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Respooling Winch Cable

Written By: Esther
May 10th, 2012 | Filed under Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winches, Winch Cable, Winching Tips

Wear leather gloves to respool winch cable.

Letting your winch cable spool up like a bird’s nest is a sure way to damage your winch or cable. Follow these tips to respool your cable in neat, orderly rows.

Respooling Cable After a Pull

Safety first: Always wear leather gloves for respooling winch cable. They protect your hands from burrs, wire splinters, and extreme temperatures.

To respool correctly, you need to keep a slight load on the cable. Hold the cable with one hand and the remote control switch with the other. Start as far back and in the center as you can. Then walk towards the winch as you power in the cable, keeping a load on the cable as you move forward.

Do not allow the cable to slide through your hand. Be careful not to approach the winch too closely. Getting your hand or glove caught in the winch is extremely dangerous.

Turn off the winch and repeat the procedure until all the cable except 3 feet is spooled onto the drum.

Disconnect the remote control switch and finish spooling in the winch cable by rotating the drum by hand with the clutch disengaged.

On hidden winches, spool in the cable under power, but keep your hands clear of the opening.

Uneven Spooling

Winch cable that spools unevenly while you are pulling a load is not a problem unless the cable is piling up on one end of the drum. If this happens, reverse the winch to relieve the load; then move your anchor point further to the center of the vehicle.

After you’re done winching, you can unspool and re-wind for a neat lay of the cable. Neat, tight spooling avoids cable binding, which is caused when a load is applied and the cable is pinched between the other wraps.

Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winches, Winch Cable, Winching Tips
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Keep Your Winch Working

Written By: Esther
April 10th, 2012 | Filed under Winch Maintenance | No Comments »Tags: Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement, Winch Maintenance, Winch Safety

Use your winch at least once a month, even if just to power the cable out and back in.

Use It or Lose It

We highly recommend using your winch regularly (at least once a month). Even if you don’t need to use the winch for anything, get the motor running and warmed up to keep the winch in good working condition.

Simply power the cable out 5 feet, spool out another 2 feet, and then power back in. This will keep all components in good working condition so that the winch will be ready to use when you need it.

Maintenance

Every so often, check the mounting bolts and electrical connections to make sure they are tight and free of corrosion or damage. Remove any dirt and corrosion that may have accumulated on the electrical connections.

Lubrication

The gearbox and drum bearings are permanently lubricated. No internal lubrication should be required for the life of the winch. Re-lubrication is necessary only after repair or disassembly.

Cable Safety

Always check the condition of the wire or synthetic cable before using. If there are signs of damage that could compromise the safety of the cable, do not use your winch until the cable is repaired or replaced.

Never substitute a heavier or lighter wire rope as a replacement. The rope should have the same diameter and load capacity as the original cable.

Tags: Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement, Winch Maintenance, Winch Safety
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Recovery Winch Ropes: Synthetic or Steel Cable?

Written By: Esther
February 6th, 2012 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope | No Comments »Tags: Recovery Winches, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement

Synthetic rope is safer than steel cable.

When recovery winches first came out on the market, they all came with steel winch cable. Now there’s a new kid on the block: synthetic winch rope. While some offroaders are skeptical of the long-term durability of synthetic rope, others have made the switch and say they’re never going back.

Winch Rope Safety

What’s so special about synthetic winch rope? The biggest advantage, according to most offroaders, is safety. While steel winch cable can snap back violently if it breaks, synthetic rope is lighter and stores less kinetic energy, which means that it doesn’t go very far if it snaps.

We’ve all heard stories about steel cable shattering windshields or causing serious injuries. No one wants that to happen when they’re out for a trail ride…especially if the kids are along. Synthetic winch rope makes recovery operations safer.

Advantages of Synthetic Rope

Besides safety, there are other reasons you might choose synthetic rope over steel cable. Synthetic winch rope is lightweight (less weight hanging off the front of your Jeep), flexible, floats in water, and is easier on your hands—no barbs, no freezing, and no burning.

What About Steel Cable?

Is steel cable ever preferred over synthetic? Yes, if you mainly use your recovery winch for utility tasks like yard work, landscaping, and farm chores. Wire cable holds up better under abrasive conditions.

