After winching...

[SW4006]

I pulled two trucks from the mud in Folsom yesterday with my SE9500. In reading, I understand that the winch cable needs to be initially wound with at least a 500lbs force to properly compress the cable so that it doesn't crunch down on it's self and kill the cable. I wound the cable the first time outof the box by pulling my jeep up an incline.

I could have pulled the first truck out at 20 feet or less, but to use the winch to its full potential (truck was up to frame in mud) and for safety, I pulled about 80-90 feet. I was at a slight angle because he was parallel to the shore and I couldn't get too close to the water.

When I pulled him out the cable piled up a little on one side of the drum because of the slight angle. But on the second pull, about 90 feet, I unwound the cable and got rid of the piled up cable. But, the second was out in like ten feet. So I had a lot of "unused", slack cable. I just wound up the cable, guided by hand.

If I were to use the winch now, with like 80 feet of uncompressed cable...say I had to do a third pull yesterday, would it destroy the cable because of the lack of the 500lbs compression.

Plus, now I have a cable with sandy mud all over it... There's so much dialog about what to do during the pull (which is much appretiated)...But, what does the seasoned off-roader do AFTER.

I hope this makes sense.:blush:

[jkkat]

With lots of sand and mud, pull it all out clean it off with a hose or pressure washer then real it back in with tension on it.

[dburgette]

This makes lots of sense and I want to know the answers, as well.

[Jeepin Dad]

After winching I normally unspool then respool with tension on it just make sure it is on nice and tight plus it gives me a chance to inspect the cable to make sure it wasn't damaged during the pull, but as long as you got it spooled back fairly even and tight by hand you should be OK.

[SW4006]

I am going to have to respool it. It's a little sloppy, plus I will need to clean it.

Now that I think about it, even though the second pull only took about ten feet, I should have kept pulling to keep the pressure on the cable... but I guess it doesn't matter since I have a cleaning detail ahead of me.

From the factory the cable was perfectly wound on there, though no tension was applied. I can't get it that perfect again to save my life. I feel like I'm bunching it up and it's going to pinch itself and weaken the cable.

Thank you so far!!!

[sn4cktime]

I don't think you'd need to re-tension the cable. Not a 100% sure on that but when I used to work on big winch tractor trucks with multi-tonne winch drums we used to spool em with hand tension. They never had any issues because of it. I think it's like you mentioned, just needs tensioning the first time.

[-MAW-]

My superwinch says 100lbs of tension

[N2rock]

I am going to have to respool it. It's a little sloppy, plus I will need to clean it.

Now that I think about it, even though the second pull only took about ten feet, I should have kept pulling to keep the pressure on the cable... but I guess it doesn't matter since I have a cleaning detail ahead of me.

From the factory the cable was perfectly wound on there, though no tension was applied. I can't get it that perfect again to save my life. I feel like I'm bunching it up and it's going to pinch itself and weaken the cable.

Thank you so far!!!

I found a way to get it spooled perfectly, just like from the factory. In fact, I've had people comment that I've never used my winch.

Find a long parking lot (I use the parking lot at the local High School). Get another vehicle- In my case, I used a second JK. Took my recovery strap, and attached it to the other JK's front tow hooks- I double the strap back on itself, so it ran stretched across the front of that JK, and then both ends came out front, and I hooked the winch hook to the 2 ends of the strap- this is the key right there, because having that strap out there like that allows the cable to go back & forth across the drum as it spools in. Then I just wind the winch in, while the driver of the 2nd JK puts light pressure on their brakes- this keeps the line spooling in taunt. Now all you do is just stand back and reel it in. The line will stay taunt and will go back & forth across the drum just like a factory wind.

Funny was that I never intended to have a perfect wind, I was doing this when I first bought the winch in order to compress the line. And when I finished, it was a perfect spool.

[SW4006]

N2Rock: Sounds good! I happen to have a large parking lot for a park in front of my house with a long grade. I will do that with my wife's SUV. I'm surprised you didn't need to guide it by hand to keep it going back and forth.

MAW: My Milemarker manual states 500lbs.:dontknow:I wonder why such a difference.

[N2rock]

N2Rock: Sounds good! I happen to have a large parking lot for a park in front of my house with a long grade. I will do that with my wife's SUV. I'm surprised you didn't need to guide it by hand to keep it going back and forth.
.

I believe the trick is using the recovery strap- that strap allows the cable to easily move back and forth, as opposed to having just the winch hook attached to a stationary point.:yup:

[-MAW-]

N2Rock: Sounds good! I happen to have a large parking lot for a park in front of my house with a long grade. I will do that with my wife's SUV. I'm surprised you didn't need to guide it by hand to keep it going back and forth.

MAW: My Milemarker manual states 500lbs.:dontknow:I wonder why such a difference.

WELL FOR THE LP8500 THEY SAY A MIN OF 100LBS :thinking:

BUT I NORMALLY TOW STRAP AROUND A CEMENT PILLAR A HOOK ON TO THAT TO DO IT

I GUESS IT IS THE BARE MIN FOR THE LINE TO KEEP TRACTION ON THE FIST LAYER

[dburgette]

I found a way to get it spooled perfectly, just like from the factory. In fact, I've had people comment that I've never used my winch.

