When to replace synthetic winch rope?

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
What is the rule of thumb on when to replace synthetic winch rope? Is there a general time period, or only when it is frayed?

What do you think about this rope, is it time to replace?

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If you think you may need to replace it, go ahead and buy a new rope and keep it in your rig. That way when it breaks, you already have the replacement on hand.
 
I was about to say the same thing. Mine is well used and abused but has no cuts or spots that I think are bad so I'll run it till I cut it or I break it

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I've seen a lot worse, hell even if it breaks you can just splice it back together. If you're worried about any spots just go ahead and cut/splice those sections.

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That doesn't look bad at all.

But that green sleeve is supposed to be on the first wrap, not the last.
 
shawn said:
That doesn't look bad at all.

But that green sleeve is supposed to be on the first wrap, not the last.
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That is good to know. I just bought this winch used, and this is my first experience with synthetic rope.
 
The cover is to protect the winch line from heat from the brake inside the drum. It's not an abrasion shield. The abrasion shields are made from much thicker material.

It's also handy for warning you that you're down to the last wrap.

How to Install a Synthetic Winch Line

This is what an abrasion guard looks like. The Masterpull ones are made out of heavy nylon fabric.

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CasterTroy said:
So, you don't need to wrap a synthetic under slight load like a cable? Just a person load basically?
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Personally I'd wrap it under the weight of your vehicle with light breaks applied. Either way works but after having to use it with a person load compared to the other the line comes off alot better with a heavier load while loading it

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shawn said:
The cover is to protect the winch line from heat from the brake inside the drum. It's not an abrasion shield. The abrasion shields are made from much thicker material.

It's also handy for warning you that you're down to the last wrap.

How to Install a Synthetic Winch Line

This is what an abrasion guard looks like. The Masterpull ones are made out of heavy nylon fabric.

View attachment 220735
Click to expand...



They used to sell the hollow 1" webbing as abrasion guard, that was before these new fancy guards. It sucks as abrasion guard though.


I have always heard you want to protect the first layer with guard due to heat esp if powering out.
 
CasterTroy said:
So, you don't need to wrap a synthetic under slight load like a cable? Just a person load basically?
Click to expand...

I always re-wrap ours by dragging the Jeep with the parking brake halfway applied. Getting the wraps tight and flat helps prevent the top wraps from sliding down between the lower ones on a hard pull.
 
shawn said:
The cover is to protect the winch line from heat from the brake inside the drum. It's not an abrasion shield. The abrasion shields are made from much thicker material.

It's also handy for warning you that you're down to the last wrap.

How to Install a Synthetic Winch Line

This is what an abrasion guard looks like. The Masterpull ones are made out of heavy nylon fabric.

View attachment 220735
Click to expand...

Today I decided to replace the winch line, I found a deal on some spydura, so why not.

Looks like Shawn is correct, that cover should have been a heat shield and not an abrasion shield.

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That bottom wrap is always going to flatten out. Rope looks fine.
 
shawn said:
That bottom wrap is always going to flatten out. Rope looks fine.
Click to expand...

It was flattened and much harder, could have just been because it has been on the drum for a long time. I was just surprised to not see a sheath over the last wrap.

Stuntman Autoworks said:
If you want to sell that old beat up line I guess I could take it off your hands to hang clothes or something.
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I appreciate the offer but I am going to keep it just in case, it is not really in bad shape.
 
Damnit, I came here just to tell you, that line looks like shit and is unsafe, must be replaced immediately, and the best disposal method would be to mail it to me ASAP before anyone is harmed by it.
 
BigClay said:
Looks like Shawn is correct
Click to expand...

Ahhhh geeeez man what have you done? He's hard enough to be around as it is and you go and do THAT?!?! now we gotta make him say his name 3 times backwards to get rid of him :flipoff2:
 
I spooled mine just like Shawn said in another thread with the weight of the rig on a slight uphill pull (no p-brake) never had any issues of the line "digging" into the lower layers. Missed the heat sleeve part though, gotta respool now, don't want to look like an imbecile out on the trails.

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