Sealing up winch solenoid box? Winch maintenance

[mike_nofx]

I've decided to give my Warn XD9000 winch a birthday.

Its approximately 10 years old and has never been opened before, so i opened it up to give it a good clean out and grease. It was working before i opened it, it just sounded a bit rough.
The grease in it was like clay, so after a quick degrease and waterblast of the components (bar motor) The gears came up like new.

The motor had light rust coating everything, and the brushes were almost jammed in position. So freed everything up, and lightly rubbed back the contact areas (careful not to touch the coated wires). sprayed everything with penetrene.
It was interesting to note that the motor had no gaskets, was just a metal on metal seal, so i ran a bead of silastic on both the motor-to-winch face, and the motor end cap, but left the 2 small drain holes open.

I havent re-assembeled the gearbox yet, but will be using marine grease.

Anyway, i am yet to touch the solenoid box (which sits on the bullbar). Im just going to clean all of the terminals and coat them in something... thats my first question.

I've noticed with some electrical components, they come with a white grease coating the terminals. Is this designed to keep water out? If so, would it be suitable to coat the solenoid terminals with?

Next question, Is it possible to seal up the solenoid box with silastic or something, so water cannot get in? Is it a good idea? if not, why?

I have been in a situation where the solenoid box was just touching water, and i needed to winch out. Of course terminals were wet so winch didnt work.

Thanks

Mike

[coxy321]

Lanotec or similar for EVERYTHING in the box.

OR, just buy a Titan solenoid. It shouldn't matter if your terminals are wet when you winch. We're talking a few hundred amps draw here - not 5 or 10.

[mike_nofx]

it made a sparking noise, and a bit of smoke, then didn't work.

Eventually after 10 or so flicks of the control switch it kicked over. All solenoids still work now.

[ajsr]

I sealed my control box as it had a crack in the lid and used to fill with water, it never affected the function of the winch but it used to fill up to the lid level.
I sealed the lid with silicone after I sprayed the entire inside with cavity pariffin wax (the panel rustproofer) as its totally waterproof. the water just beads off it and it soaks into what its put on.
I opened it up after a few months all dry and happy.

[Skegbudley]

I replaced my solenoid pack with one of Tigerz11 ones.
Great upgrade. Its a lot smaller so it fitted inside my bullbar and has a remote control as well as a normal cabled hand controller.

[coxy321]

it made a sparking noise, and a bit of smoke, then didn't work.

Eventually after 10 or so flicks of the control switch it kicked over. All solenoids still work now.

I would say it was a dodgy connection, or one of the solenoid cans actually has a leak.