How to check a winch

[jawk]

HI y'all,
Looking at a 100 series on the weekend.
It has a Warn Magnum winch installed.
In all the 4wding ive done over the years Ive never had or used a winch (have used the hi lift jack instead tho twice!).
So, how do I check that it works?
Wind it out and back in - sorted? !
Anything to cast an eye over - or multimeter?

Dont envisage it will ever get used but its on the car so might as well check it works...

Thanks
Gary

 

[NoWorries]

Put some load on it and make sure it does not crap itself
please remember safe winching practices

 

[Sammy D]

The main failure that we have had with winches is the electrical connections. We have had the problem with warn as well as a couple of no name winches, go to use it after a fair while and either nothing happens at all or it will run out but not in or vice versa. All fixed by undoing all connections then cleaning and reassembling with liberal does of battery terminal protectant.

But running it out and putting it under a little load will show anything up pretty quickly. As @NoWorries said "remember safe winching practices"!!!!!!!

 

[Drover]

Rope or wire ??????? check for crush or burn marks on the cable/rope, will show if it's been abused.............run it out and as stated load it up when you wind it in, engine running of course.............when run out check the last 3 windings on the drum for damage as well, they should be in good nick as well as the drum............................if the winch is a bit sad and knocked around then the vehicle probably is as well...........always have a minimum of 3 windings on drum before loading up the cable.

 

[jawk]

Thank you all; wire rope.
I'll take some tools and multi meter just in case it doesnt function and I can then isolate where it stops working etc (solenoid pack etc).
Of course it will work faultlessly (powers of positive thinking)!!
If all goes well I might change it to the plasticy rope - thinking the weigh difference might be worth it... (specs says something like 15kg diff).
Unless of course the plasticky rope needs more TLC ?
Thanks again, very much appreciated.
Gary

 

[NoWorries]

Nylon rope is the way to go unless you are a rockhopper where wire is better (rocks will very quickly wear away nylon)

 

[jawk]

Nah, no rockhopping. I might use it to pull out some aggies, but cant see it being used in anger in the foreseeable future!

 

[Maxisverymad]

I have had winches on all my vehicles for my whole driving life and used extensively, including PTO and electric with wire cables only, wire rope really needs no maintenance and can be winched in over rocks, dirty and wet with no problems, I believe nylon and the like need to be spotlessly clean and dry to avoid abrasion, rot and damage to rope.
Off topic I know but just my thoughts.

 

[Fabulous]

Agree with wire, less maintenance, rope is good and lighter, but needs to be cleaned more often.

 

[Drover]

Wire should be cleaned and oiled (boiled oil) to ensure a long life, rarely gets done though and rope needs to be cleaned after use both should always be used with a snatch block which lessens the load on the cable/rope and winch.........

 

[Maxisverymad]

Spot on @Drover with both points especially using snatch blocks.
Last winch was a Thomas PTO on my HZJ75 with 100m steel flexible wire rope and always ran out most of the cable to get drum diameter down to get maximum pulling effect whilst using up to three snatch blocks.
Now have Warn Electric on HZJ79R with 30m cable and good winch but won't winch all day and have to re position cable etc. (admit don't winch quite as much these days)
Damm should of keep winch but sold vehicle to Son so did the right thing!

Sorry @jawk post sort of got highjacked, run cable out, and back in under load, have vehicle on slight slope (always have some one in drivers seat) this way will slightly load electrics etc and keep cable tight, make sure cable lays correctly on drum with no cross overs.
Inspect cable for any kinks or any Broken wires in strands, this will give a good indication of poor use.
Cable Shouldn't have any kinks, if so consider changing cable as it will be derated an unknown amount.
If it all looks good it's about all you can do short of getting it professionally checked.
My last piece of advice is if you haven't had much winching experience, get some training and learn right to start!

 

[bigcol]

as has been said, run it out, and then back in with a load..................

ahh, but what sort of load you may well be thinking......

I always found - there are plenty of light poles around on the streets, so

get someone to grab the end of the cable, and start walking - position your car near enough to the light pole first - then walk out the cable
once you have it out
(I always do maybe 5 mtrs winch, then 5 mtrs free spool, then 5 mtrs winch etc - this also helps to know how and if the Free spool will work)
attach it to your light pole, and start to winch in - have the car in neutral, and just use the weight of the car be the load

while its winching in (and you are using proper Safe methods) you can make sure it is spooling onto the drum correctly, a little weight with your hip or GLOVED hand on the cable is enough to get it into the correct lay.
make sure NO-ONE is in between the front of the Car & the Light Pole - except the person controlling the winch

 

[bigcol]

the merits for and against Steel Wire Rope & Dyneema Nylon Rope are pretty much of a muchness

Steel Wire needs to be "kink" free, and as @Drover said, oiled up occasionally - atleast once a year at a minimum
Dyneema Nylon needs to be clean and not left in the sun continuously, years on end - as it WILL deteriorate

wire rope when it brakes, is like a whip
nylon rope when it brakes will drop
both should have a blanket or windcheater on them when winching to absorb the shock of up & down flex

it really is an Either / either thing

 

[Drover]

My rule for the last 45 yrs of FWDing is don't get bogged, it has mostly been adhered to as well, I don't have a winch which makes for dilligent driving.....................Did have a winch when I bogged a Mog at Cape York, not a tree for miles and a little shovel........when the ground is level with the floor you know your in trouble, got out by myself without winch or tow but thats another story.........I only failed to proceed, not bogged .

 

[bigcol]

too true,
I have had 2 4wd's previously with winches - both were never used (kept forgetting they were there - go figure)
the one in the Patrol now, has only been used once
man, what a night, but thats a different story

 

[Maxisverymad]

Hardly ever had to winch out of a bog.
Steep mountain country that's a different story, if you don't have a winch your not getting out. Can't go back up the way you dropped down and can't drive up the other side, no amount of shovelling will ever help.
Hence long cable and snatch blocks and sometimes hours of winching

 

[Drover]

Have used sling shot to get up some big ones, but then it's always handy to travel the mountains in a group, spent heaps of times in southern NSW, Araluen etc some good spots down there to turn your hair grey...well used to be most is closed off now. Hated having to winch always took so damn long.

 

[bigcol]

and unless you had a Navvy, was way too much effort


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