Winch Question: Attaching Cable

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:06 am

Ok this is a simple question but one I never remember crossing on this forum before.

I have my plasma winch rope, I have my winch.

Now what is the correct way to attach the winch rope to the winch. The winch came with a little cable clamp thing that I guess was used when the winch cable was thread through the hole in the drum and clamped on the inside somehow.

My new winch rope comes with a Battery cable stlye clamped end with the metal tab with a hole. I guess I bolt this to something, but what?

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:14 am

To those that care, found same question on Pirate with answers...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthre ... winch+rope

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthre ... ight=winch

Post by **TuffRR** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:17 am

Using the tab to bolt in to the drum was how my low mount winch worked. It used a pretty small bolt which IMO wouldn't hold all that well under strain.
My high mount has a U bolt setup which attaches to the end of the rope and just clamps done onto the rope stopping it from escaping out the hole. This method works fine on my plasma rope.

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 11:28 am

So you just used the normal cable clamp on the sythetic rope?

Another question, after the recommended 5 winds why wouldn't you put the rope under itself (ie a flat knot) that strenghens the end of the line from pulling off the drum. This way you dont rely on the clamp in the drum at all when getting near the end of the rope.

Also, when winding the cable on, looking at the winding direction and playing with the free spool, the rope exits from the top of the winch drum and out, not the bottom? Always thought it left from bottom of drum.

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:07 pm

Please Note my experiences are all low mount winch related...

In answer to your queries:

1. the winch line should run out from the bottom of the drum - not over the top (obviously this may differ for highmounts?).

2. the cable on my low mount is attached using a tab that looks exactly like a battery terminal and a very small axel key bolt. Note: This item should not take any real load and is only there to help wind on the cable. Once you have the 5 or so rings around the drum it is relying on friction to hold itself there.

The lowmount winches have a small hole to accept the hex bolt which is on the side of the drum (see my dodgey picture).

3. Crossing over the cable/rope as you have suggested would a no no from a cable perspective as it would result in the squashing of the cable and this would weaken it. I'm not sure about how well rope handles being squashed in this manor. An alternative would be to put a rubber sheath over it? Or perhaps even some racing tape or something just to hold it in place. I've also heard of people putting a marker or some sort on the cable when there is 2 metres to spare so that they can easily tell when the end of the cable/rope is approaching.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

p.s. put some locktite on it when installing the winch drum - else you will look silly later

Post by **MKPatrolGuy** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:25 pm

High mount should wind in from the bottom of the drum

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:33 pm

ToNkA wrote:Also, when winding the cable on, looking at the winding direction and playing with the free spool, the rope exits from the top of the winch drum and out, not the bottom? Always thought it left from bottom of drum.

MKPatrolGuy wrote:High mount should wind in from the bottom of the drum

Perhaps someone (not pointing any fingers (at you Tonka) or naming any names (i.e. "Tonka")) has put their winch together wrong, or mounted it backwards

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:33 pm

Just free spooled the winch sitting on the bench and it winds out with the cable comming from the top (no cable on winch - but where cable would be) I always thought it came from the bottom.

Maybe I am looking at it wrong.

The aluminum hawse should attach the bottom two mounting holes too?

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:35 pm

greg wrote:
ToNkA wrote:Also, when winding the cable on, looking at the winding direction and playing with the free spool, the rope exits from the top of the winch drum and out, not the bottom? Always thought it left from bottom of drum.

MKPatrolGuy wrote:High mount should wind in from the bottom of the drum

Perhaps someone (not pointing any fingers (at you Tonka) or naming any names (i.e. "Tonka")) has put their winch together wrong, or mounted it backwards

I dont see how I could put it back together wrong.

errrrrrrrrm.

I feel really Grimace right now. It makes no sense.

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:37 pm

greg wrote:
ToNkA wrote:Also, when winding the cable on, looking at the winding direction and playing with the free spool, the rope exits from the top of the winch drum and out, not the bottom? Always thought it left from bottom of drum.

MKPatrolGuy wrote:High mount should wind in from the bottom of the drum

Perhaps someone (not pointing any fingers (at you Tonka) or naming any names (i.e. "Tonka")) has put their winch together wrong, or mounted it backwards

I dont see how I could put it back together wrong.

errrrrrrrrm.

I feel really Grimace right now. It makes no sense.

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:37 pm

If it's on Free Spool you should be able to spin it either way.

Perhaps you're lever is labelled incorrectly, and when on free spool it is actually on 'retrieve' / 'in' ?

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:42 pm

greg wrote:If it's on Free Spool you should be able to spin it either way.

Perhaps you're lever is labelled incorrectly, and when on free spool it is actually on 'retrieve' / 'in' ?

The highmount brake doesnt let it freespool other way.

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:47 pm

Clearly it's all busted and broken mate... I think the only sensible thing is to give it to me and start buying the goodies all over again.

