Winch install tips

AX(J)15_tudor

AX(J)15_tudor

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2012
Location
Harrisburg
Just got my engo winch in yesterday and will be installing it soon. It'll be my first ever winch. Any setup or maintanence tips from seasoned owners? I do know to spool it under stress before trying to use it. I do know I should have bought a Warn, lol. Any advice from wiring to setup to testing is appreciated.
 
Yes, remote the solenoid under the hood, out of the weather, also not a bad idea to put some extra sealer on the motor cover
 
Can you give more feedback on the sealer? I'll check out remote solenoid setups although I think I'll need to get some wires to do so.
 
Never had a winch, Toyota dont need them:D but if I was going to seal one I'd use some black rtv. If you need any help wiring it up I work in harrisburg so I'm in the area frequently.
 
Haha that is true! I have one on my Toyota and never used it! (Knock on wood) yes black rtv is fine. If you don't mind coming to locust , I have plenty of wire you can have!
 
krehel24 said:
Haha that is true! I have one on my Toyota and never used it! (Knock on wood) yes black rtv is fine. If you don't mind coming to locust , I have plenty of wire you can have!
Click to expand...

Where abouts in locust I live in midland if your just wanting to get rid of it.


Sent from my mobile Toyota base using Tapatalk
 
The Engo actually did very well in the tests that I've seen. They also voted it as the best bang per buck.

Make sure everything is tight (mount bolts and electrical conncections), keep your fingers out of the way, don't kill the battery, and always keep the remote with you. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say they forgot their winch remotes :rolleyes:
 
Winch longitivity.
I used black rtv on mine. I loosened the bolts so the cover shoulders seperated a tad (not so much that the rtv goes into motor), then smeared and retightened. Relocated selenoids is great if you didn't get intergrated. TEST IT AND MAKE SURE IT WORKS GOOD BEFORE GOING MUDDING. Besides that, a winch is a winch unless it's hydraulic or gear driven and needs fluids.
 
Thanks guys. Unfortunately had a dragging caliper to deal with first and now I will be busy next couple weeks with family stuff. Looks like I'll have to wait to install my bumper and winch. I've got some RTV so I'll look at that. Engine bay seems crammed will need to look for a spot to relocate solenoids. Thanks for the wire offer I'll shout if I end up needing it.
 
Beware the Engo but not neccessarily their service. So I installed the winch finally this week in prep for spring. Went the plain Jane route because I just couldn't see room in the engine compartment for the box and didn't want to disassemble this soon. Frankly too after waiting a month to get it and more time for good weather and free time I just wanted it on. Good thing I did because after just a couple feet of in and out draws the mechanical out spool starts banging today and not working. I call engo and he has me disengage and spool out and it throws line at full motor speed and binds. Then I get that sorted out and by now it's grinding. They'll send me a whole new unit 1st and say I can keep any parts except the housing/motor and their tossing in some free lights but I dunno about their Q/C. Also the damned wired control has a bad neutral because it will keep spooling in unless you bump it back to out first.
Eff the Chinese and their alluring prices but chitty craftsmanship.
 
AX(J)15_tudor said:
Just got my engo winch in yesterday and will be installing it soon. It'll be my first ever winch. Any setup or maintanence tips from seasoned owners? I do know to spool it under stress before trying to use it. I do know I should have bought a Warn, lol. Any advice from wiring to setup to testing is appreciated.
Click to expand...

:D
 
criket said:
:D
Click to expand...
Lol I've thought of that a few times. I figured my recent adventure would give the warn fans a good chuckle too. At 3x the price it should work every time though. We'll see how this goes when I get the replacement. If the next one has issues I will get a used warn.
 
I've got an 8274 Warn from the 70s. Never missed a beat and never been covered. I'm going to try out a VR12000 here soon, maybe a used M12000 if I can find one somewhat cheap. The VR series probably isn't the best quality and I wouldn't expect it to last 40 uears.
 
After this one goes and I actually know more about winches and their use I think I'll get a good used Warn and go the rebuild route. I've heard lots of good things about the Engo winches and I hope this ones replacement gives me years of good service.
 
krehel24 said:
Haha that is true! I have one on my Toyota and never used it! (Knock on wood) yes black rtv is fine. If you don't mind coming to locust , I have plenty of wire you can have!
Click to expand...

you used it once to fix my jeep :)
 
Definitely mount the solenoid under the hood or in the cab. I have a smitty built 8k on my xj with the solenoid on top of the winch. The rubber plug it came with started to crack and became useless after about the first year. I now keep duct tape in my glove box to recover the hole after use. I recently got a smittybuilt 12k for my silverado. I went to harbor frieght and got 2 sets of heavy duty 6 gauge battery cables and some heat wrap. Ran the wires through the firewall and into the center console where I mounted the solenoid. Works great and only cost me about $50! Good luck with the winch.
 
Redneck92 said:
Never had a winch, Toyota dont need them:D but if I was going to seal one I'd use some black rtv. If you need any help wiring it up I work in harrisburg so I'm in the area frequently.
Click to expand...

You plan on following me on trail this year, your gonna eat them words! Jusr messin with ya man, Im ready to get back on the trail, see ya at the workday.

I just picked up an Engo as well for deb,s jeep, hopefully it will do the job.
 
If you have a battery with both side terminals and top post, always run your winch wires to the top posts. The side posts are not designed to support high current draws for long periods. This is true for any battery.
 
Jason W. said:
You plan on following me on trail this year, your gonna eat them words! Jusr messin with ya man, Im ready to get back on the trail, see ya at the workday.

I just picked up an Engo as well for deb,s jeep, hopefully it will do the job.
Click to expand...

Damn I said that. . .yeah def prob gonna eat my words on that one. I found a decent deal on a M8000 that needs a rebuild. Will need cable and fairlead as well.
 
put dialectical grease on all the connections to prevent corrosion.
Never pull with your winch line, that;s what straps are for.
 
Back
Top