Rewinding steel winch cable

For me boat winch I just fill up a milk crate with some heavy stuff, or put the kids in it for a ride put the hook on the bottom of the crate and wind it up seems enough tension for the job.

Cheers.

I have the car on a gentle ( < 5 degree) slope so that there is not a lot of tension on the wire but enough to keep it tidy. I then release the brake and let the winch hold the car and wind it in and with a long thick dowel, not my hand as I saw one clown do albeit with a glove, I "guide" the rope across the drum. I let it go to the end of the drum and then "guide" it back. You may even get an assistant sit in the drivers seat to keep the car running straight and handle the winch control. Being on your own you have to be very conscious of keeping the car lined up with the cable anchor point, tree etc etc.

The dowel is pointed at one end to allow me to jab it into the ground. I never wind it in without tension from an anchor point such as a tree etc. Even a mate is better than nothing.

In the bush I do not worry too much about how extra tidy it is. I just ensure it is not looped, knotted, twisted or a birds nest. I always run it out and back in after every trip and at least three times a year anyway.

But DO NOT DO IT ON A STEEP SLOPE and KEEP THE HANDS OFF THE WIRE.

Phil

If i am on flat ground i pull out hand brake and wind her in...

Hello Michael,

I park the car on a slight rise and have an old tyre and rim that I winch up to the vehicle. I have safety gloves on and guide the cable onto the winch spool if it needs it atliest a metre out from the cable. Another safer method is to use a pick handle or similiar hard piece of wood to guide the cable across the spool as it winds in. I have found you do need some sort of light weight to get it wound tight and nice on the spool.
For deservicing i also add a bit of grease to the cable if it (water/mud) needs it as it goes on.

Regards Will

I have a local power pole on a hill that i use to respool my winch cable once every couple of months or after trips involving river crossings. If i can ill have the misses gently ride the brake and hold the steering wheel straight while i stand infront and guide the cable side to side, but most of the time i do it on my own.

You really need to respool it nice and tight so that when used the outer layer does not pull down into the layers below potentially damaging the cable.

Travis.

go down to your woolies or coles when its closed and spool the winch out to something sturdy like the bays for the trolleys, then which the handbrake on and winch it in

Thanks for all the replies. I particularly like the idea of the dowel or axe handle to feed the cable accross the drum. I will have a go at various options this weekend.

This site is a great source of information

Thanks again

Michael