Synthetic Rope Care

Synthetic winch rope is more expensive than steel cable and requires more care. The synthetic fibers should be protected from the sun (excessive UV exposure can break down the fibers), and you should never leave the rope muddy or wet when spooled on the drum.

Tags: Recovery Winches, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement
Posted in Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope | No Comments »

Tips for Using a Recovery Winch Rope

Written By: Esther
December 28th, 2011 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winches, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Wireless Winch Remote

The winch rope should spool in tight, even rows onto the drum.

1. Don’t spool out all of the cable.

Always keep at least 5 wraps on the drum. Leaving a few wraps on the drum helps anchor the winch cable in place. The rope attachment to the drum is not designed to hold a load by itself.

Expert Tip: If your cable is too short, choose a closer anchor point, use a longer tree strap or chain, or hook up a cable extension.

2. Avoid continuous side pulls.

They place a strain on your recovery winch and allow the rope to pile up on one end of the drum. If the rope gets pinched in the winch housing, your rope or winch could be damaged.

Expert Tip: As much as possible, rig up the pull in a direct line from the stuck vehicle. Use a pulley block to redirect the pull if needed.

3. Avoid shock loads.

Use the winch remote to take up any slack in the rope. The rope should be under tension before beginning the winching process. Shock loads can momentarily exceed the winch rating, which is dangerous for your equipment and for any bystanders.

Expert Tip: Pulse the winch remote intermittently to wind the rope until no slack remains.

4. Watch how the winch rope spools onto the drum.

Don’t let it pile up on one side or get nested into the inner layers. The winch cable should spool in tight, even rows across the drum.

Expert Tip: If the cable stacks unevenly on one side of the drum, spool out the uneven section of rope and reposition it to the opposite end of the winch drum.

5. Never use a winch rope for towing or snatching another vehicle.

Use a snatch strap to free a stuck vehicle with a shock load, and use a tow rope to tow another vehicle at a slow, steady pace. A winch rope is also not meant to hold a load in place.

Expert Tip: Snatch straps are stretchy (to handle shock loads), while tow ropes do not stretch (to pull another vehicle behind you).

Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winches, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Wireless Winch Remote
Posted in Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winching Techniques | No Comments »

Wire Winch Rope Safety

Written By: Esther
December 21st, 2011 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement, Winch Rope Maintenance, Winch Safety

Use the winch strap and leather gloves to spool out winch cable.

Handling wire winch rope is one of the hazards of using an electric winch. Although steel cable is rugged and durable in tough winching conditions, it can also be dangerous if handled carelessly. Here are a few tips on learning to handle wire winch rope safely.

Hand Protection

First off, protect your hands. Stray wires from the cable can tear up your skin if you’re not careful. Wear thick leather gloves any time you handle winch cable, and do not let the rope run through your hands. Grab hold of the winch saver strap to spool out cable, and use the hand-over-hand method to guide the cable back onto the spool.

Dampen the Cable

Although the chances of your winch cable breaking are low, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Dampen the winch cable by draping a heavy mover’s blanket or similar object over the rope. Place it about midway between the winch and the anchor point. Even a tree branch, heavy winter coat, or a length of chain draped over the winch cable will work in a pinch.

If the cable happens to break during the winching process, the extra weight will slow down the backlash effect. Just like a rubber band, your wire rope can snap back if broken. Besides dampening the cable, make sure bystanders are standing well out of the cable’s path. The winch operator should also be careful to stand out of the cable’s path as well. If you are operating the winch from inside your vehicle, consider raising the hood for an extra measure of protection in case the winch rope fails.

Winch Cable Replacement

Check your winch rope often for signs of damage. If your cable shows signs of deterioration beyond the usual wear and tear, replace the cable before using your winch again. For safer cable, consider switching to synthetic winch rope.

Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement, Winch Rope Maintenance, Winch Safety
Posted in Offroad Recovery, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »

Choosing Synthetic or Wire Winch Rope

Written By: Esther
July 28th, 2011 | Filed under Choosing a Winch, Synthetic Winch Rope | No Comments »Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement

Synthetic winch rope is lighter and safer than steel cable.

