Position of Aluminium Hawse Fairlead?

[Glenn-BJ74]

I am replacing my steel wire rope on my PTO winch with synthetic rope. I need to replace the old steel roller fairlead with an aluminum hawse fairlead and have a question with respect to its best postion.

The PTO winch steel roller fairlead, which has a 2 1/2" slot between the top and bottom roller is centered on the drum. Aluminum hawse fairleads typically have a slot of less than 1". Positioning the new fairlead on the center of the drum would result more downward deflection of the cable through the narrower slot, even on a straight pull, since the wire rope comes off the top of the coil on the PTO winch. (I believe most others come off the bottom).

So I am considering moving the new aluminum fairlead up from center on the drum - so my question is by how much?

 

[Mace]

Should be below center a bit

 

[80t0ylc]

I am replacing my steel wire rope on my PTO winch with synthetic rope. I need to replace the old steel roller fairlead with an aluminum hawse fairlead and have a question with respect to its best postion.

The PTO winch steel roller fairlead, which has a 2 1/2" slot between the top and bottom roller is centered on the drum. Aluminum hawse fairleads typically have a slot of less than 1". Positioning the new fairlead on the center of the drum would result more downward deflection of the cable through the narrower slot, even on a straight pull, since the wire rope comes off the top of the coil on the PTO winch. (I believe most others come off the bottom).

So I am considering moving the new aluminum fairlead up from center on the drum - so my question is by how much?

I believe the fairlead should be positioned so that the rope coming off the drum on the 1st wrap is aligned to go through the center of the fairlead opening. This will allow the least resistance on a straight pull on the wrap that the winch has its maximum rating. On a pull that is not straight the rope will rub on the fairlead as well as on the higher wraps, but that can't be avoided with this kind of setup. So make your hardest pulls as straight as possible on the 1st wrap on the spool.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Thanks - very good point.
I guess that can be assisted by using a snatch block to get more line off the spool.

 

[80t0ylc]

Thanks - very good point.
I guess that can be assisted by using a snatch block to get more line off the spool.

Correct, and at the same time to get a straighter pull if possible. Also, be sure to get a synthetic rope snatch block and don't use it for wire rope. I've read that synthetic rope can be damaged in a wire rope snatch block.