Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hi guys, i need to pick your brains about what you think i should look at to fix my winch probs....

was winching the other day out of a bog hole and after winching about 40m in 2 stages and set up for the third the winch gave up the ghost.

when i went to start winching using the in cab switch the lights would dim and the wwinch solinoids would click but no winching action. after a few frustrated flicks of the toggle switch i could hear sparks and saw a very small plume of smoke from under the bonnet. on inspection and now using the original hand controller i could see it sparking at the axillary battery terminal for the winch power. it also blew the instument fuse and kept doing it till i disconnected the winch power from the battery.

i have 3 batteries set up with the starter being a optima blue top 1125cca / 75ah that also powers the winch and another optima yellow top 1125cca / 75ah and predator 100ah with these 2 as my dual battery system. all batteries have dash mounted gauges and none showed any sign of power drainage during their use.

FYI i do not have a lead running from the negative battery terminal to the winch as i was told this wasnt necessary as the winch is earthed by being bolted to the chassis via the bull bar.

the vehicle runs fine and no charging issues

lots of info but trying to give you all the facts.

hope you can help, regards nathan.

I am no expert on winches, but sounds like the motor is gone, fused and shorted which will head up and cause the smoke as well

How is the big trip going, where are ya now or are you back?

you should of earthed the motor if it had a bolt on the motor for it but yer, it sounds like the motor is gone But did you give it a rest doing to long pulls, you where asking for trouble