Advice on synthetic cable care

Razor J · 10-15-2006, 10:10 AM

I have a Warn 9.5 with synthetic cable. I have always had wire strand cable on winches it the past. I felt as I could judge wire strand condition pretty easily.
I love how this synthetic handles-no burs, no snap back if it breaks, etc. I do not know how to care for it. I know sunlight and heat are bad things for synthetic. Most of my rope care knowledge comes from caring for my climbing ropes.
Do I need to wash my winch rope if it gets dirty? (and it will)
How do I know when to retire it? After 20 hard pulls? After 4 years? Since snapping it has less risk of injury, just use it until it breaks? It has little sun exposure on my All-pro bumper (reason 97 why I like this bumper). Should I cover the drum exposure hole with a sheet of flexable magnet materal to futher decrease sun exposure? Should I just find something else to worry about?
Any advice would be great. Sorry if this has been covered-I can try to find the thread if someone can steer me

gnwhite · 10-15-2006, 10:35 AM

great question. i am considering the synth. cable as well but dont know much about them.

DirtyLittleSecret · 10-15-2006, 10:44 AM

Great question!
BEST ADVICE: number one killer of syn lines is heat from "overstalling" a winch. When stalling a winch creates ALOT of heat that can damage the line. As for UV check out my little trick that mountaineers will love:
http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...light=chafe+uv
As for washing it...Ive been told to un spool the line and run hose water over it while coaxing the foulies out start at the winch and work your way to the hook/shackle.
Use it until you dont feel comfortable anymore (works for my climbing ropes as well). If you can feel any deformity in the line take a really good look at it, but it should last a long while. Any UV protection is good protection for your investment. For such a good question you get some rep points!

Forgot! Youve only got 97 reasons as to why you love your AP? Im on #239. Get on the ball!

Razor J · 10-15-2006, 02:35 PM

DLS, thanks for the response and info. Hey, I do like your chafe guard idea. I was most worried about the section of exposed line. I assume the coating does not block 100% UV so this guard should do the trick-maybe, I can find some webbing near Voodo blue in color.. Yea, I have to do some thinking about the bumper. A magnetic bottle opener will stay in place on the backside of the bumper-#98 and counting.

highbeams · 10-15-2006, 04:40 PM

put a cover over the winnch to protect from uv
run untill it looks way frayed
the thing is amazing in durability
alwaysd use with a chafe guard
dirt looks good,

Saphteemon · 10-15-2006, 06:03 PM

I just ordered mine w/ 10' of chafe guard. I was thinking that would also keep the uv rays off the amsteel blue as well as protect it from abrasions.

BTW. I plan on using the new warn stock roller fairlead. I was told that as long as there are no burrs and its smooth I should be okay.

Are you guys running aluminum fairleads and how do you like them?

Tankota · 10-15-2006, 06:19 PM

Heat on the winch drum itself is only generated when the winch brake is in use - the only time that happens is when letting out line under load, and it's very rare that you'd need to lower a vehcial down something with the winch.. Winching in generates heat on the moter and not the drum and you don't have to worry about it. One of those misunderstandings on the heat issue and how winches work.

**Mtbcoach** · 10-15-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Saphteemon previously said:

I just ordered mine w/ 10' of chafe guard. I was thinking that would also keep the uv rays off the amsteel blue as well as protect it from abrasions.

BTW. I plan on using the new warn stock roller fairlead. I was told that as long as there are no burrs and its smooth I should be okay.

Are you guys running aluminum fairleads and how do you like them?

I would pony up for a Hawse fairlead due to the fact that synthetic lines flatten when under load and that isn't the best when using roller fairleads. I just think they are more functional for synthetic line also.

highbeams · 10-15-2006, 06:41 PM

I use a polished steel fairleadlead on the jeep
works great
I see cruiser larry has a derlin rolles on his roller fairlead, I like that
I just suggest, whatever you choose, make sure it is used
a lot of the hype is about used ones having burrs from the old steel cable
when I switch over to synth on the FJ I will just put on a polished steel one
oh, about heat
any good line will come with enough heat sheild for the drum, if it doesn't, get some, the reason it was so cheap may be that sheild

**cruiserlarry** · 10-15-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

highbeams previously said:

I use a polished steel fairleadlead on the jeep
works great
I see cruiser larry has a derlin rolles on his roller fairlead, I like that
I just suggest, whatever you choose, make sure it is used
a lot of the hype is about used ones having burrs from the old steel cable
when I switch over to synth on the FJ I will just put on a polished steel one
oh, about heat
any good line will come with enough heat sheild for the drum, if it doesn't, get some, the reason it was so cheap may be that sheild

Synthetic winchline mfgrs recommend a roller fairlead made out of Delrin composite material - lighter weight, smoother finish, less heat bulid-up than polished steel or standard hawse fairlead. On that note, if you use a hawse fairlead, use aluminum, not steel...