt to restore knowing how powerful it is! It will be a real asset on our farm! Thanks for filming that!

[@jamesdt1980]

17:11 Sounds like the chainsaw is screaming that it's about to get crushed by a felled tree.

[@jannickliche7080]

With Marty’s videos it feels like I can smell the metal and oil through the video. Love it, makes me feel like I’m in my workshop even tho I’m not 😂

[@SudosFTW]

That's quite the winch! Had you went out and bought a new one, I bet the winch would have given out long before the rotten tree stumps would have. Did a fine job on that.

[@rapido2963]

They used to be standard issue on the fire engines in the UK fire service. We used them on road accidents, animal rescues, etc. They can pull 2.5 tons.

[@gfrankum63]

Your daughter is really growing up! She's starting to look a lot like Jeanine now. It's fun watching your videos and seeing your family interaction.

[@Onionbaron]

Sounds like really dense wood in those trees!

[@rayscrafield2106]

Your videos are always so interesting. I've never seen a winch like that before. Thanks Mate.

[@user-wu7sn7ml7v]

Thank you Marty. I wish I had a winch like that. So handy in the bush.😅

[@plunder1956]

A friend of mine has one he uses to pull tree trunks and other heavy objects.

[@rahtak]

One man's trash is another man's treasure

[@charliemyres5450]

Nice restoration. If you spread a small tarp, or piece of plastic, under the winch it will help to stop the ingress of dirt into the works.

[@buddyreed2623]

It's like having an extra person to pull the tree down.

[@geraldguyette470]

Great find Marty . If your car gets stuck you can winch it out with ease , take care .

[@mauricekeithjohnson2598]

Marty and Family ! Wish you ALL THE BEST, -From Bermuda 32N64W.

[@NoOnezZup]

wow that ultrasonic cleaner worked great on those parts!

[@ionracer3284]

That thing is a beast! I reckon it'd pull just about anything that was stuck! Nice score!

[@neildriedger637]

👍🙏😇❤GREAT video MARTY!!!

[@billyhaddock5540]

Tem-ber MartyT, ur Army Tirfor Winch is a beast at pulling down trees. great job..

[@roverdad]

Surprised that you painted it. Usually you leave the patina :).

[@shephusted2714]

rite call with ultrasonic! I think you should take out about 100 trees - space for yard, garden etc maybe do a solar array, maybe plants a few trees or do a small orchard etc the winch makes taking down older rotten trees much safer, good info on the piano hinge - all round good content with this one

[@leslieaustin151]

Happy New Year Marty! Good to see the family keeping an eye on you in parts.. look forward to many fascinating videos in 2024! Les in UK 🇬🇧

[@christopherwelford8401]

Happy Christmas! I liked the electric quad but this is what we all love! You fixing knackered old mechanics, tractors, cranes etc.

[@petergillon9379]

Merry Christmas sounds better

[@happychappy2b252]

​@@petergillon9379depends where you are from, I'm happy/merry with either

[@BrassLock]

Good LORD !!! Imagine being so goddam grumpy, you even complain about the style of Xmas Greetings people give freely to each other. Its got everything to do with your Obsessive Compulsive Christmas Disorder. Heaven help your family (if you have any left that is) 😮

[@juhaanttinen9031]

I have the same Tirfor- device and I use it when cutting trees . Greetings from Finland.

[@ronaldheit196]

Marty, that's one seriously handy dandy piece of equipment you got hold of and back in working order. Looks like your Son is about past the wee one age. He's growing like a weed on the channel. Won't be long before He's working with you on projects.

[@daddybob6096]

Happy New Year to you and your family Mart. I have enjoyed your 'MacGyver', type fixit video's over 2023. 👍🍻🍺🍺 Be safe, see you next year Mart. Bob. Lower Hutt.

[@mathuetax]

Pretty cool that it is double acting, both swings create effort.

[@Shagnasty]

Hi Marty, I really enjoyed this video. Really enjoyed how you tore it down. . then cleaned it up. Glad to see how you put it back together. Looks like a new one. Great job pulling those trees down. Thanks for sharing. Always looking forward to your next adventure.😊

[@sheerluckholmes5468]

*"I'll clean all this up and make a bit of a garden"* Who are you kidding Marty, you'll put more salvaged machinery there.

[@jasonrees7980]

Save a bit of work and get a faster pull by choking at where you can reach. Plenty enough power on trees that small. I’ve got a couple tirfor winches and an old Lewis chainsaw winch. Throw in a pulley or two and you can get some good power out of them. Nice job on the restoration!

[@JacobusCoetzee-qz2pl]

Watching Marty winch up the S410 up the tree reminded me the scene in a movie the gods must be crazy by South African director and filmmaker Jamie Uys. A series one land Rover dies in the middle of a river and the male lead tied the winch to a tree to winch it out. He got distracted and well the Landy hanged like a fruit from the branch. Ironically the Landy like every other one had no brakes and was called the antichrist 😂😂😂😅😅😅😅

[@user-nk8fy4ij3m]

Another great video from the Wizard. ❤

[@terryevans7661]

I Think I've watched this one before, but had to watch again. A very complicated little so and so. Love it. Happy New Year to you and your Family.

[@MartyT]

I fixed a similar winch a few years ago, this one is bigger

[@billholemo2518]

As a suggestion, wash all parts in atf n diesel oil ,it helps the final lubricant adhere to all parts 😊.

[@nickrose1778]

Tirfor 16 best hand operated cable winch going. Rated, as you said rated for 1600kgs dead lift, 2500kgs horizontal pull. Got me out many a bog and up rock ledges. Still going strong. Cheers