Warn low mount freespool resistance

[dogeatdog01]

G'day..

I recently decided to regrease the inside of my M8000 low mount as I thought it was in need of a service.

Anyway, I packed it full of new grease and put it back together to find that in freespool, it was hard to turn over by hand.
I thought that I may have packed too much grease into the gears so I took some out until there was a small amount left and put it back together only to find that it was much the same.
If I stack all the gear sets, ring gears, shaft etc onto the body of the winch and rotate it, it turns over quite easily.
Its only when the end cap with the sliding ring gear is placed over the winch that it is difficult to turn over.

I thought that the sliding ring gear (that locks / freespools the winch) may need to be orientated a certain way as it isnt quite symmetrical. It doesnt seem to make a difference when I tried it both ways.

Any ideas?

[Cossie]

Maybe it still has too much grease in it. Try using it a few times and see if it becomes easier as the grease gets worked out of the gears.

Also what grease did you use? If you stuffed it full of thick wheel bearing grease or similar that may be part of the issue.

[dogeatdog01]

Actually now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure it was wheel bearing grease that I used.
Looks like lithium based grease is the go then

[philhod]

Actually now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure it was wheel bearing grease that I used.
Looks like lithium based grease is the go then

I have heard from another forum, that wheel bearing grease is no good. I did the same with mine, packing it with wheel bearing grease about 12 months ago and have the same problem you are having. Apparently you have to use a grease that is almost the same viscosity as cream. Check with ARB and they will tell you what to use, but wheel bearing grease is way to thick.

I haven't got around to doing mine yet, but it is on the 'to do' list.

[DAWSO 4x4]

another thing that can cause it to be tight is the long bars that join the 2 sides together if you dont do them both up the same i think the spool rubs against it this is what happend to mine

[dogeatdog01]

thanks,

I dont think it is an issue with the bars that stretch over the winch drum.
It was freespooling with no issues with out the end cap.
I will pick up some low viscosity grease this morning and let you know how it goes.

[nayto]

Even with the winch in freespool, its still spinning through the planetary set though isnt it? so its going to be slow still and feel like its got a lot of resistance. Mount it in something solid, or back in your car then try it again......i could be wrong on this though