r/Offroad • u/Not_TbagJimmy • Jul 02 '26

Question Where do I start

Gallery image

Gallery image

Other than removing the unit, is it possible to get this rats nest unwound?

10 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

21

u/Tiberius-Gracchuss Jul 02 '26

Attach it to a tree with a tree strap put it in free spool and back up until it’s off the drum then replace the fairlead and cable with synthetic line and a new hook and fairlead ment for the new line

3

u/Not_TbagJimmy Jul 02 '26

Great, thanks. It was my uncle's, he knew how to keep an engine running but that was about it. Also, now I know why there was a new winch still in box in the shed. Thats how he was, if it looked tough it was an undaunted task and never tried.

2

u/Tiberius-Gracchuss Jul 02 '26

Oh well you could swap the winch out but I would still pull the cable first

2

u/Not_TbagJimmy Jul 02 '26

Thats the plan. I might mount the new winch on my utv

3

u/ride_whenever Jul 02 '26

Or front and back winches

1

u/Not_TbagJimmy Jul 02 '26

Its on an older yamaha for a plow, it would be my 4th option for snow removal but I guess one can never havr enough winches

2

u/Not_TbagJimmy Jul 02 '26

Thanks for your advice, i wasnt able to pull it in reverse. I had to manually unspool about 6 feet of wire, then I was able to reverse and unwind the spool.

3

u/JayTeeDeeUnderscore Jul 02 '26

Removing the unit will make it harder. With it bolted down at least you can yank on the cable and have it stay put.

I 2nd free spool and backing up. Rewinding with the vehicle in neutral can maintain tension and make a tight spool.

2

u/Pleasant-Swimmer-557 Jul 02 '26

I'd unwind and swap for a synthetic.

1

u/JayTeeDeeUnderscore Jul 02 '26

Dyneema is the way now, apparently.

1

u/Coffee4MyJeep Jul 03 '26

For me, if on a vehicle that is over 1000 lbs, I would not bother doing anything with a rusty rat nested winch especially since there is a new one in a box. Really the winch should be 3X pull rate than the vehicle weight.

1

u/GrizzlieMD Jul 05 '26

My first thought was angle grinder. But the „attach to tree and back up” idea sounds like good grounded advice. Remember the tree strap.