Winch Re-Spooling

A short video of how I clean and re-spool my winch cable for my Warn Zeon 10 winch.

[@anna-maria4559]

Hey man, this is a great video and I had to let you know I found it extremely helpful. I've been an avid off-road junkie since I was 16, but my experience with winches was limited to watching other members of my jeep club operate theirs out at Rausch Creek. But now, with the JK FINALLY PAID OFF!! I had the exceptional luck to WIN a winch! I'm installing it this afternoon, but thought I'd better check RUclips first for any tips and tricks I might not know. I'm very glad I did - not only was I unsure how to properly re-spool (which you so clearly and concisely taught me!) I also learned from some great Aussie some important wiring safety tips (I really enjoyed when he said "un-dah da bonnet," LOL!) Most of all, as a longtime volunteer firefighter/rescue tech myself I was extremely pleased with your emphasis on safety - unfortunately, I've seen many inexperienced wheelers who were either simply unaware of, or just blatantly disregarding, safe wheeling practices. You look like an awesome guy to wheel with - if you're ever in central FL (and can help me find ANY hills/dirt/rocks in this state??) I'd love to hit the trails with ya! Thanks!!

[@joehofmann6670]

You need to respool under tension. Using your winch in its current state could result in further damage to rope and is unsafe to use in a recovery situation. Pull the line out and start over.

[@joshua4578]

Joe Hofmann done

[@mikedupa6932]

How do you re-spool "under tension" ? Isn't it under tension from him holding the cable in his hand? I need to respool mine and want to do it correctly. Thanks

[@jdreaper2176]

@@mikedupa6932 hook it to a pole or tree and winch the rig in with it in neutral.

[@98hundy]

Before you use a winch for the first time, and after removing the rope from the spool it should be pre-tensioned. This entails running the rope completely out and re-spooling with tension on the rope. You can do this by attaching the rope to another vehicle and winching it up a slight incline, or using the weight of your own vehicle and winching up a slight incline.
What you have done has essentially defeated the pre-tensioning, I highly encourage you to re-spool you winch to pre-tension it.

[@hillbilly22250]

?

[@joshua4578]

I did...thx for your concern. I never posted it, but I did pull the Jeep up a slight incline to tension it after unspooling.

[@raymondmeyer2873]

lol... how did you pull the jeep up a slight incline while its parked in your garage? its okay to say you didn't know. You can fix the flat spots by placing the cable between two blocks of wood that are clamped tightly together. as the cable goes through the blocks it rounds it back out. you should also keep it oiled so it doesn't rust. a&w direct sells CRC Chain and Wire Rope Lub.

[@joshua4578]

raymond meyer as I said, I didn't post the video, but I did it later, not in my garage, at a family member's house who has a nice paved even slope. Ha!

[@lucifer0001]

I read the same thing & the recommended pre-tension was 500LBS. My fish scale don't read that high! I thought that using the emergency break a little was easier than searching for inclines with 500LBS. pull of gravity. Do any of you guys with wire rope winches lube the cable? I thought that motorcycle chain wax would help keep most harmful elements out. Gives your cable a wax coating once it dries which takes a few minutes. Good for all those times the winch sits there & does nothing. Might get a few extra miles on your winch? This is my 1st winch that's why I'm asking. The name of the chain wax is MAXIMA & it dries to a light gold finish. Great on rusty JK driveshafts.

[@jonathanhunt3168]

Should do the 1st two rolls under tension, car on hill (down hill) hand brake on a little plus tyre lever to keep it in order save your fingers I do a video soon

[@travismccollum9690]

You should try running your cable through spring sounds crazy but you'd be surprised how well it works it'll keep it clean it'll spool it it'll keep tension on you can run a spring around a tree not even have to use your block

[@matthewsalvador9783]

I bought one yesterday, my friend and I never operated a winch before. Lol he operated the switch the first thing he did was get rid off red safety thing from the hook and he pulled from the hook. I died laughing after you said that. To each their own I guess. But great video on how to do this.

[@joshua4578]

Be careful out there...you only get one set of fingers!

[@ThatGuyDrew16]

10:38 Just want to say last weekend I was on an atv ride by myself, I came across a buried can am. he had a winch. I helped him out of the hole then after we were cleaning up and respooling our winches. I was keeping tension while he reeled his in. Once I got about 2 feet from his bike he told me to hook it on his front rack so I did so. At this point I was still trying to keep tension on his cable by doing the same thing you are doing at 10:38 But he started reeling it in. I told him stop but I guess his adrenaline was pumping from being stuck for so long alone.. he didn't stop his winch and my hand was being smashed in between his bar and his winch. Im super lucky he didn't crush my hand. It hurt extremely bad but no damage done.

[@joshua4578]

Drew Gipson I'm glad you weren't hurt. I made sure to keep my hand out of the area of concern. It's tricky and in situations on the trail it requires taking a second and making sure as adrenaline can impair your decision making ability. Thank you for sharing and I hope you have a better experience on the trail next time! All wheelers need to be aware of this danger!

[@ThatGuyDrew16]

RoshuaJogers Very true sir! Great video!

[@shadrikwalker5655]

You are going to mislead someone with this video. To properly re-spool a winch you need to do so under tension (at least 500 pounds of tension for mine).

[@steinarlarsen9899]

I thought steel wire ropes was completely out by now that there is UHWMP ropes readily available

[@jamesbonanno3359]

You were quite meticulous with your wraps, however you need to pre-tension the cable on the spool. Usually you try to achieve about a thousand pounds. Many people will do this by hooking up to a tree saver strap and trying to pull their Jeep up a hill if no Hill exists someone can be in the driver's seat putting light pressure on the brakes or applying the emergency brake well you spool up. Thanks for the video.

[@joshua4578]

James Bonanno I did that shortly after this video...I just never posted it. Thx for the tip

[@PanicAcid]

This shouldn't be classed as a respooling video as it's not done under tension. You're going to spin on the drum spooling winches like this.

[@Polarbear5353]

Thank you for this video

[@texassteven8988]

Thanks

[@cody9089]

on winches will the steel cable rust?

[@ProjectRescues]

Overtime, yes

[@daveyjones662]

Should of hook it to the neighbor house across the street

[@joshua4578]

Davey Jones I ended up respooling up a slight incline. Otherwise, I was happy with this video. No Jeeps were hurt during the making of

[@vegasraiders786]

So gladI bought the 10S

[@vassadesign]

HOW MANY FEET IS THAT STEEL CABLE?

[@joshua4578]

100ft

[@swagoverlandusa3045]

I wouldn't use that winch now that it is not under please learn how to spool a winch properly

[@joshua4578]

Wagon track traveler Nomad Steve I have since respooled under tension pulling my Jeep up a slight grade