Mounting an electric winch upside down

[tech_dog]

I've got a Slee front bumper and a Warn 9.5 XP.

The Slee front bumper was probably designed for the Warn M12000, which has the motor on the right.

The Warn 9.5 XP has the motor on the left, and the motor hits the mounting bracket and can't be installed right side up.

Because of this, I'd need to mount the mount the 9.5 XP upside down in order to make it fit, and I'd need to wind the coil in the opposite direction in order to come off the bottom of the spool and out the fairlead.

Has anyone done this with Warn winches, and if so which ones? It looks like the automatic brake won't work if it's mounted upside down, but are there any other downsides?

Thanks,

T.

 

[Mickldo]

Done it heaps of times fitting winches to fourbys that don't have a lot of room behind the bullbar. Holden Rodeo springs to mind IIRC. The gearbox on the Warns can also be clocked around to give clearance on the freespool lever. The Warns I usually fit are XD9000s.

 

[e9999]

Warn tech support usually pretty good. Give them a call.

Mick, are folks generally happy with the XD9000?

 

[Hayes]

I've got an XD9000 on my SLEE.
I don't think it's upside down.

Hayes

 

[landtank]

I've heard repeatedly that the electric winches will run upside down.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

I've heard repeatedly that the electric winches will run upside down.

 

[tech_dog]

Hayes,

Nope. Yours is right side up. The 9.5XP has the motor on the opposite side as teh XD9000.

When I bought the 9.5XP, I didn't realize that the Slee bumper fairlead slot was slightly off-center. I'm sure he does this intentionally in order to fit the 12000M between the LC frame mounts, but it causes a problem for "lefty" winches.

 

[tech_dog]

I've heard repeatedly that the electric winches will run upside down.

Actually, running upside down isn't what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is the fact that I'll need to wind the drum in the opposite direction as normal, so what was reeling in will become spooling out, and vice versa. I found one piece of info on the Warn web site that says you lose the automatic braking if you do this.

If I don't wind the drum backwards, then I'll be coming off the spool several inches too high for the fairleed slot. I'm going to do this tonight and take a good look at it, and try to figure out which of the two options is worse.

 

[landtank]

Sorry Tech_dog, please ignore my post. My post referenced another thread...or two and you shouldn't consider what I wrote in your understanding of what you're doing.

It was nothing more than a jab at somebody, who by the way got it, Sorry about that.

 

[tech_dog]

No prob, tank. I've read some of the ongoing saga regarding your milemarker hydraulic. I came very close to buying one myself.

 

[Bryan E.]

Can you just cut the slot out where you need it? It might be easier to just do a slight mod to the bumper if what you are wanting to do with your winch won't work.

I'm thinking that getting the slot cut out, then make a large plate to cover entire area that will fit the new fairlead or synthetic rope fairlead.

Just an idea.

 

[tech_dog]

In order to move the slot, I'd need to move the tabs on the front as well, in addition to redrilling the mounting holes. It would be cheaper to buy a different winch.

I may just mount the winch upside down and try to ruin it as quickly as possible. Then I'd feel better about buying a different one and not have to admit my mistake.

 

[sleeoffroad]

The Warn 9.5 XP has the motor on the left, and the motor hits the mounting bracket and can't be installed right side up.

How much interference is there? I know people that have mounted the XD9000. However the 9.5XP has the heatsink on the winch. Is this not something that could be fixed with a little grinding?

XD9000 and 9.5XP has the motor on the same side.

 

[LandyLover]

I've heard repeatedly that the electric winches will run upside down.

Not all electric winches. The worm gears by Ramsey (RE series) and Superwinch (Husky series) along with the 8274 can not be run upside down due to splash/climbing oil lubrication. Planetaries, however, can be run upside down.

Actually, running upside down isn't what I'm worried about. What I'm worried about is the fact that I'll need to wind the drum in the opposite direction as normal, so what was reeling in will become spooling out, and vice versa. I found one piece of info on the Warn web site that says you lose the automatic braking if you do this.

If I don't wind the drum backwards, then I'll be coming off the spool several inches too high for the fairleed slot. I'm going to do this tonight and take a good look at it, and try to figure out which of the two options is worse.

If you are running it upside down (for example, looking at your winch from the side ---> ! to i) you are still spooling in with the same button. The brake issue would not be a problem if I understand things correctly.

Cheers

 

[tech_dog]

How much interference is there? I know people that have mounted the XD9000. However the 9.5XP has the heatsink on the winch. Is this not something that could be fixed with a little grinding?

XD9000 and 9.5XP has the motor on the same side.

It's the better part of an inch. It doesn't look grindable without doing structural damage. Maybe its the heat sink that put it over the edge. "The devil is in the details."

The right solution will be to get a different winch. I'm going to take a bit of a breather, let the visa bills for all the stuff clear, and then figure out a way to sell mine and get one with the proper orientation.

By the way, Christo, I did my lift last night and everything went great. I'm going to take it out for some light wheeling today and see how it feels.

Even my wife admits it looks great with the new bumpers. Your stuff is all great quality. I'll throw up a few pix as soon as I get some of my finishing touches done.

 

[tech_dog]

If you are running it upside down (for example, looking at your winch from the side ---> ! to i) you are still spooling in with the same button. The brake issue would not be a problem if I understand things correctly.

Cheers

The way it sits, I do have to come off the spool in the opposite direction. If I don't, I'll have a 30 degree angle coming out of the fairlead. I don't want to put that extra strain on the system.

 

[Mickldo]

Warn tech support usually pretty good. Give them a call.

Mick, are folks generally happy with the XD9000?

Sorry to take so long to reply e9999, the XD9000s I fit are all to Ergon Energy vehicles (the local electricity board), once they leave the workshop we don't hear any reports back about them. They keep on ordering them so I reckon they must be happy with them. I haven't heard any bad reports on the XD9000. Sometimes we fit the Magnum winch instead which is a cheaper copy of the XD9000 also sold by ARB.