Installed Synthetic Winchline

[Saphteemon]

My 5/16" synthetic winchline came yesterday. I installed it this am.

First I removed my original wire rope. I pulled it out then I had to remove the allen retainer screw. It was tight....I decided to remove the grill so that I could access it from behind. With the allpro bumper, access to the drum is pretty limited hence the grill removal.

I install the new synthetic line came with a new retainer allen screw.

wow...what a difference. It spools on the drum easily.....

The synthetic line is mandatory if you have this style of bumper and intend to use your winch. The factory wire rope it too stiff and hard to keep neatly wound on the drum.

I was hoping my rope chafe guard (10') was enough to cover the blue amsteel to protect it from the UV/fading but it doesn't cover it enough.

Another thing, the factory winch hook (3/8") doesn't fit the crush proof thimble on the new line. I guess I'll just use a 5/8" shackle for now...

What do you think about covering to top hole on the bumper to protect the new line from the sun? Do you think it'll effect cooling/decrease airflow to the front?

[DirtyLittleSecret]

It takes about 30 ft of the DLS chafe guard (1" nylon) to cover the entire top of the spool. Another member mentioned a magnetic matting (thin 3" wide and 15" long) to fit inside the top access port. Would seal it up completely. Two very valid options that are cheap.

[Angry Andy]

Saphteemon previously said:

My 5/16" synthetic winchline came yesterday. I installed it this am.

First I removed my original wire rope. I pulled it out then I had to remove the allen retainer screw. It was tight....I decided to remove the grill so that I could access it from behind. With the allpro bumper, access to the drum is pretty limited hence the grill removal.

I install the new synthetic line came with a new retainer allen screw.

wow...what a difference. It spools on the drum easily.....

The synthetic line is mandatory if you have this style of bumper and intend to use your winch. The factory wire rope it too stiff and hard to keep neatly wound on the drum.

I was hoping my rope chafe guard (10') was enough to cover the blue amsteel to protect it from the UV/fading but it doesn't cover it enough.

Another thing, the factory winch hook (3/8") doesn't fit the crush proof thimble on the new line. I guess I'll just use a 5/8" shackle for now...

What do you think about covering to top hole on the bumper to protect the new line from the sun? Do you think it'll effect cooling/decrease airflow to the front?

Make sure you TENSION up the new line....you should spool it up with weight applied. Best way is to have another vehicle in a long parking lot, take the whole line out, keep 2-3 turns on the winch (dont apply pressure to that retainer screw)...put your rig in neutral...and the 'other vehicle' (or telephone pole, tree, whatever) in park....then winch yourself and properly spool the winch line.

If you dont tension it, and its loose (as I assume it is)....you will pull out 50 or so feet when you need it, and it will bind up into the 'loosly tensioned' cable underneath when you pull yourself or someone else out...and your line will fray, or get stuck in between the loose folds (damn, that sounds sexy)...

[Saphteemon]

Thanks...I appreciate the advice...the last thing I want to do is booger my new line.

I bought a chinese snatch block (warn/arb clone) rated at 20k lbs. from an ebay dealer. The quality looks decent and the price was right <$20 otd. I pu myself in south el monte, CA.

I think I'm ready to go.....

[1911]

Saphteemon previously said:

My 5/16" synthetic winchline came yesterday. I installed it this am.

First I removed my original wire rope. I pulled it out then I had to remove the allen retainer screw. It was tight....I decided to remove the grill so that I could access it from behind. With the allpro bumper, access to the drum is pretty limited hence the grill removal.

I install the new synthetic line came with a new retainer allen screw.

wow...what a difference. It spools on the drum easily.....

The synthetic line is mandatory if you have this style of bumper and intend to use your winch. The factory wire rope it too stiff and hard to keep neatly wound on the drum.

I was hoping my rope chafe guard (10') was enough to cover the blue amsteel to protect it from the UV/fading but it doesn't cover it enough.

I got pretty much exactly the same stuff from Rockstomper; installed it on my winch before mounting it. I noticed the same thing on the chafe guard, but since my truck is parked inside a garage 98% of the time I'm not too worried about UV degradation.

Another thing, the factory winch hook (3/8") doesn't fit the crush proof thimble on the new line. I guess I'll just use a 5/8" shackle for now...

The winch hook that came with my Warn M8000 fit the new thimble OK, but I bought a bigger, more manly snap hook from Rockstomper also.

What do you think about covering to top hole on the bumper to protect the new line from the sun? Do you think it'll effect cooling/decrease airflow to the front?

On my bumper (Demello) I don't think it would hurt airflow to cover the top hole but I don't know about yours.

[VTFJC]

Just a curiosity question...does the sun weaken the synthetic line significantly, or is it just a fading factor you are trying to avoid. Does the synthetic line properties break down with age anyway?