I have had a Recon 10500 since last March and have had it spooled out probably half a dozen times. Free spool is still next to impossible to pull out by hand. Has anyone else experienced extremely stiff free spool, and did it get better or should I take it apart and see what might be causing so much friction.

The other thing is the wireless remote is acting flaky. Some times it doesn't spool in when you hit the in button, sometimes it won't stop spooling in when you let off on the in button etc.

 

There is a delay in the wireless remote, this is normal.

My free spool is somewhat stiff also but not to the point where I am concerned something is wrong.

 

Battery should be good but I will test it. I am not that worried about the free spool being "broken" just a huge pita to pull out 85' without a team of oxen.

 

My free spool has always been tight... not impossible to pull... but challanging.

 

Is this common to all winches?

 

I just pulled mine apart and there was all sorts of grime in the gearing. Really messy in there. Now it switches to free spool easy and pulls easier

 

I have an Engo. The free spool is very light. Easy to pull the line with one single arm and without any effort at all.

I have not done any hard pull yet. Just the testing to see if it was working after everything connected.

So, one question is: did the "stuck" free spool start after some hard pulling or was it from the very beginning?


Is yours also a Recon or other brand? Is it rated waterproof? Did you immerse it in water, mud? Just normal use under wet conditions (e.g. rain)?

I am asking because I am wondering of we should take some special care even if the winch is rated waterproof. I recently saw another thread about stuck Warns also. So, wondering if this is a common issue on different brands. Or, maybe, maybe, those were just lemons. Even though we only know it after the fact.

 

Synthetic or steel cable?

My Recon 10,500 free spools just fine. Have pulled heavy vehicles from mud. Will keep an eye out or issues. My line is muddy. Wireless works fine with the hesitation described.

 

I have the recon also. Used several times even with it submerged under muddy water. Still freespools easily.

 

I'm pretty sure That thread was mine. I don't think it's a common issue but I know gears are common to all winches. I have a warn. Hope it helps