Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I've got a Brawn 9500lb lowmount winch which has been used hard for many years until last weekend when she died.

What happened was huge current draw whilst winching up muddy hill (single line pull). Then stopped. When i tried to wind in or out it would draw large current but no go. +ve wire from battery to Albright solenoid was very hot. Braces both busted, not sure if under load or cable bunching up to one side.

It was first suspected that gearbox was seized and causing massive draw on motor, but gearbox appears to be fine.

Anyhow i've pulled it apart today and when i connected motor only the wire heated up like mad.

I can turn the motor by hand. I've tightened up all the studs.

I haven't pulled it apart mainly because i didn't have an allen key to undo the 4 plugs/screws/wotever.

It's got 4 big plug thingy's that take an allen key, 4 small screws and 2 long bolts in the end.

How do i pull it apart further and what should i be looking for? Is their some fault finding thing i should do to eliminate possibilities? Is their an auto elec. or winch guru on this forum i could take it to in Melb?

BTW, all grease is good, no signs of water or corrosion. About 8yrs old and never been pulled apart. Spent many times in water and mud both operating and not.

Thanks for your help

Also under elctrical section
http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic ... 27#1120427

a similar thing happened to my magnum winch a day after i bought it. Huge current draw but a no go. My motor was rusted on the inside and it earthed out through the motor housing onto the winch mount on the bar through the mounting bolts i guess frying the motor in the process. You'll probably find that you've just burnt the motor out. If gearbox and other internals are good then its prob a fried motor. Sounds like you overshot the duty cycle of the winch if the inside of the motor is clean....

sounds like the insulation has let go on the windings n earthing internaly

So is it fragged or fixable d'ya reckon? Would most auto elecs be able to fix it or is there someone else i must take it to?

Any Melb. based auto elecs on the forum?

get a sparky to throw a megger on the windings. prove they are down to earth............... you could prob have it rewound or buy a new motor