I've been searching for an 8274 winch for the past 4 years. I've got too many dependents to afford a new/slightly used version so I've been trolling ebay and craigslist for local option.
About three weeks ago I spotted a listing on craigslist. I had little hope for it since the listing was already a few weeks old. But I called the guy and left my number. He called back the next day and said he still had the 8274. "It's an older one, but it still ran last year when I last tested it." We discussed it a little more and he kept asking if I'd rather look at the Ramsey 9K that he had since it was a "stronger" winch. I assured him that I was interested in the Warn. He stated he'd have to get it brought in from the "ranch". I asked him to give me a call when he was going out to get the ranch truck so that I could make arrangements to meet him to confirm the 8472 and buy it from him. The original price was to be about $280. He said he'd adjust the price since he did not have the remote cable.
I got a call from him a week ago, Sunday evening. He had brought the truck in from the ranch and had it at a friend's shop. I could come down any time and look at it. My only problem was that he was 90 miles away. I explained that I was up in Austin and could not make it there for a few days. He said he was in no hurry and would wait for a few days for me to get down there.
Called him Friday night to set up a meeting on Saturday. Left a message at his house and on his cell. Saturday night and still not call. Sunday afternoon he finally called. Someone had broken into his friends shop and tried to steal the winch.
They had cut the battery cables and torched the bumper off the truck to get at the winch, but they must have been spooked cause they left the bumper and winch on the shop floor. He was going to put it back on craigslist the next day for less money just to get rid of it. Since the cables were cut, he didn't feel right about charging the higher price.
I cleared my afternoon schedule (yes dear, I promise to finish it tomorrow evening), and head down to San Antonio. Got over to the guy's house and finally got to see the winch. It's an older one. I don't have any idea of the production time line, but the Date Code is BF8. The serial number only has 5 digits and the terminal leads to the motor are weather cracked and faded. It looks like the same series that Bill Ansell (BillaVista on Pirate4X4) wrote up his detailed rebuild page. Warn 8274 rebuild
Oh, and the price,.......$160!
I GOT IT!!!. The case looks good. Not obvious damage. No signs of leaking (could be dry of oil). The solenoid box looks like it will need some work and I'll have to get a new remote plug (and remote) since both are missing.
No pictures yet. (I have my camera w/ me, but the cable is at home). I'll try and snap some tonight after I get back from taking the boys to Scouts.
About three weeks ago I spotted a listing on craigslist. I had little hope for it since the listing was already a few weeks old. But I called the guy and left my number. He called back the next day and said he still had the 8274. "It's an older one, but it still ran last year when I last tested it." We discussed it a little more and he kept asking if I'd rather look at the Ramsey 9K that he had since it was a "stronger" winch. I assured him that I was interested in the Warn. He stated he'd have to get it brought in from the "ranch". I asked him to give me a call when he was going out to get the ranch truck so that I could make arrangements to meet him to confirm the 8472 and buy it from him. The original price was to be about $280. He said he'd adjust the price since he did not have the remote cable.
I got a call from him a week ago, Sunday evening. He had brought the truck in from the ranch and had it at a friend's shop. I could come down any time and look at it. My only problem was that he was 90 miles away. I explained that I was up in Austin and could not make it there for a few days. He said he was in no hurry and would wait for a few days for me to get down there.
Called him Friday night to set up a meeting on Saturday. Left a message at his house and on his cell. Saturday night and still not call. Sunday afternoon he finally called. Someone had broken into his friends shop and tried to steal the winch.
They had cut the battery cables and torched the bumper off the truck to get at the winch, but they must have been spooked cause they left the bumper and winch on the shop floor. He was going to put it back on craigslist the next day for less money just to get rid of it. Since the cables were cut, he didn't feel right about charging the higher price.I cleared my afternoon schedule (yes dear, I promise to finish it tomorrow evening), and head down to San Antonio. Got over to the guy's house and finally got to see the winch. It's an older one. I don't have any idea of the production time line, but the Date Code is BF8. The serial number only has 5 digits and the terminal leads to the motor are weather cracked and faded. It looks like the same series that Bill Ansell (BillaVista on Pirate4X4) wrote up his detailed rebuild page. Warn 8274 rebuild
Oh, and the price,.......$160!
I GOT IT!!!. The case looks good. Not obvious damage. No signs of leaking (could be dry of oil). The solenoid box looks like it will need some work and I'll have to get a new remote plug (and remote) since both are missing.
No pictures yet. (I have my camera w/ me, but the cable is at home). I'll try and snap some tonight after I get back from taking the boys to Scouts.
Great Score! 
. He was parting whole rig when I saw it. If it's the same one I remember seeing it came off a hunting vehicle that was rigged to handle 2 wrenches. That dual connecter you see on front of the wrench ran back under the hood to a set of relays.