Find a long parking lot (I use the parking lot at the local High School). Get another vehicle- In my case, I used a second JK. Took my recovery strap, and attached it to the other JK's front tow hooks- I double the strap back on itself, so it ran stretched across the front of that JK, and then both ends came out front, and I hooked the winch hook to the 2 ends of the strap- this is the key right there, because having that strap out there like that allows the cable to go back & forth across the drum as it spools in. Then I just wind the winch in, while the driver of the 2nd JK puts light pressure on their brakes- this keeps the line spooling in taunt. Now all you do is just stand back and reel it in. The line will stay taunt and will go back & forth across the drum just like a factory wind.

Funny was that I never intended to have a perfect wind, I was doing this when I first bought the winch in order to compress the line. And when I finished, it was a perfect spool.


Well, if you do this anytime soon you should snap a picture. I think I understand what you are saying, but the visual is always a nice confirmation. :thumbsup:

[N2rock]

Well, if you do this anytime soon you should snap a picture. I think I understand what you are saying, but the visual is always a nice confirmation. :thumbsup:

I'm doing a run to Shiloh Ridge in two weeks. Last time there I had to use the winch, so probably need to use it again. If I end up redo-ing my spool, I'll snap the pictures.

[jeep08ham]

Having made over 40 pulls with my Superwinch, I got tired of totally pulling all of the line out and then pulling with tension on it. Now I retreive the vehicle and then pull myself close to the retreived vehicle and unhook and then attach cable to the D ring. It has stayed straight. I am careful to not pull at angles so far.

[sn4cktime]

When i first spooled my synthetic line I just used my Dad's truck as an anchor. Had him guide the line with gloves on (slowing down when switching wrap directions) and had his Toyota with it 's e-brakes on light to stop it from rolling forward and to add resistance. I think similar to what was mentioned above only more labour intensive.

[SASQUATCH]

Running a Warn 9.5xp here, I had a similar situation (cable bunching) happen to me when I had the steel cable on mine, I replaced it with synthetic and have never had an issue since, even if I'm pulling someone out and the syn-line runs on one side only, it does not tangle, why rock-crawlers love the synthetic. I perodically unwind the entire thing, big parking lot, hook on to another jeep, slight parking brake on their vehicle and winch them in, I have not measured how many pounds but it's close enough.

[brent_f70]

I found a way to get it spooled perfectly, just like from the factory. In fact, I've had people comment that I've never used my winch.

Find a long parking lot (I use the parking lot at the local High School). Get another vehicle- In my case, I used a second JK. Took my recovery strap, and attached it to the other JK's front tow hooks- I double the strap back on itself, so it ran stretched across the front of that JK, and then both ends came out front, and I hooked the winch hook to the 2 ends of the strap- this is the key right there, because having that strap out there like that allows the cable to go back & forth across the drum as it spools in. Then I just wind the winch in, while the driver of the 2nd JK puts light pressure on their brakes- this keeps the line spooling in taunt. Now all you do is just stand back and reel it in. The line will stay taunt and will go back & forth across the drum just like a factory wind.

Funny was that I never intended to have a perfect wind, I was doing this when I first bought the winch in order to compress the line. And when I finished, it was a perfect spool.


DAMN GOOD IDEA!!!! THANKS:thumbsup:

[SW4006]

:thumbsup: Thanks 'all so far. Any cable cleaning tips or issues?

[w squared]

I found a way to get it spooled perfectly, just like from the factory. In fact, I've had people comment that I've never used my winch.

Find a long parking lot (I use the parking lot at the local High School). Get another vehicle- In my case, I used a second JK. Took my recovery strap, and attached it to the other JK's front tow hooks- I double the strap back on itself, so it ran stretched across the front of that JK, and then both ends came out front, and I hooked the winch hook to the 2 ends of the strap- this is the key right there, because having that strap out there like that allows the cable to go back & forth across the drum as it spools in. Then I just wind the winch in, while the driver of the 2nd JK puts light pressure on their brakes- this keeps the line spooling in taunt. Now all you do is just stand back and reel it in. The line will stay taunt and will go back & forth across the drum just like a factory wind.

Funny was that I never intended to have a perfect wind, I was doing this when I first bought the winch in order to compress the line. And when I finished, it was a perfect spool.


+1. I don't have a winch on my JK yet, but I've respooled many a winch on Quads and larger trucks this way. If you don't have another vehicle, you can hook onto a solid point with a tree saver and use your own vehicle's resistance (with a hair of e-brake on), or you can get two or three friends to pull on your cable as you winch them in.

[JKDoc]

If you are running a steel cable and you have power washed it or gave it a good soap and water scrub, you should oil it. All those cable fibers rub against each other and they are a lot happier with a bit of lube. 30 weight motor oil lightly applied works fine. Good for boat steering cables, motorhome slideouts, any cable system.

[SW4006]

:thumbsup:

I was leery about oiling it because of the dirt/dust attraction, but I guess that's the whole reason for periodically cleaning it.:yup:

[JKDoc]

:thumbsup:

I was leery about oiling it because of the dirt/dust attraction, but I guess that's the whole reason for periodically cleaning it.:yup:
It does not need to be dripping in oil. You want just enough to penetrate the cable and keep all the wires happy. You will see oil weep out of the cable as it is wound in under tension but that just lets you know its doing its job proviiding lubrication and allowing the individual wires to adjust to the tension.

[Big Clint]

Having made over 40 pulls with my Superwinch, I got tired of totally pulling all of the line out and then pulling with tension on it. Now I retreive the vehicle and then pull myself close to the retreived vehicle and unhook and then attach cable to the D ring. It has stayed straight. I am careful to not pull at angles so far.

I thought I read somewhere that ideal winching is not to pull straight from the winch, but rather to use the sides of the fairlead...which if true would encourage bunching of the cable.