Spooling Synthetic (with pics)

[Master-Pull]

In response to some questions I have seen online and also ones that we received at the office I thought it would be good to show how to properly spool a synthetic rope on a winch drum.

It's important to make sure you get the rope going the correct way on the drum, on electric winches today the rope wraps under the drum as pictured. You can see where our drum link bolts to the winch and holds the rope in place when it is spooling. Make sure you always leave one full layer of wraps on the drum. This is what secures the rope when winching, the drum link is only there to hold the rope tight when it is being spooled on.

Make sure you use a fairlead built for synthetic, such as one of our hawse type fairleads. Rollers will work if they are smooth and not used with steel cable.

It's difficult to see, but make sure there is at least a quarter of an inch gap between the inside of the fairlead and the backing plate. If they are the same height then the rope will rub on the bumper instead of the fairlead.

It is important to use heat guard with the first wrap on the drum of synthetic, ours is 12 feet long. Get this (and all the wraps) as tight as possible to prevent the rope from cutting through the top layers.

Keep fingers and hands away from the winch so they can't be sucked in while you are spooling!

Keep tension on the rope to make sure you get tight need wraps on the winch. The neater it is the better it will fit.

The finished product, Superline XD for this Scout!

-Alex

 

[mountainpete]

Thanks for posting this Alex!

 

[Sock Puppet]

Well written/photgraphed; thanks!

 

[Master-Pull]

Thanks guys, it's up on CRAWLs website now: http://www.crawlmag.com/tech/proper-winch-line-installation/

-Alex

 

[loren85022]

Sorry to get of subject, but this thread reminded me . . . . .

Alex, I'm considering the addition of a winch, and am curious why I dont seem to see any winches for sale with the synth-rope attached from the get go. All seem to have the more traditional cable. Have I not looked hard enough, or is there a reason?

 

[colodak]

what is the weight difference between synthetic winch line and regular steel cable? I have a milemarker winch on my pickup and have been contemplating this swap, but is there much of a weight savings?

 

[Jp90Talon]

Im not going to lie but I actually learned something in this thread. For the past few years I was under the assumption that that sleeve was meant to be kept at the front end of the line to protect the line from rubbing against things and damaging the line. I did not know that it was a heat guard and should be spooled first. Thank you for your post!

 

[ExpoMike]

what is the weight difference between synthetic winch line and regular steel cable? I have a milemarker winch on my pickup and have been contemplating this swap, but is there much of a weight savings?

It is substancal. The steel cable accounted for almost half the weight of the winch. I couldn't believe it when I took it off. :Wow1: The synthetic line was approx. 1/5 the weight of the steel. I think the hook almost weighed more than the line.

Definitely a worthwild investment beyond the safety factor.

 

[Master-Pull]

Sorry to get of subject, but this thread reminded me . . . . .

Alex, I'm considering the addition of a winch, and am curious why I dont seem to see any winches for sale with the synth-rope attached from the get go. All seem to have the more traditional cable. Have I not looked hard enough, or is there a reason?

Some winches do come with synthetic, but generally the price of the winch and rope at one time turns people away. Plus if you want Superline or Superline XD we are the only people to offer it and Master-Pull is not going to start making winches or selling to only one winch manufacturing company.

what is the weight difference between synthetic winch line and regular steel cable? I have a milemarker winch on my pickup and have been contemplating this swap, but is there much of a weight savings?

100 feet of synthetic with a huge hook on it only weighs 4 or 5 lbs, the steel weighs over 20 last time I checked.

Im not going to lie but I actually learned something in this thread. For the past few years I was under the assumption that that sleeve was meant to be kept at the front end of the line to protect the line from rubbing against things and damaging the line. I did not know that it was a heat guard and should be spooled first. Thank you for your post!

Some people use it for an abrasion sleeve, but since it is very thin it is easy to wear through. Instead we include a 3ft rock guard with each rope we sell to that easily velcros on and off so you can store it with your recovery gear.

-Alex

 

[DaveInDenver]

Some people use it for an abrasion sleeve, but since it is very thin it is easy to wear through. Instead we include a 3ft rock guard with each rope we sell to that easily velcros on and off so you can store it with your recovery gear.

I also position the scuff sleeve at the hook end so that when the rope is spooled it acts like a UV protector. My rope is Amsteel Blue, which I understand is fairly UV stable. I hadn't thought about it as a heat shield, so I learned something new today, too.

 

[Master-Pull]

Dyneema by itself is fairly UV stable, the coating put on the rope is also UV resistant so you are covered pretty well.

-Alex

 

[colodak]

so let me change my question, if I'm currently running 3/8" x 100' winch cable. Do I need to stay with 3/8 or can I go smaller or larger with the synthetic. I've seen a couple of websites showing the weight ratings that lead me to believe I can go with 5/16. My vehicle is a 2000 Dodge Dakota, which has a current curb wieght of about 5,200lbs. I know my current cable is slightly more than the recommended 1.5x vehicle weight.

 

[Ray Hyland]

Alex, I have Masterpull synthetic line that I bought of Dave in Armstrong BC. Great rope, I am very happy with it. I am using it on a Milemarker hydraulic winch on my 110.

One issue I find is that even when I spool the line tightly when I winch it will often pull through the lower levels. So now I cross-spool the line to keep the top level from pulling down through the lower levels when winching.

Is this bad? Am I not spooling the line tight enough since I have this issue?

thanks

Ray

 

[opie]

so let me change my question, if I'm currently running 3/8" x 100' winch cable. Do I need to stay with 3/8 or can I go smaller or larger with the synthetic. I've seen a couple of websites showing the weight ratings that lead me to believe I can go with 5/16. My vehicle is a 2000 Dodge Dakota, which has a current curb wieght of about 5,200lbs. I know my current cable is slightly more than the recommended 1.5x vehicle weight.

5/16 would work, but if you are approaching your curb weight, you can easily push the limits of 5/16. 1.5x is a tad conservative, you should be looking at 2.5 -3x your loaded weight.

 

[opie]

Alex, I have Masterpull synthetic line that I bought of Dave in Armstrong BC. Great rope, I am very happy with it. I am using it on a Milemarker hydraulic winch on my 110.

One issue I find is that even when I spool the line tightly when I winch it will often pull through the lower levels. So now I cross-spool the line to keep the top level from pulling down through the lower levels when winching.

Is this bad? Am I not spooling the line tight enough since I have this issue?

thanks

Ray

Sounds like you are not getting sufficient tension on the line when you initially spooled it on.

I always recommend that you hook the end to a solid anchor point and have a helper man the steering and brake pedal while you run the winch and guide the line on the drum. Have your helper keep steady pressure on the brake pedal, especially during the first 2 wraps on the drum.