Whether you’re looking for a new winch or replacing a damaged winch rope, one of the choices you need to make is whether to get a wire rope or synthetic cable. Wire rope is the most widely available choice, and it’s been in use for a long time. Synthetic cable is newer to the offroad scene, but it’s quickly growing in popularity. Here are some of the pros and cons of wire and synthetic rope.

Types of Use

If you’re planning to use your winch mainly for utility tasks (yard work, landscaping, farm chores, and the like), you’re better off with a wire cable. Wire holds up better under abrasion.

If you use your winch mostly for mudding and creek bogging, synthetic is the better choice. It’s lightweight, easy to handle, and floats in water.

Safety

One of the biggest drawbacks for steel cable is the fact that it holds so much tension. If the cable gets damaged and snaps, it can backlash violently, damaging anything or anyone in its path. That’s why experts recommend dampening the winch line with a heavy blanket, coat, chain, or tree branch. The extra weight slows the cable down and reduces the backlash effect.

Synthetic cable, on the other hand, doesn’t store the same amount of energy as steel, so even if the synthetic rope breaks, it rarely causes damage. It’s a lot safer for you, for your equipment, and for the people who ride with you.

Price

Wire rope is cheaper than synthetic rope, but depending on how much you value the safety and advantages of synthetic rope, the extra cost is more than worth it. If possible, ask a friend with synthetic rope if you can try out their winch. Ask what they like and don’t like about using synthetic rope. Their experience can help you make the decision between wire and synthetic winch rope.

Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement
Posted in Choosing a Winch, Synthetic Winch Rope | No Comments »

Prevent Winch Rope Failure

Written By: Esther
July 1st, 2011 | Filed under Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »Tags: Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Rope Maintenance

Winch rope must be underwound on the drum.

Winch rope failure is most often caused by operator error. There’s a lot to know about how to safely operate a winch and take care of your winch rope. One small oversight can lead to winch failure or rope failure.

Causes of Winch Rope Failure

One of the most common causes of rope failure is friction. Overloading the rope is possible but less likely. You can usually tell the reason for the rope breaking by examining the cut ends. If most of the rope fibers are cleanly cut, the culprit is friction—for example, rubbing on a sharp rock or the edge of the winch plate. If the rope fibers are stretched out in long, thinning frays, the culprit is overloading. Sometimes you’ll see a combination of both, in which case a majority of the strands are cut by friction and the rest are frayed by the resulting overload.

Winch Rope Spooling

To prevent damage to your winch rope, make sure the rope is spooled onto the drum in the underwound direction. When the rope comes off the winch drum, it should be coming from underneath the drum, not on top of it. If the rope comes over the top of the winch drum, it will go through the fairlead at an angle, which leads to friction and possibly cutting. If the rope comes out from underneath the drum, it will go through the fairlead straight on, which eliminates friction and cutting.

Angle Pulls

Sharp angle pulls are another possible hazard for your winch rope. Straight pulls prevent the rope from rubbing on the sharp edges of a winch plate or bumper, but if an angle pull is your only way out, make sure the rope is not rubbing against anything. Same thing with sharp rocks. Don’t let the rope fray on a rock or other sharp object while you are winching. Use a rope sleeve to protect the rope.

Tags: Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Rope Maintenance
Posted in Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »

Can I Attach a Snatch Strap to a Winch Cable?

Written By: Esther
March 4th, 2011 | Filed under Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winch Accessories, Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Strap, Snatch Strap, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable

Unlike a snatch strap, winch rope is not designed to stretch.

If you’re short on winch cable, you might be tempted to hook up a snatch strap for an extension, but this can be a dangerous fix. Snatch straps and winch cables (wire or synthetic) are made for different purposes.

Snatch Straps

Snatch straps are designed to stretch and be able to handle shock loads. They can handle enormous amounts of force but only for the second that it takes to yank out a stuck vehicle. Then they immediately return to their normal length. Holding a snatch strap steady at its peak rated load can render the strap useless if it stretches to the point that it will no longer return to normal length.

Winch Cables

Winch cables are designed for steady pulls that require little or no stretch. For winch recovery, it’s important that the cable has no stretch for two reasons: 1) any stretch in the rope means that it takes more length of rope before the stuck vehicle will move, and 2) if the cable breaks, it will be less likely to act as a slingshot for shackles, snatch blocks, and other metal winch accessories. Because a winch cable has little or no stretch, it can easily be damaged by shock loads.

