Repco Winch
Submitted: Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 12:43
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Member - Norm C (QLD)
Been a bit of discussion on these. Thought I'd share my experience so far:
Bought one yesterday for $699 on special. Plan to install it on by ARB bullbar on the '05 'Lux. Confirmed with the store manager first that if it didn't fit in easily, I could return it for a refund. No problem, provided it is complete and still in new condition.
The bad news. It won't go straight on without some work.
New holes will need to be drilled in the fairlead. Also I don't think the control box will fit where they have provided for. Don't think there is enough room and the plug for the remote cable will be difficult to get to.
Other than that I don't see any problems (so far).
The new holes won't be a problem. I'll drill them so that I can use two of the mounting bolts for the winch for the fairlead. May have to buy longer bolts, but only a few $.
I'd probably mount the control box in a different place anyway to get it up higher away from
water. Don't know where yet as it is pretty crowded in the engine bay. I'll also have to extend the leads from the control box to the winch.
Other than that is looks pretty simple, although I haven't installed it yet. I'll do that in the next week or so when I can arrange some help. It is a bit heavy to do on my own.
Spoke to the owner of a small local 4WD
shop. He confirms that they are the same winch as many of the 'name brands' which are imported from China. Says only a few months ago he was paying $650 for them wholesale. He now pays $599, but says while they are $699 at Repco, he will recommend that his customers buy from Repco to get the extended warranty and 'comfort' of buying from a big company. He will just make his money on the installation.
He recommended that I don't strip it down to grease and waterproof it. Reckons that I might void the warranty; and a 3 year (even conditional) is worth more than any work I can do myself. Reasonable advice I think.
Hopefully I'll get it in OK. I'll check it all out fully before drilling any holes so I can get my money back if necessary.
Reply By: gramps - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 12:53
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 12:53
Thanks for the info Norm. Keep us posted on progress.
AnswerID:
135568
Reply By: Redeye - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:39
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:39
Hi Norm,
I installed one on my GU last week. Only small problem with the clutch lever. Had to cut part of the protective under cover from the ARB bar to allow the lever to work. I mounted the control unit out of sight in the bull bar. Suspect
water may not be an issue as the plastic portion of the unit will act like a bell chamber. I have also wired the control directly to two switches on the dash. One with a red LED tells me the winch is powered. The second is a two way rocker switch for in and out. Works
well.
I have also placed a mechanical +100 amp switch between the two batteries to place them in parallel when winching. Note batteries are identical high cranking current units. I could not see the value in a deep cycle battery as a second because of their long charge time.
Redeye
AnswerID:
135581
Follow Up By: Outnabout David (SA) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:34
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:34
Redeye,
Just read your reply. Most
winches you can unbolt the lever end and rotate which may have avoided the need to cut your bar.
Seciondly it might pay to check your switch and see what the continuous taing is. Under full load you may find it pulls 300 or 400 amps which eauals meltdown.
I recently retitired my light weigt switch and replaced it with a 700Amp continuous switch. No problems now.
FollowupID:
389510
Reply By: Vince NSW - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:44
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:44
Thanks for this info. I have had a look & taken distances and it will fit into my ARB except for the clutch leaver. Can not work out how to get to it without mods to the bar.
I have the same probs with the weight and will not get a chance for the next 3 weekends due to work. Let us know how you go & I will post re my attempt.
Vince
AnswerID:
135582
Follow Up By: Member - Crazie (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:47
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:47
Vince
Clutch handle can be move, very easily. Undo the 2 bolts at the gear end of the chrome rods, slide the gear box off. Inside in the mounting foot, there are 10 small allan key bolts, undo these and move the foot around to your required position. Make sure seal is in place and do it all back up.
ads
FollowupID:
389589
Reply By: chump_boy - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:55
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:55
Just a quick query about the clutch levers.
Have you guys rotated the gearbox, or just trying to install the unit as it came from Repco? I import these
winches (not for Repco, under a different name, but probably the same unit), and the ones that we have installed on ARB and TJM Bars need the whole gearbox rotated about 90 degrees or so, so the cluth lever is in the correct position.
Cheers,
Chump
AnswerID:
135583
Follow Up By: Leroy - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 14:32
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 14:32
You are correct chump. Those instructions you talk about come with the ARB bull bar installation instructions.
Leroy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Crazie (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:48
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:48
Hey Chump
Its very easy mate. you can rotate it to any posistion
Clutch handle can be move, very easily. Undo the 2 bolts at the gear end of the chrome rods, slide the gear box off. Inside in the mounting foot, there are 10 small allan key bolts, undo these and move the foot around to your required position. Make sure seal is in place and do it all back up.
Ads
FollowupID:
389591
Reply By: Redeye - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:59
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 13:59
Chump
How do we go about turning the clutch lever around ? Do we have to pull the winch apart ?
Redeye
AnswerID:
135584
Follow Up By: Leroy - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 14:37
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 14:37
I have the instructions at home......somewhere! From memory you undo all the bolts holding the gearbox on but DO NOT pull it appart. Swivell it around so the handle is in the correct position but I can't remember that exact position. You should be able to look at your bar and locate the handle so it's accessible and doesn't hit anywhere on the barwork. Good luck.
Leroy
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: chump_boy - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:41
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:41
Redeye (and Leroy),
Leroy is right. There are a number of bolts that you undo with an allan key on the gearbox, and you just rotate the whole unit round until it is in the right position. If you just pull the casing off a few centimetres, rotate it, then push it back on, you should be sweet.
