Stretching winch cable? (1 Viewer)

[Bigern]

Hi everyone! I installed the Warn VR 10,000 winch in my truck last January and have yet to use it. The instructions that came with the winch give detailed instructions on how to stretch the steel cable before it is used for the first time. How critical is this? Does synthetic line require this? What could happen if I used the winch with out pre-stretching the cable?

Thanks for your help.

Ernie

 

[Southeast Overland]

It is important to load steel or synthetic line. Doing so will make sure the line on your spool is under tension so when you pull your buddy out of a mud hole the outer wraps won't slip between the inner wraps, causing a heck of a tangle and mess.

You need to spool synthetic line under load too.

If cable kinks due to improper spooling it will much more negatively effect the strength and life of the line than what would happen with synthetic line. Bend cable so it kinks and bend it back and that point is weaker where as synthetic line is not affected.

Hi everyone! I installed the Warn VR 10,000 winch in my truck last January and have yet to use it. The instructions that came with the winch give detailed instructions on how to stretch the steel cable before it is used for the first time. How critical is this? Does synthetic line require this? What could happen if I used the winch with out pre-stretching the cable?

Thanks for your help.

Ernie

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Steel cable needs to be pre-tensioned before use otherwise it will not like being coiled up on a small radius winch drum. If you buy the steel cable in bulk you will need to per-tension it - needs several ton pull. Otherwise it will want to loop off the drum in big radius loops without a lot of tension on it - makes using it very difficul.t

This is different than spooling on steel or synthetic cable on the drum to prevent 'mash down' when winching. This is done with a few hundred pounds - e.g recoil winch line by dragging the truck on level ground.

 

[Bigern]

Thanks! It makes sense to do it. I was just being lazy.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Thanks! It makes sense to do it. I was just being lazy.

Definitely do it. Also make sure to keep your line lubed. Hardly anyone oils their steel cable.

 

[Hulsty]

I just dunk/spray mine with old engine oil every now and again, cable is a few years old now and going strong and remains reasonably flexible.

 

[Bigern]

Definitely do it. Also make sure to keep your line lubed. Hardly anyone oils their steel cable.

Thanks for the info. What kind of oil? Would motor oil work?

 

[Tapage]

Hardly anyone oils their steel cable.

I do after each muddy trail ...

Thanks for the info. What kind of oil? Would motor oil work?

I use ATF ..

 

[Southeast Overland]

I do after each muddy trail ...

You also know what you are doing.

And IIRC I've seen pics of the mud you play in - it's not so much driving through mud but bathing. That's some thick mud you've got down there!

 

[Tapage]

You also know what you are doing.

And IIRC I've seen pics of the mud you play in - it's not so much driving through mud but bathing. That's some thick mud you've got down there!

it is .. Woody was imaging it when he create IH8MUD .. ! ( I do hate it too )