Lately we’ve been hearing from customers who are having problems with their ATV plow slipping down as the winch line creeps out. This problem can be caused by one of two things: 1) winch back-driving, or 2) cable nesting.
Troubleshooting Winch Creep on ATV Plows
If your ATV winch is controlled by a mechanical brake (and not a dynamic brake), there is a chance you may be experiencing back-driving when the plow is in the up position. Winches with mechanical brakes are designed to slip under excessive load to protect the winch gears. Under the weight of a heavy plow blade, the cable may slowly creep out and allow the blade to slip down a few inches.
If this happens, simply spool in the winch line to take up the slack. Using a snatch block can also reduce the load on the winch and prevent the plow from slipping.
Cable Nesting
Cable nesting is when the winch cable becomes tangled up on the drum like a bird’s nest. As you plow, the cable can slowly tighten around the drum as it works its way into the inner layers of cable.
If this happens, spool out the cable until all the messed up layers are unwound. Then spool the cable back onto the drum in tight, even rows.
How Do I Know if My Winch is Back-Driving or Nesting?
Since both back-driving and nesting cause the plow to slip, the two can easily be confused. The best way to find the cause of the problem is to observe the winch drum as the plow slips. If the drum turns, the problem is back-driving. If the drum does not turn as the winch line creeps, then the problem is cable nesting, where the winch line needs to be properly re-spooled around the drum.
Plow Winch Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Possible Causes | Solution |
| Winch line creeps out, causing the plow to slip down |
1. Winch back-driving 2. Cable nesting |
1. If drum turns, winch in slack, reduce load, or double line. 2. If drum does NOT turn, re-spool cable in tight, even rows. |
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Tags: ATV Plow Maintenance, ATV Plows, ATV Snow Plows, ATV Winches, Winch Maintenance, Winch Rope Maintenance
