Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi there again, have a 10,000lb winch, first is the supid question,
Whats the difference between a high and a low mount winch??
A couple of 2nd hand winch motors are available for purchase, do most warne motors bolt straight onto a warne winch?
Mine is 12v, can i go to 24 volt?
Does it matter what horse power it is??
cheers guys

High mount winch has the motor above the winch drum.

The low mount winch has the axis of the motor inline with the axis of the winch drum.

Some early high mounts, without free spool, have a parallel keyway where the pinion gear mounts on the motor output shaft. The later high mounts have involute splines on the motor output shaft. The motors can interchange as long as you use the appropriate pinion gear.

All low mounts have the involute spline on the motor output shaft. The splines are the same as on the high mount. But the low mount motor output shaft has a hole (about 1/4", 6.7mm dia) drilled on the axis to locate a rod in the brake mechanism. The high mount motor I have seen don't have this hole, but they can be drilled in a lathe, to fit onto a low mount winch.

The low mount motors will fit a high mount if the high mount has the free spool mechanism and the splined pinion gear. The 6HP motor from the XP low mount winch is a popular upgrade for high mount winches (as well as lesser low mount winches).

The different HP motors are interchangeable (subject to output shaft comments above). In my experience, higher HP motors (like the 6HP) are less likely to overheat and let the smoke out than low HP motors, for the same rope load.

Edit: sorry missed the 12V / 24V part.

A decent 12V motor can be used with 24V on power in. The current draw is less and the motor is faster. However the motor can overspeed, which leads to failure if the motor is run at no load eg. power out rope, instead of using free spool and pulling rope of drum by hand. The power circuits can be set up for 24V in and 12V out.

A 24V motor will be too slow and I suspect, the current too high for the windings if used with 12V.

The 24V solenoids will not work with 12V. The 12V solenoids will work with 24V in the power circuit, and 12V control circuit.

agree that 6hp are better - just tested one hauling 2 tonnes 14m up a 1:3 slope, no baulking, stalling and no heat in the motor at all. Some heat in the gearbox end, but nothng to worry about. Also the 6hp is better sealed and painted inside too:) 6hps will fit other winch brands, eg., X9 superwinch too.