My Xrc8 is new and other than doing some re-spooling under a moderate load(parking brake) it's never really pulled anything out, my question is why is it so hard to pull the line out on the "free-spool" setting and will it loosen up over time or is there something that I can do to loosen it up.

I actually can not pull it out by hand and I'm not exactly a small guy.

 

Are u sure the free spool is completely engaged? Mine is very easy to pull out.

 

Steel, It's clean enough to eat off of (I've got a pressure washer at work and it's washed daily), no over laps, it's hard right from the start.
I can un-spool it on Free Spool if I hook it to something and back up the Jeep so I know that it's not partialy engaged.

 

I think that I found the problem..............I'm an idiot.......every time that I have tried to pull the cable out it's been cold out side, I just tried it after it's been in the sun all day and I was able to pull it out fairly easely.

 

It is a little of both, weather and new! The same thing happened to me when I got mine. It was really difficult at first, but it loosens up and will work great when needed!

 

I have the XRC-8 as well but have had no problem. I've re-spooled it but did not think to lubricate with chainsaw oil. Thanks for the write up. I will be going down to the store to get some oil to assure I have no problems after a cold winter.