If you’re familiar with the absolute basics of a winch, you know that there’s a winch and cable or rope spooled into it. A winch without a cable is useless. That’s why it’s fair to ask when a winch cable should be replaced.
A winch cable should be replaced when there’s the slightest appearance of fraying or splicing. There is no such thing as replacing it after a specific amount of time as you would oil in a car. As long as the cable is undamaged, it is fully useable.
When should you replace a winch cable?
Get into the habit of checking your winch cable before you use it. This will allow you to correctly maintain the winch, which will help to prolong its life.
Check your winch cable for signs of damage or general wear and tear. Replace it if you find problems such as excessive fraying or spliced wires.
Don’t put off replacing your winch cable, as this will increase the likelihood that it will snap while under stress. Replace your winch cable, as soon as you start noticing problems. Failure to do so can cause you more problems in the long run.
If you neglect to maintain your winch cable, it’s likely that you’ll end up with expensive repairs or that you’ll have to buy a completely new winch. To allow your winch to function adequately, you should inspect and clean it after use. Service your winch regularly and replace the winch cable as soon as problems arise.
How long do cable and synthetic ropes last?
It’s hard to put a time scale on how long your winch cable is likely to last. Several factors will determine the life span of a winch cable. These include how often it’s used, how much weight it regularly has to bear, and the thickness of the cable. Cable maintenance also plays a factor.
Winch cables are made up of a core cable with six wires that wrap around it. Each wire is made from either seven or nineteen strands. The thickness and number of strands determine a cable’s strength and flexibility.
Cables all have a minimum breaking strength. This should be taken into consideration when deciding on what thickness of cable to use.
Choosing a synthetic rope will increase your safety factor since this type of winch line is often longer-lasting. Synthetic winch ropes have a higher minimum breaking strength than wire cables, which means that they are more robust and beneficial for towing larger loads.
How do you maintain a winch cable?
There are many things that you can do to ensure that your winch cable is kept in good condition. Keeping your cable well maintained will allow it to last longer.
Make sure that your winch cable is put away correctly after you’ve used it. It should be wrapped around the drum, tightly and evenly.
Another good tip is to add lube to your winch cable to help it spool out of the winch smoothly. When the winch cable moves, it will create internal friction within the mechanism which can damage the wire strands.
Use new motor oil as a lubricant and allow it to penetrate into the wire’s strands. Don’t use a stick lube, such as wheel grease, as this is likely to trap dirt and cause problems.
Ensure that your winch cable is kept straight and don’t allow it to get into odd positions or to become kinked for long. This will cause unnecessary stress to the cable.
Many people connect their winch cable to the bumper of their vehicle and then reel the cable in. This can cause issues as it deforms the section of cable that has been wrapped around the fairlead. In the long term, this will cause the winch cable to weaken.
How do you keep winch cables tight?
Many people use their winches with a loose cable but it is essential to keep your winch cable tight. You can do this by applying tension to your cable while spooling it in.
Make sure that you have at least 50-100 lbs at the end of the line while spooling and make sure it’s winding neatly. You can do this by putting a strap around a tree or another vehicle and then attaching your winch cable. This will help keep the winch cable tight while spooling, and it will be wound neatly around the drum.
How do you fix a broken winch cable?
If your winch cable breaks while you are in the middle of using it, you can carry out a temporary repair. Bear in mind that the wire should then be replaced as soon as possible.
Use a bolt cutter to cut off the damaged ends from the cable then repair it by splicing the cable. This is a similar process that’s used on fiber rope.
The winch cable has been created using six strands, as well as a core. Undo each end of the cable for five complete turns and then seize each of the strands individually by wrapping it in baling wire.
Join the strands together in twos at the ends to create three super strands around the core wire. Cut back the core wire on each half, to the point where all of the six strands are seized together.
Create a standard short splice to join the ends of the two pieces of cable together. You’ll need to use a vice to hold the wrench cable in the correct position. Your wrench cable will now be working at about 80% capacity, so you should bear in mind that you won’t be able to tow such heavy loads as before.
If you’re a visual learner, here are some short videos of guys doing quick fixes on their winch cables:
How to replace a winch cable
To replace a winch cable, you will need an adjustable wrench and a new cable. I recommend wearing gloves while working with your winch, especially if your winch cable has broken strands as these can easily cut your hands.
First, remove the old cable, this can be done by putting the winch gear into neutral and allowing it to spool free. Pick up the hook and walk away from the winch until the cable comes out. Alternatively set the winch to the “out” position. You’ll then be able to use the motor to spool the line.
Next, unbolt the cable from the drum. One end of the winch cable will be attached to the drum with a bolt and a washer. Open the bolt using an adjustable wrench and remove both the bolt and the washer. This will allow the cable to fall out off the drum.
Once you’ve removed the cable, you can clean out the drum if it’s dirty. You’ll then be able to attach a new wire cable by threading the bolt through its loop and tightening it. If you want to make your winch extra secure, add a small drop of thread sealant.
Next, spool the new winch cable onto the drum. You can do this by switching the winch to pull in, and this will allow you to rewind the cable around the drum. Make sure that it wraps tightly and neatly around the drum.
Winding in an orderly fashion will help to save space on the winch. It also means that when you pull the cable out again it will come out with ease and without incident. Don’t let the winch cable buckle or wrap over itself.
Once the winch cable is on the drum, you can secure the hook. Easy, right?
What is better? Steel cable or synthetic rope?
While synthetic rope can be stronger and safer, it does take more effort to maintain. After using a synthetic rope, you should leave it out in the sun to dry before spooling. If a synthetic line is wet or muddy, it can begin to rot if it’s left on the drum to dry.
It ultimately comes down to personal preferences and how heavy a load you plan normally pulling. In general, synthetic rope is stronger. If you are using a 5/16” winch cable, it will break at around 9800 lbs. The same thickness of synthetic winch rope will break at 12,300 lbs, which shows that there is an increase in strength.
Should I cover my winch?
It’s important to use a cover on your winch, as this will help protect it from the elements. A winch cover stops dirt and water from getting into the winch drum. The winch can still be used while the cover is on.
If you are using a synthetic cable, it’s essential to use a cover as it will protect the line from the sun’s UV rays, which can damage and shorten the life span of synthetic ropes.
Conclusion
Servicing and maintaining your winch cable is very important as it will help keep your winch in good working order. Replace the winches cable as soon as possible when you notice signs of fraying or other damage.
If your winch cable is damaged and you need a new one, there are two options. You can either buy a new, ready-made winch cable from the manufacturer, or you can purchase a roll of bulk cable and make your own.
If you’re thinking of different ways to accessorize your truck or make it more functional, consider checking out my recommended accessories page. I spent a good amount of time picking out mods that can be useful for most pickup trucks.