What is this?

Could someone please tell me what this is (I think it might be a CAT ignition?)

It's hooked up to my winch/battery. If its just being used to complete a circuit, I could remove it, right?

 

Looks like a switch to me. The back looks like a solenoid but I don't see any connections other than the primaries, and the front looks like some kinda key switch.

How's that for a completely uninformed guess?

 

well if so its of no use, because it's rusted into the position its in, and I dont have a key. What would be something I could use in its place? Or should I just remove it

 

Do you have another solenoid in line? If so nutin', if not you'll need one.

 

AHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSS,
I am quite familiar with the part you have in your hand there. It is called a "Johnson Wire" and My father and I became very intamatly familiar with them on a 31 Bertram sportfish we rebuilt.
The previous owners,you guessed it,the Johnsons ran a new wire every time something was amiss all sorts of unexplained gadgets,switches,Gauges,etc started to build up so we saved it all and at the end of the rebuild we has a 55 gallon drum full of wires etc to show for it,over 700lbs worth. One digital gauge,not hooked to any sensor at all, gave constant random numbers so for kicks we left it and would ocasionally on a fishing trip ask for a "Johnson reading" and then act as if that was somehow resposable for our luck or lack of it.
If it were me I would leave it and if anyone asks tell them its your "Johnson wire" and ask why they don't have one.
Donnie

 

The "Johnson Wire"... Ha! I love it. R) R) R)

That's right up there with blinker fluid and muffler bearings.

Dude, I'd say you got a CAT ignition switch there. I couldn't guess why it would be wired in the spot you say you found it, but Boyink's theory sounds as good as any.

 

Looks like a disconnect (switch) to me. It's meant to be panel mounted.

Looks like it's swaged closed. I'd open it by carefully prying open the lip around the red disk.

 

I thought it was a Do-floppy. R)

 

I'd guess it's some kind of on/off switch for the power lead to the winch. You could probably replace it with one of those power cutoff switches they sell as anti-theft devices, or even find another heavy duty high-amp keyed switch if you want to secure your winch power from hooligans, or accidents.