Contaminated winch motor

Topend,

The OX winch is fully seald and because it is hydraclic there are no electrics to get wet. The Ox winch is slow but very strong, rated at 10,000lb.

The winch that drowned, was it a high mount 8,000lb/10,000lb or 12,000lb winch. The reason I ask is that the high mounts are more exposed to the weather than the low mounts that are under the bullbar.

You could have had a bad seal on the motor, my winch has been dunked a few times because of river crossings and stills works. I did pull mine down just after I brought it second hand and I did seal it with silicon.

The OX winch are not hard to fit, when ording one just tell them what type of vehicle it is going on and they will supply the hoses to connect to the power steering pump and return.

Wayne

Topend,
I had a similar problem after a trip to Cape York, and was told you have to run the winch after a water crossing to heat the motor which will dry it out. TJM in Sydney were very good as they said the solenoids had burnt out and offered half the cost of the job under warranty. They advised me to pull the winch rope out every 2-4 weeks and rewind which will ensure the grease is circulated and solenoids are kept working. Since then I have had no more problems.
When they pulled the winch down, they found the grease inside had gone solid, so that I could not even turn the release handle to unwind the rope, which they said was due to going thru creeks and not drying it out. I guess it is like everything mechanical, we simply have to test these things on a regular basis.Hope this helps.
Graeme

Its a common issue.

People fit winches, then just leave them, never ever touching them, servicing them, until they are needed...

How many years was it in the truck all up?
How many times was it serviced in that time?
Could the damage in there have been done in 7 mths? or over a period of years eg: would have been seen during a service at sometime???

They are all the same All brands, all models NEED SERVICING from time to time...

YMMV

My Toyo Dealer recommended the Ox winch for the reason that it is hydraulic and has no electrics to stuff up. Said they are a few dollars more but they are much more reliable. Based on what Truckster said then it is just as likely that if you don't touch it for months then an electric one may let you down when you need it most.

Interested in comments from users of these units.

StevenL

Thanks to everyone who has replied. The vehicle is about two and a half years old and the winch has been there since new. It's a Warn XD 9000lb mounted behind the bullbar. I know now after reading other forums and talking to ARB / TJM that I should have operated it once a month. I have not had it serviced as I have been told that an indication of needing a service is the engage/disengage lever will start to get stiff. Mine was fine.

If the grease can go hard (which has not happened to mine) maybe Warn should look at using another type of grease. The grease in my boat trailer bearings doesn't go hard after sitting for a few months and it sees more water. These units should come standard fully sealed and have a breather pipe fitted.

I'm tossing up whether to just replace the motor at $500 to $600 or to get a Ox 10000lb electric winch which cost $1540 at the moment. Is the Ox a better winch than the Warn? Either way I will try to waterproof it a fit a breather.

Topend.