Rocklobsta

I'm new to winching. Bought a smittybillt X2O 8,000 lb winch and used it the second day it was installed. Long story short I recovered two stuck 4x4s out of clay ruts and ended up with this nice little kink in the brand new wire rope.

Is this repairable? Is this to be expected? Most sites suggest that if you're unsure, just replace the cable, but I find it hard to imagine a situation where you would recover someone and have no visible wear.

I want to do the right thing but I also don't want to be buying new cables every time I winch.

Thanks, any advice is greatly appreciated.

biff

get a synthetic rope and throw that away... And don't look back.
Yes, it adds to the cost, but synthetic has become cheap enough it isn't worth the risk to run something that makes you worry everytime you pull someone out.

JeepAddOns-Chris

Biff is correct. Unfortunately, I went through several steel cables in less than a year due to kinking and switched to synthetic and would never look back. The kink that you have in your rope there is now a weak spot and it should be replaced.

Jeepstin12

the weak side of metal, once it is in its set state, then bent without proper technique (forming, heat, etc.), it is weak in that area. Bend it back? Weaker even more so. Replace it. Go synthetic.

ruffchem1

Do i think it will snap??? Probably not anytime soon.

Would i risk my face or windshield? NO I would just get synthetic.

I had a cable snap on my old winch. I just looped the wire thorugh the hook and used some rope clamps to keep it together.
Although i am not reccomending you to do that. It did hold up for about a year until i got my new winch.

Islander1

The problem is no one can give you an answer. Is it a weak spot ? Sure it is. Will it break, hmmm no one knows. What you need to ask yourself at this point is are you ready to live with the results should it snap. Look for vids of winching gone wrong or something like that if you haven't seen it in person. Steel cable is no joke and can do massive damage, remove body parts and kill. A 8000 pound winch doubled up on line is 16000 pounds, not what I want flying at me. If used correctly a steel cable will not kink and last far longer than syn cable. That being said synthetic cable is a hell of a lot safer than steel. Even for a pro. My suggestion would be if it is steel and you are uncomfortable enough to ask if it is safe. Then replace it because you are ultimately responsible for damage or loss of life.

Baron2007

Get a synthetic rope. They are safer I know for a fact they don't snap back if they break

ruffchem1

Keep that rope out of sunlight!!!!

ABENDX

There is nothing wrong with a steel cable. NOTHING! Syn does have it's advantages, but their are pros and cons either way. As for sunlight.... I hear this misinformation again and again and it baffles me. Why would the marine industry champion and use syn rope if it had issues with sunlight, corrosive salt air, etc? So... no need to pay more than you need to... but a steel take off (for next to nothing) from another that bought into the likely unnecessary upgrade... or buy syn, as it is good stuff... nice and light, safer.

Islander1

Nothing against syn cable, it is good. But I for one will stay with steel. But everyone needs to buy whatever they feel comfortable using. I am confident in steel cable, never seen one in good shape used correctly break. Also I haven't yet seen a heavy crane use anything but steel.