Using a Snatch Strap as an Extension

What happens when you connect a snatch strap to a winch cable? Combining these two materials increases the danger of the recovery process. If the winch line were to break, the snatch strap with its elastic nature could greatly increase the danger of projectiles, such as a D-shackle. The strap and cable have different breaking points, which complicates the amount of force that your recovery gear can handle.

In the end, it’s best to avoid combining a snatch strap and winch rope, both for the safety of people nearby and to avoid damaging your vehicle. Stick to safe and recommended techniques for winch recovery.

Tags: Offroad Recovery, Recovery Strap, Snatch Strap, Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable
Posted in Offroad Recovery, Recovery Winch Accessories, Winching Techniques | No Comments »

How to Replace a Winch Cable

Written By: Esther
March 2nd, 2011 | Filed under Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Installation, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement

Replace the cable on your winch with the same diameter and length.

When replacing the cable on your ATV or recovery winch, use the cable width and length recommended by the manufacturer. Never replace cable with heavier or lighter rope. If the cable is too thick, you won’t be able to fit as much cable on the spool. If it’s too thin, it won’t have enough strength for the load rating on the winch.

If preferred, you can switch to synthetic rope for safer winching, plus no frayed wire or kinked cable.

You do not need to remove the winch from the vehicle (unless the winch is mounted in a way that restricts access to the drum) or take the winch apart to replace the cable.

How to Replace Wire Winch Cable

Spool out the entire length of the old cable.

Remove the winch cable where it is attached to the drum. Release the tension on the cable and push on the end of the cable where it feeds through the small hole in the drum. If the rope is kinked over and pulled tight into the drum, simply push the cable out of the hole until you can straighten out the kinked cable. Then pull the end of the cable through the hole to remove it from the drum. If the cable will not come out by pushing, try using a pin punch (or something similar) and a hammer to drive the metal button or keeper out of the hole. If your cable is attached to the drum with a bolt, you’ll need to remove the bolt to take off the cable.

Attach the new cable to the drum. For wire rope, slip the end of the cable through the hole in the drum and tighten the set screw to hold the cable in place. For recovery winches, apply Loctite (or similar product) to the cable clamp thread to prevent loosening of the screw. Tighten the clamp screw (but be careful not to overtighten).
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If you are replacing your wire cable with synthetic rope, push the end of the rope into the hole in the drum. Pull the rope through the hole, wrap it around the underside of the drum and over the top, tuck the rope underneath itself where it exits the drum, and then depress the end of the rope back into the hole in the drum. You may need to use a screwdriver to force the end of the rope into the hole.

Respool the cable in the underwound direction so that the winch spools in and out correctly. Respool under a load of at least 500 pounds so that the outer layers will not draw down into the inner layers.

Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Cable, Winch Cable Replacement
Posted in Synthetic Winch Rope, Winch Installation, Winch Maintenance | No Comments »

Respooling Winch Cable

Written By: Esther
February 18th, 2011 | Filed under Winching Techniques | No Comments »Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Winch Cable, Winching Tips

Respool under load to make the cable tight.

After you use your winch, it’s important to make sure you respool the cable so that it’s tight. If the cable is spooled too loosely, the strands can intermingle and create a “birdsnest” that’s next to impossible to untangle without a headache. Here are a few tips on respooling the winch cable. To respool under load using your vehicle, see this article.

Wear leather gloves to protect your hands while respooling the winch cable. To make the cable spool in tight rows, keep a slight load on the cable during respooling. Hold the cable in one hand and the remote control switch in the other. Start as far back and in the center as you can. Walk towards the winch, keeping load on the cable as the winch is powered in.

Do not allow the cable to slide through your hand—this can burn your hand or tear up your skin from loose barbs and rough spots in the cable. Don’t let your hand get too close to the winch.

Stop powering in the winch when only a few feet of cable is left to spool. Disconnect the remote control switch and finish spooling in the cable by hand. Rotate the drum manually with the clutch disengaged.

On hidden winches, spool in the cable under power, but make sure to keep your hands clear of the winch.

Tags: Steel Winch Cable, Winch Cable, Winching Tips
Posted in Winching Techniques | No Comments »