8274 leaking at drum

[Romanski]

Hello,

Hopefully someone who is familiar with the Warn 8274 winch could help me out with this.

I recently bought an 8274. I realized that one of the tabs that holds the lower and upper halves together was broken so I had the welded. I inspected all the gears, mounted the lower half of the winch with the drum on the truck put 22 ounces of 30 weight non-detergent gear oil in, put gasket sealant on the lower half and bolted on the upper half. Everything was fine until I noticed a small oil drip from the bottom of the lower housing after 15 minutes of it sitting there. It looks like it's coming out where the drum gear goes into the winch housing but I can't tell for sure because the lower housing obstructs the view of where the drum is actually going into the winch housing.

I re-read some documentation and realized that I was only suppose to put in 16oz of oil.

My question: Is the oil leaking out because I put too much oil or is it a bad gasket around the drum? Has this happened to anyone else?

I hate to take the thing apart again but if it will eventually cause gear damage, I will take it apart again.

 

[flintknapper]

Hello,

Hopefully someone who is familiar with the Warn 8274 winch could help me out with this.

I recently bought an 8274. I realized that one of the tabs that holds the lower and upper halves together was broken so I had the welded. I inspected all the gears, mounted the lower half of the winch with the drum on the truck put 22 ounces of 30 weight non-detergent gear oil in, put gasket sealant on the lower half and bolted on the upper half. Everything was fine until I noticed a small oil drip from the bottom of the lower housing after 15 minutes of it sitting there. It looks like it's coming out where the drum gear goes into the winch housing but I can't tell for sure because the lower housing obstructs the view of where the drum is actually going into the winch housing.

I re-read some documentation and realized that I was only suppose to put in 16oz of oil.
My question: Is the oil leaking out because I put too much oil or is it a bad gasket around the drum? Has this happened to anyone else?

I hate to take the thing apart again but if it will eventually cause gear damage, I will take it apart again.

Roman,

The factory specs. calls for 6 ozs of oil (not 22 or 16).

I would not take the winch back apart, just let the excess oil seep past the drum seal. The spur gear arrangement inside the case really doesn't require alot of lubrication. The oil in the bottom of the case will "climb" the gears sufficient to lubricate all.

Just leave it alone and let the excess leak out.

If later, you notice oil "pouring out" then you might consider replacing the bushings and seal for the drum, otherwise...I would not worry myself with it.

Flint.

 

[Romanski]

Flint - Wish you were closer so I could buy you a beer. Thanks again... I'll go on warn's website and see if I can get the manual. It just seemed so easy to work on, I thought I didn't need the manual.

 

[lukebz]

2nd the 6 oz

 

[Poser]

Hello,

Hopefully someone who is familiar with the Warn 8274 winch could help me out with this.

I recently bought an 8274. I realized that one of the tabs that holds the lower and upper halves together was broken so I had the welded. I inspected all the gears, mounted the lower half of the winch with the drum on the truck put 22 ounces of 30 weight non-detergent gear oil in, put gasket sealant on the lower half and bolted on the upper half. Everything was fine until I noticed a small oil drip from the bottom of the lower housing after 15 minutes of it sitting there. It looks like it's coming out where the drum gear goes into the winch housing but I can't tell for sure because the lower housing obstructs the view of where the drum is actually going into the winch housing.

I re-read some documentation and realized that I was only suppose to put in 16oz of oil.

My question: Is the oil leaking out because I put too much oil or is it a bad gasket around the drum? Has this happened to anyone else?

I hate to take the thing apart again but if it will eventually cause gear damage, I will take it apart again.

Did you replace the quad-ring seal that seals against the drum bushing in the lower housing and drum when you had everything apart?


If the winch is not square on the mounting surface it is secured to, or somehow un-level, it can cause the winch to bind and create leaks at the location you are describing.


Not busting flints balls here, but if you allow it to leak until it no longer leaks out oil, how do you know you still have oil in the winch housing?

 

[flintknapper]

Did you replace the quad-ring seal that seals against the drum bushing in the lower housing and drum when you had everything apart?


