Steel Cable vs. Synthetic Winch Line

You like to leave the road behind? Ride the dirt trails? Do some rock climbing? Or do you just want to get Muddy? Then this is the spot
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ddgermann
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Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:07 pm
Location: Edmonton

Re: Steel Cable vs. Synthetic Winch Line

Post by ddgermann »

Oh...one more thing. Thanks for the link to the comparison video. That ate up 2 hours of the day surfing Youtube.  :wavey:   Haha
 
D
1999 H1 HMC4 (black on black)
 
Hummer: from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia. n.[font=inherit;font-size:.9em;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit] "One who, or that which excels in any quality, especially in general energy or speed."[/font]
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canadah1
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Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 7:27 am

Re: Steel Cable vs. Synthetic Winch Line

Post by canadah1 »

So all this talk about winches got me thinking " I haven't run my winch since Spring". Now this either means I have been fortunate or I have not pushed things hard enough. Likely a bit of both.
 
I have never lubricated the cable so I thought this would be a good idea as Kevin suggested. I went out and picked up the chain/cable lube at the local Napa and was ready to spool out. Hooked up the controller, pushed the toggle to spool out, only to hear "click, click" :argh: . Cable moved 1/2" and that was it. Looks like a solenoid problem in the winch.
 
Ok so the winch is out of commission. I then decide to go to out with the truck to the CDN Tire since it is out and warmed up. Drive on the highway and come down the off-ramp and the truck dies. Pull over and restart and drive 100m - truck dies again. After that it restarted and  I made it home with fingers crossed. Truck is currently getting the components in the winch replaced and/or rebuilt  and a remote PMD installed (and a spare replacement in the glovebox should there be a future failure). Figure I was lucky being that was close to home.
 
Conclusions / lessons learned / notes to self:
 
1. Count these setbacks as blessings. All this is better to happen now in the offseason as opposed to on the trail in the middle of nowhere in July.
2. Don't assume that because something work last time when you were finished with it that it will work the next time.
3. The Hummer remains true to form at about $1000/ month average in maintenance, service and new accessories.
4. If in doubt or if has been awhile - replace it. I was living on borrowed time as I believe the PMD that failed was original to my 1998 H1. The guts on my Warn winch are original as well so 17 years later how reliable could I expect it to be?
 
Thanks Kevin - the lessons above started with the "lubricate your winch steel cable" suggestion. Likely saved me from a lot more time, frustration and disappointment on the next offroad.
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whitehumh2
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Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 11:47 pm
Location: Lachine, Quebec

Re: Steel Cable vs. Synthetic Winch Line

Post by whitehumh2 »

Glad I could help!


Just imagine if you had come on the Trail here in Quebec in November!!! That would have all happened on the trail!!!


I think you should move the Warn to the rear of your H1 and install a Smittybilt 15 or 17.5 up front so you are ready for the challenges that await you in Quebec next season!!!
<p class="bbc_center">1 - There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

3b - a time to tear down and a time to build,

5 - a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

Ecclesiastes 3:1,3b&5a
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yevych
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Re: Steel Cable vs. Synthetic Winch Line

Post by yevych »

As always - Great post Kevin. Thank you. I was thinking about switching to synthetic cable... only for 1 reason - weight (I'm trying to reduce weight as much as I can). I didn't do any research - but expected it would be >50% lighter, closer to 70%. But if it is only 30% - it's not worth it. I'm running cheap Runva for 4 years now - and happy for 2 reasons cost and performance. 
Thanks again.
2010 H3 Adventure 3.7L - Hummer evolution :), 35" Mickey Thomson MTZ on 16" MT SideBiters, oem underbody & rocker protection, Safari snorkle, K&N filters, Air Doc intake, Rola roof rack, Off-road lights, Runva winch on High-Mount and Warn on tray, Outfitter heavy duty tie rods.
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