Older warn winch ground?

[Goebeler]

I have the older warn upright on a 40 and ran it today to see if that was what may be draining my battery. The thing was fine for a bit then a few sparks came out after a bit of smoke. The thing only has a hot heavy cable to the battery. It grounds to the bumper. Should I put a better grond elsewhere somehow? Not sure where to attach one on the winch.

Goebs


I hate this electric crap!!!!!!!!!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It should have a ground link that bolts directly to the motor housing... from there, run it all the way to the battery. Check the tech links, there are several on the upright Warn winches, not sure if they have what your looking for.

 

[CruisinGA]

AFAIK (not too far) the older Warn's (Bellevue) actually did only ground through the frame. Pimp and others have reffered to this as fact.

I'm no help on where to add a grounding cable though...

 

[66fj40x2]

I have an old 8274 and it grounds to the winch motor like cruiseroutfit said. I don't about the Bellvue but I don't think it would hurt anything to have a better ground. I can send pics of mine if you want.

Mike

 

[woody]

The old cable-operated stuff?

Grounds thru the frame. What battery are you using? Winches always connect to the top post, NEVER the side post, and make sure you have a solid ground direct to the frame.

Also, if it is the Bellevue, pull the motor and double check for corrosion....I gave mine a yearly cleanup and it always performed best immediately after...lol

 

[Gumby]

You can use your fancy new volt meter to check the ground and positive connections. Put the positive lead on the negative battery terminal and the negative lead on the winch body, (if Bellevue) or negative post on the motor if 8274. Run the winch. If the reading on the voltmeter is more than .5v, then you have a ground problem. Probably connections. You can also test the voltage drop across the positive terminals the same way.

I'm going to be looking at rebuilding my Bellevue before too long. Maybe we need a tech day. Max is an expert. We'll make him come down as a consultant.

 

[Goebeler]

It's not the Bellvue model, it is the version Kurt is referring to. The ground wire goes to the bolt on the motor. I am thinking I should run another ground wire from there to the chassis. Where should I mount it and what guage wire should I run.

Gumby, As for a tech day. I am ready for one soon!

Goebs

 

[Goebeler]

Woody,
I am usung a red top optima and the winch is connected to the top post. I think it was you who told me to do that some time back.
You see, I do listen to what you all say. Gotta learn somehow.

goebs

 

[woody]

Warn recommends their positive and negative cables connect directly to the battery itself, and not rely on the frame for grounding.

Are you running "stock" cables, or have you upgraded to some thumb-thick fine strand weld cables?

 

[Jetboy]

You should ground your winch directly to the battery, the stock ground cable from the body to the battery is not big enough to allow your winch to work at max capacity. I was dissapointed with the pull from my 8274 and went to the dealer who told me the warn motors draw as much as 400 amps and to make them work effieciently you need a heavier ground. They will work grounded to the bumper, but when you use a heavier direct ground you'll find that your winch will pull stronger and faster and because of this it will use less battery power per inch of pull.

 

[wesintl]

Ground on the motor housing right to the battery.

 

[Goebeler]

Still running stock cables, new but stock. I don't know where to get the better cables. I am going to ground the thing like the picture straight to the battery. Seems to make too much sense. That little ground wire is tiny.


Goebs

 

[wesintl]

That is 2ga battery cable ground in the pic, which is stock on the warn. I went to napa got 12 ft. and made my own leads.

Goeb.. do you have a bellview or 8274?

 

[woody]

sounds like an 8274

hit your local welding shop...fine strand cable, good stuff, is in the $1-2 a foot range, and they have crimp-ends there too. Add some shrink in your favorite color from waytekwire and do it up.

 

[Goebeler]

it's an older 8274 model, that is soon to have some fine something or another type of cables......just need to hit the welding shop.

Thanks for all the feadback!

 

[woody]

0/2 - thick as yer thumb, VERY fine strand, and very flexible....good stuff (overkill, but good...lol)

 

[cruiseroutfit]

0/2 - thick as yer thumb, VERY fine strand, and very flexible....good stuff (overkill, but good...lol)

Overkill... yes. But it always works...

 

[wesintl]

yeah.. stereo install shops have leads. I called a few places and they all wanted something like $5 ft for 00 ga. I think the 2 ga napa stuff was about $1 ft. but it's been a while. Also check RV shops they usually have giant rolls by the foot for running ele stuff.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

yeah.. stereo install shops have leads. I called a few places and they all wanted something like $5 ft for 00 ga. I think the 2 ga napa stuff was about $1 ft. but it's been a while. Also check RV shops they usually have giant rolls by the foot for running ele stuff.

Your freindly Cruiser shop has the big stuff for cheaper than that...

I am gearing up to make custom battery cables like the ones in my pic... stay tuned for a website page...

 

[Goebeler]

Kurt,
You are quickly moving up the list as the shop I call for anything cruiser related these days! I will look at the lengths I need and may have to be the first cable customer. I am still figuring out where to put the battery disconnect switch though. I leave the cruiser sit quite often and still think disconnection may be my answer. Sort of like my RV, I simply hit the disconnect switch and she doesn't drain the battery as it sits. Plus those drag strip cars have one...so I need one!

Goebs