Advice On My Winch Options

Question. Is this winch worth putting any effort into?

I have this winch that was on my Jeep when I bought it. I've never used it but I am pretty sure the motor works. I'm trying to decide if I should use this winch or buy one of the $500 12,000lb chinese things.

I have all the cables that operate this winch but it looks like the in/out button on the chinese jobs is a much more user friendly option.

 

I would sell that one and buy a Harbor Freight one, I have used it weekly for years with no issues. The remote also makes it even easier!!
Jay

 

Absolutely NO reason not to use that. Most especially if the Jeep is already set up for it. I used the Belleview 6000 (same winch) for 4 1/2 decades on my CJ5 and never a hint of a problem. No power out but in my experience that is a seldom used feature. In a lot of ways, the Belleview/early Warn are more robust than the subsequent 8274. Don't waste $500 on chinese!!!!!

 

Keep and use the Warn.

 

Genuinely curious...

Without power-out, how does one release a load under tension?

 

The Jeep is sorta setup for it. I took it off because it needs to move 1" to the passenger side to clear my power steering gear. Doesn't look like a big deal to move it over.

 

Looks like I better check my needle bearing and give this thing a good once over then.

 

I vote use it

 

Run it.

 

I"d be running that. Do a full rebuild and it will be like new.

 

Here is a interesting upgrade: Belleview Winch Brake Upgrade

 

There are 3 in-cab controls on these: power, clutch, and brake. If you pull the winch taught and need to let line out, you have to pull the brake and disengage the clutch. This will let the winch free spool with the garbage band brake controlling the tension/rate. It's just as shady as it sounds.

 

If you don't decide to keep this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sell me the controls... I would never run them if it weren't for my strange need to keep everything period correct. You can rig up modern controls that are quite a bit safer.


Also, you mentioned that you're not sure if the motor works. You can find that out in about 15 seconds with a pair of jumper cables. Hook (+) to the terminal up on the motor, most people test with (-) on the thumb screw above the brake. Hook the winch end up first, hook up one side of the battery connection, then touch the other side to the terminal for a second. You'll know right away if it's good to go. They are a tough one to kill.

 

Thanks. Going to test it tomorrow. If I don't keep it you have dibs on the controls (they are in perfect shape). At this point I've decided if it works it's going back on the Jeep.

 

"Better to have a winch and not need it than to not have a winch and need it"
"Any winch is better than no winch"

 

Can you actually de-clutch with heavy tension on these winches? I can't release the dog-clutch on a pto winch unless I back off on the load, using the jeep's clutch and transmission.

 

Honestly, I don't know. I've never really tested it that way.

 

With these Belleview winches, if you feel the need, a motor with both power in and out is available. I have a link saved somewhere that I think I can find.

 

I actually saw your link the other day in my travels around here. I didn't click it tho... should have saved it