I've used my Warn 8k for 5 actual recoveries in 4 years. Most of the time it's for super adventurous uses like pulling your neighbors chicken coop off a tilt trailer.
Not very often. I do enjoy the Big Meat Run to look at all the rigs. I'm not in any clubs and don't have social media, so I miss out on a lot of wheeling. Plus a 1 year old boy is a handful.
Pic for thread.
Any black specs coming with wire out of the stinger? Liner out.
As far as wire feed tension, mine is not tight by any means.
Call Lincoln's 1-800 # on the machine or manual. I use a miller/hobart but they are always helpful to assist.