If the winch is not square on the mounting surface it is secured to, or somehow un-level, it can cause the winch to bind and create leaks at the location you are describing.


Not busting flints balls here, but if you allow it to leak until it no longer leaks out oil, how do you know you still have oil in the winch housing?

Because the bottom of the housing (when level) holds about 14 fl. oz of oil before it reaches the bottom of the drum seal and starts leaking.

 

[Poser]

Because the bottom of the housing (when level) holds about 14 fl. oz of oil before it reaches the bottom of the drum seal and starts leaking.

14oz. of oil in the lower housing? Even with the gear in there?


Would not have ever guessed that.


Still, a seal is a seal, and if it is working properly/not damaged, there should not be any oil leaking.


Guess I have far less tolerance for oil leaks than others.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I threw in most of a quart of gear oil when I went through the 1990 8274 I have. It didn't leak at all for a year, then leaked about a 3inch puddle on the garage floor, then stopped leaking. I have decided not to worry about it. The winch so far, works fine.

 

[flintknapper]

14oz. of oil in the lower housing? Even with the gear in there?

Would not have ever guessed that.

Yes…even with the gear in there.

Here is a pic looking down into an assembled lower housing:

There is exactly 6 oz. of oil in it (just to demonstrate how little that is). It barely covers the first ¾” of the bottom of the gear.

To me…it’s amazing that Warn prescribes so little an amount. Perhaps they were considering all of the off camber situations the winch might be subjected to.

It takes about 14 oz. to bring the oil level up to a point (the bottom of the drum oil seal) that it will begin to leak. In any case, the winch does not require a lot of lubrication…and given the “generous” tolerances found throughout the unit…I am surprised they hold any oil at all.

 

[Romanski]

Yes…even with the gear in there.

Here is a pic looking down into an assembled lower housing:

There is exactly 6 oz. of oil in it (just to demonstrate how little that is). It barely covers the first ¾” of the bottom of the gear.

To me…it’s amazing that Warn prescribes so little an amount. Perhaps they were considering all of the off camber situations the winch might be subjected to.

It takes about 14 oz. to bring the oil level up to a point (the bottom of the drum oil seal) that it will begin to leak. In any case, the winch does not require a lot of lubrication…and given the “generous” tolerances found throughout the unit…I am surprised they hold any oil at all.

I thought that with the seals to keep oil in and subject to such stresses, there would be sealed ball bearing or more serious seals in place instead of plastic and rubber



I have another question On my 8274 there is only the positive cable that hooks to the battery. The ground must be through the chassis. I read that this was not a good thing. Should I modify the ground so that it goes to the motor housing? Do I just drill and tap a hole in the motor housing and then run a 0-2 gauge cable to it and to the battery?

Thanks fellas,
Roman

 

[Poser]

I thought that with the seals to keep oil in and subject to such stresses, there would be sealed ball bearing or more serious seals in place instead of plastic and rubber

For what reason? What stress is the quad ring subjected to? Provided the winch is mounted square, there should not be any load on the seal.

Further, before you trivialize the seal design used in this winch, there are ample applications where rubber with a smaller cross section that the quad ring in the lower housing of this winch performs flawlessly being subjected to loads thousands of times greater than anything the 8274 would ever see. Think hydraulic systems, just for starters.

On my 8274 there is only the positive cable that hooks to the battery. The ground must be through the chassis. I read that this was not a good thing. Should I modify the ground so that it goes to the motor housing? Do I just drill and tap a hole in the motor housing and then run a 0-2 gauge cable to it and to the battery?

You can drill and tap the motor housing if you want. I would remove the motor from the winch housing to make sure as to not hit the armature windings or the magnets on the motor housing, and to remove any ferrous material from floating around and possibly shorting things out when put into service.


I have seen people make a ground cable that attaches with one of the motor mounting fasteners. I prefer to ground the motor case through the housing as described above, but to each their own.




.

 

[Romanski]

Yeh, I understand Poser.... not trivializing just admiring the simplicity of the components. I figure if it was more complex in design more could possibly go wrong. I believe the winch is square but I'll check it out today.

I'm not sure I'm ready to take apart the motor. What's the easiest way to ground it?