Winch Recovery 101 - What not to do when winching in the sand

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Well it looks like I can add increase the casualty tally from Stockton on the weekend.



Someone (aka me) forgot the first rule of a Winch, make sure its got a few wraps on the barrel before trying to winch out of a bog.



As you can see, the cable has snapped from the barrel. Does anyone know if you can get a new bracket for the end of the cable to attach to the barrel or am I up for a new cable all together?

[Yota Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Yota]

woops

find an industrial or commercial electrician to crimp a new lug on

[foxclan Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close foxclan]

I think your best chance of having the termination replaced would be with a rigging supplies company, such as Nobles or Bullivants.
Also check the old Yellow pages or the web for your local wire rope specialist.
Some can be reluctant to crimp fittings to used wire rope as they claim that the diameter of the rope can change after use and the ferrules are to be used on specific rope sizes. Your rope looks quite new so you may be in luck.
Could also opt for synthetic replacement.
Regards Troy

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Replace it with rope

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Replace it with rope

Actually just spoke to the boys @ Mannell motors, going to cost approx $500 to replace with rope. Going to go have a chat with them on Saturday. Replacing the steel wire cable is probably about $3-400, but hopefully i can flog my steel fairlead on eBay and get some $$$ Back.

[Bankrupt Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bankrupt]

Just get a new end crimped on as mentioned earlier. Afterall its not load bearing...just used to locate. $20-30 at Bulllivants or similar lifting / rigging supplier.

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

A question on the cable, if the cable has some decent bends/lumps in it, however the cable is not frayed/no holes in the twists, is it ok to still use the cable? Will it straiten out over time again or does this imply damage to it?

[Bankrupt Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bankrupt]

Ryzz

Post some pics (of your concerns) and I'll have a look.

Gut feel is the kinks etc will be fine, remember wire rope slings are often used with soft eyes at each end and they bend over a tight hook diametre and they live for years. Afterall a wire sling should always break just after the ferrule and not at the eye.

Can you let me know what the wire is? Im guessing a 6x19 fibe core.

[Ryzz Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryzz]

Ryzz

Post some pics (of your concerns) and I'll have a look.

Gut feel is the kinks etc will be fine, remember wire rope slings are often used with soft eyes at each end and they bend over a tight hook diametre and they live for years. Afterall a wire sling should always break just after the ferrule and not at the eye.

Can you let me know what the wire is? Im guessing a 6x19 fibe core.

Ill have a look when I go home and see if i can measure what the cable is. Its just a standard Warn winch cable, not sure on size off the top of my head. Will tape photos of the kinks tonight as well.

Im trying not to give into the temptation of going a synthetic winch cable......the weight...... lol

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

as people said just go and see a local leco and get a lug and solder it on thats what i did, from the photos supplied the cable looks ok, probably cost you 5 bucks for a lug. cheaper then 500 for a new cable and fairlead. cheer samo

[matt150 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close matt150]

I have a spare 28m steel cable if u want it, PM and come for a drive to the Hunter Valley.

[Bankrupt Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bankrupt]

Ill have a look when I go home and see if i can measure what the cable is. Its just a standard Warn winch cable, not sure on size off the top of my head. Will tape photos of the kinks tonight as well.

Im trying not to give into the temptation of going a synthetic winch cable......the weight...... lol

I understand...the synthetic is excellent from that regard...not so durable if it needs to touch the ground (rocks etc) though...plus you already have what I think will remain a perfectly suitable rope...just needs a small repair.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

While it's out paint the first couple of metres RED so you know to leave these around the drum. It should have been painted in the first place. Problem for some when you think you are buying a bargain.

I had a lug fitted at bullivants for free. Simple job. It doesn't (read shouldn't) take any load. Some are screwed in and some held in with a little bolt that needs an allen key to lock it in.

The kinks are there for life. They should be ok as long as they are not too severe. Remember to always use a damper when winching. If your rope is scrap look around for someone with a really cheap brand-new wire rope sitting in the shed (like me) after fitting plasma rope when I bought the winch.

[Jon Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Jon]

If the wire rope has severe kinks in it, throw it out. The rope can break under load at this point.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Save yourself some cash, lose the which and just use an old rope. No need for recovery points either, the tow ball will do....


On a more serious note; minor kinks can often be removed by running the cable back and forth through a snatch block under load.

Mick