winch + water = disaster

[dont_follow_me]

hey guys, have a little problem.

I have a GQ (not the problem) with a Warn winch on the front. The winch has stopped working (thats the problem) and when I pulled the solenoid box apart it was full of mud (another problem). Then I took the winch off and the motor was also full of mud/water/rust/corosion (another problem).

My question is and yes I have used the search button to no avail

1. whats the best thing to clean the winch motor out with - ie non conductive cleaner maybe in a pressure spray can

2. should I replace the solenoids with original warn ones or would an aftermarket control box be fine

3. to keep the water/mud ot of the winch motor, would it work if I ran a small pipe into the housing with a small amount of air pressure behind it. I was thinking of a 12v air pump, a small one, that I cold just turn on when entering deep water to keep it pressurised and hopefully dry.

The winch seems to spends alot of time submerged (read as bogged in deep muddy water holes) and I would be interested to hear from anyone who has done this or found another way to keep the winch motor dry. I will be relocating the control box into the engine bay to keep it drier and less prone to water damage.

any practical advice appreciated

[GUte]

Your motor should have a drain at the bottom.
Drill and tap a 1/8 nptf ( I think it is ) hole and fit a barb at the top of the motor. Be careful where you drill. Make sure it is between the windings.
Use one of those cheap 12v lilo pumps to pressurise it.

CRC / WD4O good to clean and an old tooth brush.

Al.

[dont_follow_me]

thanks mate

[Bitumen Beast]

I a sparky in a salt mine, so you could imagine the trouble we have with moisture getting into electrics. We use a CRC brand spray called Contact Cleaner. It sprays on wet to rinse out all the shit and dries within seconds. I had the same trouble with my winch, sprayed it out and haven't had a problem since.