rebuild WARN winch or upgrade???

So I have an RT or XT 30 winch on my rhino that has seemed to not want to reel in the cable when it should, I hear the motor going but it will not reel in, and is actually easy to get more cable to pull out even when it shouldn't be.

So I see WARN has a warranty, but is it worth rebuilding for this issue, or would it just be better to get a viper max 5,000lb winch, or even supermaxx 4,000lb winch? Thanks for input on this issue.

is it steel or synthetic cable?

steel cable is a real bitch if you don't wind/unwind diligently. it will kink up and crack.

flimmy sells synthetic cable cheap enough.

if the motor spins freely that's what i would do

I don't know what it would cost, but after you have rebuilt its still an old winch, I think that a new one with the rope would be a better move, just my opinion. Good luck what ever you decide, I think Flimmy also sells winches.

Synthetic is the way to go I can turn mine on free spool and throw it at what ever I'm trying to hook to. My winch messed up like that and I disassembled it and cleaned all the mud out and helped it out alot.

Thanks guys , I do sell Viper winches and if your interested in one let me know.

A Viper elite 5000 I could do $430 shipped to you. That's about a $70 savings off retail

That's just the winch w/o the mounting plate since you already have a winch this would be just a direct swap. It will come with everything else.

If you go new I mite take your old one thanks John

It's a steel cable now. It's not bound up in the spool though as I had a bunch of it pulled out already, it's like the gears are stripped inside. I sent an email to warn about it, I hate to spend the money on a new one right now if I don't have to, but if its not warranted and is a bitch to rebuild it might just be worth it to in the end.  Gonna wait to hopefully hear back from warn before deciding for sure what to do.

kris55 wrote:

It's a steel cable now. It's not bound up in the spool though as I had a bunch of it pulled out already, it's like the gears are stripped inside. I sent an email to warn about it, I hate to spend the money on a new one right now if I don't have to, but if its not warranted and is a bitch to rebuild it might just be worth it to in the end.  Gonna wait to hopefully hear back from warn before deciding for sure what to do.

Have you properly turned the spool-out control knob back to the winching position? It could be that the control is jammed or crudded up such that it did not get back into the 'locked' position?

SteveS wrote:

kris55 wrote:

It's a steel cable now. It's not bound up in the spool though as I had a bunch of it pulled out already, it's like the gears are stripped inside. I sent an email to warn about it, I hate to spend the money on a new one right now if I don't have to, but if its not warranted and is a bitch to rebuild it might just be worth it to in the end.  Gonna wait to hopefully hear back from warn before deciding for sure what to do.

Have you properly turned the spool-out control knob back to the winching position? It could be that the control is jammed or crudded up such that it did not get back into the 'locked' position?

It seems to be, I've tried going back n forth to the "winch" "free spool" position several times while looking at it, even with no load on it at all it will not winch the cable back in. I'll see about taking it apart and maybe it does need to be cleaned as it's not fully locked into the winch position becasue of dirt/debris etc.

Take it apart and hope you can fix it those thing aint cheep I had the same thing with mine and got it working,mine was a cheepo but is still working knock on wood good luck

Got an email back from Warn, they said to take it apart and see if it is stripped in the clutch area, if so I'll need to take it to an authorized warn dealer for parts, and to see if it qualifies for warranty. On the plus I just found out a friend is actually a dealer for them through his small engine repair shop he has. only downfall is I am not the original owner, but maybe we can figure a way around that. Hoping I can get it apart this week to see, and really hoping I can get it repaired under warranty if it needs it. Fingers crossed!

thats great hope so  Goodluck

That's lucky,hope he can help.

Rebuild. They are simple and if you do it right....it's a new winch that looks old..

Ok. Finally got a chance to talk to my friend and look at the winch again. He said to check the plastic cover piece that you turn to free spool and winch modes, he said to try and push that cover in and see if it works then, as the plastic piece will warp and not have enough bite to push the pins to grab in winch mode all the way. Sure enough that was the problem. So now I just have to order the plastic cover piece and swap it out. Hope this helps anyone else that may have issues. Glad it's an inexpensive easy fix!

kris55 wrote:

Ok. Finally got a chance to talk to my friend and look at the winch again. He said to check the plastic cover piece that you turn to free spool and winch modes, he said to try and push that cover in and see if it works then, as the plastic piece will warp and not have enough bite to push the pins to grab in winch mode all the way. Sure enough that was the problem. So now I just have to order the plastic cover piece and swap it out. Hope this helps anyone else that may have issues. Glad it's an inexpensive easy fix!

Good for you! Have at it now.

For what it is worth, you can often rehabilitate warped plastic parts by using a heat gun to warm up the part and forcing it back into its proper shape. Hold it until it cools down where it needs to be. Use gloves, as it needs to be pretty hot.

Thats great glad you got it  and a big money saver

SteveS wrote:

Have you properly turned the spool-out control knob back to the winching position? It could be that the control is jammed or crudded up such that it did not get back into the 'locked' position?

Uncle Steve to the rescue once again

08Rhino450SE wrote:

SteveS wrote:

Have you properly turned the spool-out control knob back to the winching position? It could be that the control is jammed or crudded up such that it did not get back into the 'locked' position?

Uncle Steve to the rescue once again

Ha, Ha.  Thanks, bro's kid. LOL. There is nothing that a precise gentle tap with a Big Hammer cannot cure... Usually...

Great to hear.