Winch spooling evenly?
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Winch spooling evenly?
you obviously don't want to stand infront of your jeep trying to guide your cable to spool evenly.
I'm just curious if I can sit in my jeep and winch worry free of all my cable spooling on one side of the drum and eventually getting into a bind. Can this happen? If so how do I prevent it safely
I'm just curious if I can sit in my jeep and winch worry free of all my cable spooling on one side of the drum and eventually getting into a bind. Can this happen? If so how do I prevent it safely
JK Freak
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
From: Lake Metigoshe, North Dakota
well to start, you winch until the cable is taught in position to make sure that the cable IS feeding correctly, once its taught and feeding properly you throw on the damper and get clear of the danger zone.
Last edited by Mountain Man Tim; Aug 8, 2014 at 11:47 PM.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,800
Likes: 374
From: Midwest City, OK
A couple other tips:
- A snatch block can improve the pull direction--and also the feed direction (to the winch).
- A too heavy winch (say, 12,500 lbs instead of 9,500 lbs) comes with a shorter, thicker line. It will experience the problem you describe with shorter pulls more readily than a thinner line.
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia PA
I have a similar question/issue with spooling, hope I don't derail too far.
Anyone have a way of keeping the cable tight on the drum while you are repositioning the line. Heck, even if I do manage to keep tension on it I will inevitably use the free spool and then the drum will end up rotating itself loose even if I'm holding the cable.
I've been unwinding/rewinding line to keep it from loosening and kinking almost every time.
Mark mentioned big cable doesn't help... mine is 3/8 so I suppose it's middle of the range. Quadratech winch.
Any suggestions or is it just part of the game.
Anyone have a way of keeping the cable tight on the drum while you are repositioning the line. Heck, even if I do manage to keep tension on it I will inevitably use the free spool and then the drum will end up rotating itself loose even if I'm holding the cable.
I've been unwinding/rewinding line to keep it from loosening and kinking almost every time.
Mark mentioned big cable doesn't help... mine is 3/8 so I suppose it's middle of the range. Quadratech winch.
Any suggestions or is it just part of the game.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Most pulls you'll probably find are pretty short--just enough to get someone over a bit or rock, muck, sand, etc, to where he can drive on his own. But if you do have to winch a long ways, you can always stop the pull and check how the spooling is coming along. Sometimes you have a really long pull so have to feed out a lot of cable, and you're at a very odd angle. It should be pretty rare, but if you're worried about it do the obvious: Stop the pull, check visually, and reset everything as needed. Wind out the cable if need be, hand feed it back on the spool properly (without a load of course), then reset to continue the pull. A couple other tips:[*]A snatch block can improve the pull direction--and also the feed direction (to the winch).[*]A too heavy winch (say, 12,500 lbs instead of 9,500 lbs) comes with a shorter, thicker line. It will experience the problem you describe with shorter pulls more readily than a thinner line.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
I have a similar question/issue with spooling, hope I don't derail too far. Anyone have a way of keeping the cable tight on the drum while you are repositioning the line. Heck, even if I do manage to keep tension on it I will inevitably use the free spool and then the drum will end up rotating itself loose even if I'm holding the cable. I've been unwinding/rewinding line to keep it from loosening and kinking almost every time. Mark mentioned big cable doesn't help... mine is 3/8 so I suppose it's middle of the range. Quadratech winch. Any suggestions or is it just part of the game.
Or of course buy a synthetic line
Trending Topics
JK Jedi
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 107
From: missoula,mt
when you are cleaning up your winch line mess put some good tension on the line when respooling ie either winch your jeeps rolling weight towards something or winch your buddies jeep back to your jeep. nice tight spool job usually stays spooled.
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 625
Likes: 1
From: California
Talking about post-trip, cleanup at home only.. I winch a friend or relatives vehicle on a slight incline. And I personally do stand in front of the jeep and guide it properly with welders gloves on while another person runs the winch in this scenario. Not sure why it would be unsafe if taking precautions. Winching a car in neutral on a driveway doesnt produce enough tension to break the cable let alone cause it to whip.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: N. CA Motherlode
If you are running synthetic there is no problem with standing near the front of the winch. If and when that rope does break, it will just fall and not slingshot like steel rope. Plus, I found that syn rope does need a bit of help spooling back on evenly.....love being able to always handle it with no gloves.