Assuming that the fairlead rollers are changed over to polyurethane, does anyone see a problem with using synthetic line on PTO?
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PTO & Synthetic rope
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I do not see any issues. Do you know what the winch will stall at? If Im not mistaken, that is what you will want to take into account when sizing the line you are going to put on it.
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I already got 125' of Masterpull's 3/8" and thought of using it on my PTO.
Should work fine.
Gee, I'm convinced
. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. No disrespect intended, but the "advantages" of synthetic rope just don't appeal to me on a winch. To me, a winch cable should be practically indestructible.)Gee, I'm convinced
But the reality is, they aren't. Even wire rope needs to be taken care of. Kinks, splinters, stored energy, cleaning and lubrication.
Very true, but for these cautions for synthetic rope:
have little, if any, effect on wire rope. Synthetic rope out - performs wire rope in some areas and is easier to work with, but IMHO for overall performance and ruggedness, wire rope is a better choice for the way most winches get used. But if you're handling winch lines all day long and money is not an object, sure go synthetic and carry a few spare winch lines in case you damage your rope.
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That is exactly what I am running on my PTO since 2007 and have had no issue whatsoever.
The wire/synthetic argument is approaching the levels of the Chevy/Ford argument. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but Im only going to comment on the last line of your post because IMO, its where synthetic shines over wire.
No need to carry extra in case you damage your synthetic. Learn how to repair it, in the field. Field repairs with wire usually require clamps, unless you are outfitted to properly splice wire rope. Field repairs with synthetic require some tape and dental floss/fishing line. A ball point pen to use as a fid if you cant get the tape wrapped tight enough. And the proper bury lengths for given diameters which can be printed from Samsons website along with the proper procedure.
Yeah, good point. The OP's question has been sufficiently answered. Properly sized synthetic rope can work on a PTO.
Synthetic line that has visible damage can be repaired in the field as you say. But what about UV damage or heat or dirt/mud in the fibers? You can cut out the suspect length(s), but I'm not sure that I'd trust any part of a rope that has that damage. I've seen too much of what UV light does to synthetic material that's exposed to it over time. You can minimize the exposure to these elements, but we're talking about common things that we deal with in everyday life, as well as wheeling: sunlight, dirt and mud. That is why if I was running synthetic rope, I'd carry at least one spare rope that was stored properly - protected from sunlight, dirt and heat.
I'm well aware that there are definite advantages with synthetic rope. I'm not debating that. I just think that considering the way most people today use their winches, wire rope would give them the most bang for their buck. Less maintenance, potential issue with the rope are usually visible, and the rope is less affected by natural elements on the trail or even sitting in your driveway.
Glad you mentioned these. Ill address each based on my understanding of the research I have read.
UV: SK75, or UHMWPE is naturally UV resistant. That does not mean it is impervious to UV degradation, but the fiber itself is relatively resistant to UV degradation. Add to that the majority of rope manufacturers that sell SK75 under whatever tradename they choose to call it, add some type of coating that further enhances UV resistance. I am not saying, nor suggesting that UV degradation is not an issue, but IMO it should not be one of the factors in the decision between wire or synthetic. One is likely to simply wear the line out before any strength degradation comes about due to UV. Samson has done extensive research on tug and mooring lines based in the Middle East Ports where heat and UV are a deciding factor in line choice and found that even after 10 years, the lines lost 0-10% of their average strength.
Heat: No doubt synthetic rope is prone to heat degradation and melting. IIRC, the melting point of SK75 is 297 degrees with actual degradation starting at 150 degrees with the loss being 10%. And again, research has been done on how drum heat effects the line wrapped on a drum. SK75 does not conduct heat very well, so what will happen is any heat build up on a winch drum will be contained to the first wrap of the drum. And even at that, the heat does not travel through the entire diameter of line on that first wrap. Your likely to melt the first wrap before any strength degradation transfers to subsequent wraps of the drum. Ambient air can degrade the line, but you would need to be operating in temps of at least 150 degrees, and then you are only talking about a 10% loss of minimum strength. And when the line cools, the degradation reverses and the line will return to is full strength.
This does not even touch on the fact that a properly operating winch where the user does not power out will not generate enough heat to reach the point at which the line will start to lose strength. This is where, IMO, companies are passing off "heat guard" as a solution to the heat issue. There is no heat issue, IMO. Its a lack of educating the customer on the limitations of the product they are selling. Heat guard will not stop the passing of heat from the drum to the line, it will simply prevent the line from melting to the drum. Id rather find out if folks power out or free spool, and then direct them to the product that will fit their needs rather than a marketing gimmick.
Dirt: This can be an issue as we all drag our lines through the mud, across rocks, dirt etc. Yes one needs to keep their synthetic line clean. However, this maintenance procedure is the same for wire rope. Both need to be cleaned and inspected on a regular basis, based on use.
Please don't confuse the fading of the coating on the line with UV degradation. Of all the colors of synthetic line out there, they are coated with a color along with whatever proprietary coating the manufacturer uses. The natural color of the fiber is almost white. This is not to say you havent seen UV damage, but Id wager a bit that what you are calling UV damage is simply the color in the coating fading.
I think the biggest issue is safety. With the minimal elongation of synthetic over wire and with the drastic reduction in mass, its just safer to use synthetic.
