pto winch drum

[jblueridge]

I want to switch to synthetic line.
Can someone tell me how the line attaches to the drum?
What end or termination should the synthetic have to attach to the drum?

 

[Wildcat Walker]

You do not want to use a synthetic line on the PTO winch. This is not a newfangled jeep. The PTO winch was designed to be used with an 8mm steel cable/wire rope. The best current replacement is a 3/8" EIP. Make SURE you get EIP (Extra Improved Plow Steel) You can fit 125' on the drum. Fun Fact #1: 100% of people who switch from steel cable to synthetic line have never been killed by a steel cable. Keep your cable in good shape, keep it clean, and don't do dumb stuff. The steel will work better and last longer than any synthetic line ever thought about. Fun Fact #2: Steel winch line is impervious to UV rays, synthetic line is NOT. Have you ever seen a roll back or a wrecker with synthetic line (matts off-road recovery does not count)?

 

[gnob]

the winch doesn't know or care what kind of cable/rope you're running.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

the winch doesn't know or care what kind of cable/rope you're running.

The fairlead is better suited to steel, the cable lock is make for steel. Have you ever used one of these?

 

[gnob]

The fairlead is better suited to steel, the cable lock is make for steel. Have you ever used one of these?

lol. so by your logic, anything that once had cable can never use rope. mmmkay.
there's good reason 99% of winches use rope now. synthetic has proven itself time and time again in the last quarter+ century.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

lol. so by your logic, anything that once had cable can never use rope. mmmkay.
there's good reason 99% of winches use rope now. synthetic has proven itself time and time again in the last quarter+ century.

Negative. Some modern winches are designed for sythetics. They have very smooth static fairleads with well blended radi on the fairlead opening. Alot of them have a drum that is partially or sometimes completely covered to keep the line out of the sun and prevent UV damage. In this application, steel is superior. Cost, strength, applicability. Can you put synthetic on a PTO winch? Sure. Was it designed for it? No. End of story.

 

[jblueridge]

Well, I bought synthetic and will use it.
I plan to fabricate a simple cover or shroud to block sunlight and uv when winch is not in operation.
I cleaned up the fairlead rollers i.e. smoothed and painted.

 

[gnob]

Negative. Some modern winches are designed for sythetics. They have very smooth static fairleads with well blended radi on the fairlead opening. Alot of them have a drum that is partially or sometimes completely covered to keep the line out of the sun and prevent UV damage. In this application, steel is superior. Cost, strength, applicability. Can you put synthetic on a PTO winch? Sure. Was it designed for it? No. End of story.

keep telling yourself that, boss.

 

[gnob]

Well, I bought synthetic and will use it.
I plan to fabricate a simple cover or shroud to block sunlight and uv when winch is not in operation.
I cleaned up the fairlead rollers i.e. smoothed and painted.

get some hydraulic hose gaurd and put it over the last few feet of line. cheap and effective.

 

[jblueridge]

Good idea.

 

[gnob]

Good idea.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

Maybe one or both of you guys can explain to me the allure of synthetic winch line. Going for the yuppy jeep look? Is it social media cool? Scared of steel? Jimbo your neighbor tell a tall tale of how steel cable will kill you just by looking at it while under tension? I dont understand. I have literally bent my truck using steel cable, something a rope will never do. Sized appropriately it will never fail.

There is probably 50 guys at my work parking lot at any given time with winches. 48 of them are synthetic, sun baked, and never used. The 2 guys that actally wheel and actually winch, have steel cables. I bet of the other 48, if they ever did need to winch, most of them would find themselves trying to tie some sort of granny knot in what's left of their fancy schmancy rope.

 

[gnob]

if steel was actually better, this evolution would have never happened.
your above statement tells me that you have zero real world experience with rope.

honestly no one cares what you use. just don't come here telling people they can't do something because your opinion differs.

 

[jblueridge]

I like off-roading but I don't have a lot of experience with winches. I'm pretty old now so I won't be gaining a bunch more knowledge about Recoveries.
I travel with just me and my dog so having a safer winching option is better for me.
If you saw my cruiser you'd know I am not part of the Mall Crawler crowd.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

if steel was actually better, this evolution would have never happened.
your above statement tells me that you have zero real world experience with rope.

honestly no one cares what you use. just don't come here telling people they can't do something because your opinion differs.

Quantify better. What evolution? Are elevators, ski lifts, cranes, aircraft arresting cables, etc. all switching to synthetic rope? Again, what is the allure?

The OP asked how a winch cable is terminated to the PTO winch drum. The original design was an 8mm steel cable, the cable pushes through a hole in the drum and is held down by a clamp and two bolts. Somewhere on Mud I published a CAD drawing of the clamp. I'm not sure how the end of a synthetic line comes, melted like paracord? If so, then I would try and affix it like the steel cable, and ensure that there is never less than 5 complete wraps of line on the drum. Conservatively, enough line to cover the drum completely with one layer of rope all the way across would be better. The clamp only holds the line in place so it can be wound, the friction of the cable is what bears the load of the tension to prevent slippage.

I never stated that a synthetic line can't be used, only that the PTO winch was designed for and works well with a proper sized steel cable.

 

[gnob]

rope is lighter, safer and much easier to handle. steel cable has been outlawed in many comps because of the risk.
you talking about elevators is a reach and not apples, but since you brought it up, check out maritime rigging. thats where it made the step to offroading from.

and again. if the anchor doesn't hold the rope, you negated your original argument. fact is the rope can hold and be rigged in a way thats not even anchored and will still function just fine.

 

[jembourbe]

I'm afraid of steel cable. I'm afraid of metal D-rings and heavy snatch blocks, too.

 

[jblueridge]

Solid metal objects I am okay with.

 

[Wildcat Walker]

I have a fear of sythetic rope. I have this re-occurring nightmare where I swap my steel cable for some hot shot sythetic rope from Amazon and then suddenly my FJ40 becomes a Jeep and then im stuck. And after that, mud members drive by me for eternity laughing at my stuck jeep. It's truly horrible.