I actually have one in pieces at the moment. One of our customers wants to see the braking mechanism, but I can easily show how the gears and clutch all fit together. Email me at chumpion at tpg.com.au, and let me know what you want to see.
Cheers,
Chump
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Crazie (VIC) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:49
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 00:49
Clutch handle can be move, very easily. Undo the 2 bolts at the gear end of the chrome rods, slide the gear box off. Inside in the mounting foot, there are 10 small allan key bolts, undo these and move the foot around to your required position. Make sure seal is in place and do it all back up.
FollowupID:
389592
Reply By: Andrew (Whyalla SA) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:03
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:03
3 year Warranty from Repco has conditions but the catalog doesnt say what the conditions are. I emailed their support line asking what the conditions are. I got the following response:
Thankyou for the email sent in on the 6th Oct sorry for the slow response, at your earliest convenience please ring Repco's National Support line on 1300 301 072 hours of Business 8am to 6pm Mon to Fri please ask for Dimitrios Athanasakis he will discuss with you the warranty policy on this item.
Up to you guys I guess but if they dont put the conditions in the catalog and wont send them in writing then there must be some nasty fineprint. By the time I got this response Id already decided I didnt want/need one so I didnt call.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 20:59
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 20:59
The warranty conditions are printed on a sheet inserted in the instruction manual. Any Repco
shop will have them, even if they have to open a box to get at them.
Nothing drastic. Mostly sensible use. But it is a full page (large print). That would be why it is not in the catalogue.
It is in the truck. If my energy levels lift after a glass of wine, I might get them for you.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 21:45
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 21:45
Andrew, warranty conditions inserted in separate post below.
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Reply By: joc45 - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:43
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 15:43
Hi Norm,
I recall I had to bend the clutch lever of my s/h Warn winch to make it work properly in my Bocar bullbar for my GU. And I think I had to unscrew the allen bolts and rotate the gearbox around.
Re the control box, bear in mind that vandals can shove a metal link in the remote control lead connector and start the winch (usually to wreck the vehicle). Suggest you look at mounting either the whole control box or at least re-wire the connector to an out-of-the-way location, so vandals cannot access it. This may require longer DC leads for the control box. My control box is fairly
well concealed within the bullbar, and I have the connector for the remote mounted up under the bonnet.
Wish these Chinese
winches had been avail when I bought my s/h Warn.
Cheers,
Gerry
AnswerID:
135605
Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 18:02
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 18:02
I had a quick look at them in the Nerang store Norm.... was almost tempted, I will be keen to see how it goes..... I know it will look good in your bull bar mate! Who was the local 4wd
shop you spoke with??
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 20:53
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 20:53
Sure Brian. Michael is up at
Hamilton Island at the moment. If I get stuck on help with the lifting I can give you a call, then you will see it first hand! Just jokeing.
The 4B
shop was over on Siganto Road at Oxenford. Little place that fitted my tow bar.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 06:24
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 06:24
ahhhhh the one on Siganto..... I had forgotten about that one...
Sure mate, if you need a lift, give us a call!
FollowupID:
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Reply By: time waster - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 19:39
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 19:39
norm i fitted a warn 9000 to my o5 lux but i have factory s/bar and only had to extend engage lever. only place i could find to fit control box was on top of fuse box and run control plug to the hole provided on bar,as i have d/batt and compressor in the other spaces under bonnet.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Rock Crawler - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 19:42
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 19:42
A Little tip guys , call Ironman in Center rd and ask for crazy Adam . Yes our Adam from here . he can explain the rest cheers
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 21:37
Friday, Oct 21, 2005 at 21:37
OK, I've got the warranty conditions (slightly abbreviated by me):
Must be used with min 650 CCA battery
Keep at least 5 wraps on the drum. Red mark identifies this on the cable
Must be mounted on a suitable winch bar
Must be used as per instruction manual
Not for commercial or industrial use
Do not use to lift
Do not hook the cable onto itself
Do not use in snatch recovery
Do not use in conjunction with snatch strap
Do not exceed winch pulling limits
Do not shock load the winch
Do not use when submersed in water or mud
Do not overwork the winch. Recommended duty cycle is 2 minutes on, 1 minute off.
Read and follow instruction manual and above carefully. Failure to do so may result in injury, damage to vehicle and void warranty.
All sensible and pretty obvious. Apart from duty cycle, I would have done all this without reading the conditions.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 06:29
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 06:29
Norm, when you have it fitted, grab one of the guys in the club who have a winch and
test it out. Andrew fitted a (Not Repco) winch to his and did a
test out at
Canungra and found that the cable wasn't attached to anything and not wound on the drum properly. That was a little something I learned from watching Andrew!!!
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 12:32
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 12:32
Well, I'm just about stumped.
I've taken the front protector plate off from under the bull bar to gain access to the winch mounting area.
Although the winch will fit once I get it in, the opening under the bull bar is too narrow to get it in.
I can not see a way to get it in without taking the bar off the vehicle, and I don't really want to do that.
Anyone familiar with the ARB bar on the '05 'Lux with any ideas?
Nothing is ever as easy as it first seems.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Peter McGuckian (Member) - Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 21:11
Saturday, Oct 22, 2005 at 21:11
I had
mine installed this week. It went onto a 2002 GU using a NIssan steel bar. Works fine. Just have to sort out how to get the clutch lever round to the top. Chump, can you please email me some further instructions or pictures?
Cheers
Peter
AnswerID:
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