I need new ideas for lifting my plow blade...I'm going through winches

kvrdave · Jan 26, 2009

07 Rhino with the hitch system and a 72" blade. Took about a year and I busted the 3000lb warn winch. Bought some cheap winches and blew through 2 of those. The obvious problem is that I am a moron. I can't see the blade while in the cab and have no idea if it is all the way up or not. I don't leave the winch on for 30 seconds extra or anything, but I'm sure I leave it on for an extra second or two quite often.

I've thought seriously about the Warn actuator, but their site says it is for 60" blades (even though it has a 3,000lb capacity) and not for utvs. No idea why that would be, but I don't want to throw money away.

So maybe the question is, what do you guys use and how do you keep from breaking winches?

rdbrumfield · Jan 26, 2009

My advice is to put a breakout switch on the power in. would be an easy thing to put a couple of angle irons close enough to push a button to cut the power. Be sure to cut the power before it hits a stop, gives it time to stop. If you wire it with a two wire quick disconnect so you can plug it in once you have the blade off, the switch will go with the blade and you will be direct to use the winch normally.

Skyco · Jan 27, 2009

Assuming you don't want a visual indicator like a rod sticking up to see where the blade is- how about a cheap inline automotive ammeter? Current shoots up you stop, maybe even backoff a hair. The ammeter will let you see when the load increases, indicating end of travel.

Mrlucky7 · Jan 27, 2009

Try this on for a solution, they offer a front receiver system and then this Winch Rotator "option" that will stop your problems.
Yamaha Rhino 450 & 660 Front Receiver Package 2004 - 2007

Montana Jacks Winch Rotator - 2.0 Inch - WR-1110
A bit of an investment but sounds like you've spent as much already and still have the problem?

kvrdave · Jan 27, 2009

Mrlucky7 said:
Try this on for a solution, they offer a front receiver system and then this Winch Rotator "option" that will stop your problems.
Yamaha Rhino 450 & 660 Front Receiver Package 2004 - 2007

Montana Jacks Winch Rotator - 2.0 Inch - WR-1110
A bit of an investment but sounds like you've spent as much already and still have the problem?

That looks okay and the price isn't bad, but I'm not sure that it will help. I wouldn't be able to see the position of the blade any better with that, would I? The winch would be higher, but I still don't have any way to see if it is up all the way.

rd, I like the idea of the breakout switch, but it sounds beyond me. Is there a place I could see an example?

kvrdave · Jan 27, 2009

Actually, I wonder if I might have some luck "risking" a try with the Warn actuator and the Winch Rotator above? Sorry to sound stupid, but exactly how does the actuator work? Does it pull in like a winch until I take my finger off the switch, or does it pull in a fixed amount (say 8") and then quit automatically? That would be ideal.

rdbrumfield · Jan 27, 2009

Dave, if you take a couple of angle irons, drill a hole in one so you can put a switch in it. They have switches that when pushed it breaks continuity. you can use one angle if you can find a place where the blade frame comes up to meet the switch. Mount it on the blade and let it come against the frame of the winching unit.
By being able to run the winching side of your switch through the breakout switch it will work. when disconnected, just plug in a loop to return to full time winch power.
Hope this makes better sense to you.

kennyd · Jan 27, 2009

Why not just rid some kind of indicator on it like what used on most FEL's? A small rod that slides through a pipe mounted on the bumper would be a lot easier than limit switches.

Malvern · Jan 27, 2009

kvrdave

I have an 05 Rhino with a 3500 lb Warn. I run a 60" American Eagle country plow, I can't imagine busting this winch. Are you burning the electric motor up? Are you lifting the blade high enough to compress the the plow against the bumper assembly and the winch stalls?

A little more information might be helpful.

Malvern

kvrdave · Jan 27, 2009

Malvern said:
kvrdave

I have an 05 Rhino with a 3500 lb Warn. I run a 60" American Eagle country plow, I can't imagine busting this winch. Are you burning the electric motor up? Are you lifting the blade high enough to compress the the plow against the bumper assembly and the winch stalls?

A little more information might be helpful.

Malvern

I must be stripping the gears. The motor would make sound but no movement. I am (was) lifitng it to where the push tube assembly hits the undercarriage, or at least the winch mount hitch receiver.

I have also wondered if finding a different plow system may not help. With the way this is set up with push tubes, there is only about 6-8" clearance in the up position. If there were a system without push tubes that could be lifted higher, I wouldn't be so paranoid about making sure it was up as far as it could go. Any suggestions there?