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:49 pm

Not Helping!

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:54 pm

Sook!

Try here:

http://www.warn.com/corporate/images/90 ... eaders.pdf

go to page 2... it has a "get to know your winch" diagram and description for both lowmount and highmount.

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:03 pm

ToNkA wrote:The aluminum hawse should attach the bottom two mounting holes too?

The mounting of the hawse (slot) should line up with where the line is going to be coming from (i.e. a bit below the the bottom of the drum) - the idea being that the cable / rope should spend the least time possible being dragged accross the hawse / fairlead. This will keep friction (wear and tear) to a minimum.

The bottom two holes? I gather you are mounting it on an ARB bar or something? If you want exact placement measurements for where the hawse should go - borrow a fair lead and see where the centre slot for it lines up - that will help you get the hawse position correct.

Post by **MKPatrolGuy** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:48 pm

ToNkA wrote:
greg wrote:If it's on Free Spool you should be able to spin it either way.

Perhaps you're lever is labelled incorrectly, and when on free spool it is actually on 'retrieve' / 'in' ?

The highmount brake doesnt let it freespool other way.

you mean with the freespool lever pulled out? If so, you should be able to turn the drum either way without the brake locking

Post by **MKPatrolGuy** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 2:49 pm

greg wrote:
ToNkA wrote:The aluminum hawse should attach the bottom two mounting holes too?

The mounting of the hawse (slot) should line up with where the line is going to be coming from (i.e. a bit below the the bottom of the drum) - the idea being that the cable / rope should spend the least time possible being dragged accross the hawse / fairlead. This will keep friction (wear and tear) to a minimum.

The bottom two holes? I gather you are mounting it on an ARB bar or something? If you want exact placement measurements for where the hawse should go - borrow a fair lead and see where the centre slot for it lines up - that will help you get the hawse position correct.

Yes to the 2 lower winch mounting bolts

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:01 pm

I was going to use the winch bolts as they line up. Maybe not then.

Post by **MKPatrolGuy** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:02 pm

ToNkA wrote:I was going to use the winch bolts as they line up. Maybe not then.

You are meant to use the winch bolts

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:04 pm

Missed your last post. Sorry.

I feel like Hottie Monster.

Still havent got a clear pic of the spooling direction, I know I am doing it wrong I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong exactly.

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:08 pm

ToNkA wrote:Missed your last post. Sorry.

I feel like Hottie Monster.

Still havent got a clear pic of the spooling direction, I know I am doing it wrong I just can't figure out what I am doing wrong exactly.

so you currently just have the general consensus of wrongness going? Oh well - glad to see that we are starting to get somewhere :roll:

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:09 pm

MKPatrolGuy wrote:
ToNkA wrote:I was going to use the winch bolts as they line up. Maybe not then.

You are meant to use the winch bolts

You mean the holes in the winch bar for the bolts right?

Post by **ToNkA** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:15 pm

Ok. This is where I am at and I will try and explain it.

1. How to attach rope to drum. check.
2. How to mount hawse. check.
3. Which way to spool on rope.

I havent wired the winch up or anything. For me to manualy move the drum around (ie free spool) I pull the clutch knob out at the top of the gear box (highmount winch) This allows me to (with some force) spin the drum while the brake pawl click. This spinning goes in a direction that would have the winch rope comming from the top of the drum and not the bottom.
If it were to come from the bottom the freespool would be going the wrong way. So it looks like it winches from the top. This makes no sesne to me as I beleive and others here that it should come from the bottom.

What the fork am I doing wrong here?

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:38 pm

you took it apart right? could you have put something on backwards (i.e. so that the brake is facing the other way?

Or

Are you looking at it from the back - in which case the line would come over the top?

Post by **greg** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:44 pm

Here Tonka,

I found this picture that some silly person had posted and drew some directions on it just to really ensure that we are all talking french here.

Is that of any help?

Post by **MKPatrolGuy** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 3:53 pm

greg wrote:
MKPatrolGuy wrote:
ToNkA wrote:I was going to use the winch bolts as they line up. Maybe not then.

You are meant to use the winch bolts

You mean the holes in the winch bar for the bolts right?

Yep and these hole in the winch

Post by **Bitsamissin** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 6:42 pm

Ed, have you tried the search function :?:

Post by **60serius** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:15 pm

Tonka the free spool out runs in the same direction as if the brake
was engaging if it did'nt the brake would not hold when engaged
So the clicking should be on the reteave direction :shock:

Post by **big red** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 7:19 pm

The high mount winds in from the bottom.
The fairlead [or hawser] bolts to the bottom two holes.
The free spool often jams and wont pull out but if i loosen all the mounting bolts then tighten them back up again it usually works, this indicates to me that the end plates twist and causes the jamming.

Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Winch Question: Attaching Cable

Winch Question: Attaching Cable

Who is online