Plasma rope and Hawse fairlead; cast V aluminium

Hi 'Lucy', May I ask why you sugest 10 mm ? The 10mm is rated at 8,000 kg. (8 tonne) That's one hell of a big fish that you could reel in.

The 8mm is rated at (minimum) 5,600 kg.

Of course you may ask, however you will notice I qualified it a tad by stating I had no idea what he was winching and assumed the worst - Overloaded 4WD and CT/Caravan.

(1) If the gentleman in question just wants to winch his rig along a nice flat, level concrete road then a piece of 'striing' would most probably suffice.

(2) if he is stuck in sand or mud the, horizontal load on the rope increases exponentially.

(3) Add an incline or obstacle to (2) and it increases exponentially again.

(4) Throw a snatch block into the equation that is being used as a 90deg 'guide' to a lateral winch point and things rwally start to get interesting re load and stress on the rope.

Note:

You only halve the pull using a snatch block when the rope goes out through the snatch block and comes back to the winching vehicle (stuck vehicle) paralell to the outwards part of the rope.

(5) I have watched 10 & 11mm brand new plasma ropes snap in winch comps where it is only the comp truck weighing around 2t. and those vehicles are as light as they can get them.

So in view of the above and a extra US$25 I definitely recommend an extra 2mm to give it you that extra margin of safety and piece of mind.


Also Plasma does wear/degrade with use and not being looked after (ie serviced after use).

If you have an ARB bar then the okoffroad SP Aluminium Hawse is the one to get.

Hi Kiwi

Your need thicker rope , not for its strength , but to minimize an unstated drawback of plasma which is its easy of which it it cuts thru existing layers of rope on a drum and can jam itself in when rope is not wound on under a real load.

Thanks Robin, I do know about the problem with a rope under tension squeezing down between the winds on a lower layer. To avoid this the rope makers recommend that you do not lay the rope on the drum in a nice 'side by side' fashion as you do with wire rope. Instead you should cross the rope back and forth over it self in a herring bone fashion.

Lucy, I also have never seen a synthetic rope actually melt. Now if Bonz had not been in such a hurry during his visit over the pond I would have shown him some really soft beaches (fine gravel)where we could have tried to do some 'melting' :-))

Next time Kiwi will have time for more offroad stuff

Yep thats the way to go.

You don't mean 'dodgy roger' the ex bead-lok man do you??

Having competed with Roger Smith in two "Out Back Challenges" I will cast no aspersions.

But I do believe the Poly roller fairleads are better then the Hawser type fair lead. There is a lot of friction created when the rope rubs around a solid object. Passing around something that moves with it, no friction.

It must be made sure the there is no gaps between the rollers and the frame, so the the rope carn't pinch between them.

Roger is an outback gentleman you would have had a good ride Tony, were you navvi or in another vehicle?

and I agree, the poly rollers, even if they didnt move have a larger diameter making it easier on the pull

G'day Bonz. Navvi in another vehicle, but in the same team two years in a row.

Cool we may have crossed paths then, been up there a few years in a row

Hi Lucy

Mines melted a bit on the first 2 meters , despite even coming with a nylon cover for that first 2 meters.

Hey Robin.

Re that 2 meters of Nylon sleeve.

I use it the same way as the Comp guys do (those that retain it that is), and that is as a protection against rocks/sharp things when the vehicle is below the 'winch point and the rope is 'bent' over whatever.

The nylon sleeve stays up against the hook and is on the last 2 meters off rope to be wound in.

Once hooked up for winch, just slide it down the rope to the point that needs protection, doing so whilst the rope is still slack and not under tension/load.

Hi Autosparky, Can you share any more info with us ?
Brand / model of winch and type of synthetic cable being used would be good.

Autosparky.

You have my attention and I am all ears and eyes.

Same as Kiwi Kia plus original colour of plasma rope being used, and exactly what the winch was being used for when the melt/fusion happened. (and don't say winching - LOL).

Why I say that is, winch motors will generate enough heat to melt the solder in the motors when under constant extreme load for long periods.

Thats why you get the likes of Mal Leslie to trick up the winch with air cooling to the motor etc. Matter of fact he makes quite a $ or three doing this mod to winch motors for the comp guys and people like myself who know about it.

Also the newer winch motors have big 'heat sinks' built into the rear end of same for heat dispersion.

Do the 3 you are talking about have these heat sinks.

The problem is a heat transfer , the heat of the drum not the motor although there will be some heat transferred from the motor to the drum most of the heat is from the planetry gears

Aaaarh! the 'thick plotens'

3 winches belonging to 'remote police outposts'

Now being aware of the - all care and responsibility thing - I can assure you from very, very personal experience that 98% of police officers have no idea what that means when it comes to Govt. Equipment.

I have no doubt that they did indeed return the subject 3 winches to you with melted plasma rope on the drums, however before I passed any more comment I would have to see a video of what they were doing when they melted the said rope to the subject drums.

Wouldn't believe a word I was told unless it was backed up by a video.

Trust me, I have had 40years of continuous Govt employment and it never ceases to amaze me what some galoots can do with the equipment they are given. It is just mind boggling.

Also sympathise with you being on the receiving end of the warranty claims.

Yes unfortunatelly im the mug that fits everything out for them and unfortunately nothimg ever made is cop proof, conversely the winch supplied to one of these people is some one who actually knows his bits and would not destroy his toys . because his life actually depends on his equipment.

Wow, thanks for all the feadback, definately food for thought. might look at replacing the cast fairlead with an alloy one. I should have included what i was using etc etc. 91 GQ Patrol 4.2d with arb winch bar, Warn highmount winch (so the drum temperature isnt an issue). All the usual stuff (roof rack/side bars/drawers/fridge)...i ran it over a weigh bridge and came in at about 2.7t unladen, which im assuming is kinda normal since i havent got anything crazy heavy on it. so the 8mm i reckon should be okay...winching out of sand/mud..the usual stuff if your stuck and at your whits end.

Scooter, Scooter, Scooter, Scooter - Pig, Pig, Pig, Pig,

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate! its only US$25.00 extra for that peace of mind and I can assure you that it will go very well on your High-Mount.

Todays exchange rate makes it so so affordable.