Winch solenoid question...?

[mypancreasbroke]

Hey guys. I'm essentially a n00b, 1/4 when it comes to mechanical things, etc. Bought my cruiser after years of dreaming and constantly reading this site.

Long story short, it came with a Smittybilt XRC8 that 'didnt work.' Well, I always wondered what the issue was as all the lights came on and as far as I could tell things were in working order. Occasionally when plugging in the controller I would get it to go in or out for maybe a foot and then stop. Finally got around to tinkering around with it tonight, and after having read through the user manual tried tapping where I thought the solenoid would be, and voila, it would go in, it would go out. Now it wouldn't work all the time, it seems that most the time after being reeled in or out, it would not work again, unless I was pushing the switch and would then tap it pretty good with a wrench. So my question is, am I correct in assuming this is a solenoid issue? And if so, is it something that I can attempt to repair, or do I just need to replace it? I've loved getting to learn car work from my cruiser, and hope this is the next thing I can knock out before rebuilding my front knuckles in the next few weeks (praying hard for that one!).

 

[Pin_Head]

would not work again, unless I was pushing the switch and would then tap it pretty good with a wrench. So my question is, am I correct in assuming this is a solenoid issue? !).

It sounds like what ever you are tapping with a wrench may be bad.