Winch Cable - Over top or Under Bottom?

[JimT]

This may be just a dumb question, but according to the handle bar switch, the winch winds in over the top of the winch spool.

Here's why I'm wondering about that now. I did some plowing yesterday, and the synthetic rope, I guess, doubled back on itself a couple of inches not much. Like it went underneath the spool then spooled over itself. Not a huge problem, but I had to pull it out to get it lined back up again. This is easy to do, because when I drop the blade the winch rope might be a little slack. I can't really tell if it is or not. It's really hard to hit it perfectly right.

Now the Warn instructions for the synthetic rope said to spool it in UNDER the spool. Thinking about it, spooling in under the spool might prevent this doubling back thing. But if I did that, my handle bar switch would be opposite. Meaning "IN" would send the cable out, "OUT" would draw it back.

I'm not sure. Over or under. What do you guys think?

[tiredude]

mine is spooled over with syn. rope. don't remember i the instructions said but thats how it went on

[SportsmanSP]

i'm not a 4 wheeler mechanic, but am a construction worker, and I've worked with HUGE winches. The only issue would be as you said, the switch will now "work backwards". but that could be probably be fixed by simply swapping the wires in the switch itself. Or, tear the label off so you don't know its working backwards!!!Lol. Actually, I have a 2011 Sportsman x2 550 which I recently bought a plow for. My problem is the plow came off a 2005. The mounting brackets from quad to plow are different. Does anyone know If I buy the mounting bracket for my quad, will it mount up to the "first generation"(?) Glacier plow system. As this is all made by Polaris, I would imagine they have something in place for such issues. So, problem is: The plow system came off a 2005 Sportsman. I have a 2011 Sportsman 550 X2. The mounting bracket does not fit my 2011. So if i buy the mounting bracket for the 2011, will it fit on the plow? Or, do I need a welder? Thanks.

[JimT]

I found it. Warn Synthetic Rope Install. Here it is:

Step 2
Note: The cable should always pull from the bottom of the drum. A minimum of eight wraps is required on the drum for all winching.


My winch winds in from the top. IN on the switch.

[pathfinder]

Must be spooled in from the bottom.

[goombadi99]

you can just swap the wires on it and it will be fine

[JimT]

OK so it sounds like wind it underneath and swap the switch wires.

You guys are great.

Thanks!

[Azegthoth]

My winch has always spooled in from the top on my ATV. If spooled from the bottom, I would have to reverse the wires so the switch works properly. The cable would also ALWAYS be running on the bottom fairlead due to the location of the winch. I haven't had any problems with spooling from the top in the 5 years I've had this machine.
Another note...synthetic cable all the way, but use a hawse fairlead!

[shui5612]

just a side note, HOW you spool on the winch wire depends on the WINCH.
most winches only have a 1 way brake.
by this i mean, when under tension, the winch should PREVENT and HOLD the winch wire in tension.

the issue isnt about the switch being hooked up differently, its the safety issue that should be addressed.

Hope i helped.

[JimT]

So if the winch was wound at the factory over the top, the brake will only work for tension from that direction?