Thoughts on mounting a 2500b winch on BX?

Sodo · Mar 12, 2015

Sorry for that trouble Ted, but that is the reason for fusing any line coming off your battery. And the fuse should be as close to the battery as possible. Not sure what to say about the $59 part of your investment but the other $400 damage (and ATV risk!) was caused by the lack of a fuse (or improper fuse placement) not necessarily HF.

People often think a fuse protects the eqpt (such as the winch). This is wrong. The fuse protects the vehicle (and it's wiring harness) from a "yellow-hot" wire and all the damage that might cause. The fuse should be as close as possible to the positive terminal of the battery. This (unfused) section of wire between the battery and the fuse is your yellow-hot filament, so if some distance is necessary you should choose a very well-protected path or route.

Not sure what HF provides for a fuse or circuitbreaker but the wire between the battery and the circuitbreaker is the dangerous (yellowhot) wire. If the wire was routed carefully and the HF circuitbreaker malfunctioned then I suppose you've got some kind of a beef with HF. I suppose a circuitbreaker for appx 1HP motor would be appx 50 amps! But with no fuse or breaker at the battery you are trusting that your wire & routing is safe. You (or Dragon ! ) might be wise to get your own circuitbreaker (or fuse) and put it very close to the battery.

GolfAddict · Mar 12, 2015

If you decide to go the receiver hitch route, this would be super easy for the back:
Quick-On Receiver Hitch

dragoneggs · Mar 13, 2015

Ted Summey said:
I bought one of the HF winches for my ATV. It worked great about 3 times. The winch and control box were supposed to be watertight according to the specs on the box.

I crossed a creek with the ATV and am sure the winch and control box were splashed and not submerged. Shortly thereafter smoke was boiling from under the battery cover. When I removed the battery cover the wiring to the winch was on fire. I cut the wiring to the winch with my pocket knife and extinguished the fire. The short circuit toasted the battery as well.

I had a bad experience with the $59 HF winch. I bought a cheap winch to go on an expensive ATV and almost lost the ATV and had to purchase another battery. The winch and battery cost $140 then add the cost of the new winch I'm pushing $400 + my time to learn a lesson. Needless to say I now have a higher quality winch on the ATV.

I still use HF for some things but won't be buying any more winches from them.

Your mileage may vary.

Ahh crap... sorry to hear. Yeah I will definitely put a fuse in-line as Sodo suggested. I know the HF winch quality won't be near what I would like but the price is... for the amount of work I will get out of it. That said, I hope it is more than three times! Wondering if a disassembly and a little waterproofing is possible?

GolfAddict said:
If you decide to go the receiver hitch route, this would be super easy for the back:
Quick-On Receiver Hitch

Thanks Golf... I think this is a good solution for the back. Funny is the dang receiver will cost more than the winch! :laughing: My focus now will turn to a QA for the front.

Shield Arc · Mar 13, 2015

I'd swing by Harbor Freight, and pick up a couple of these. Never seeing your tractor before, I would think it wouldn't take a lot to make these fit front, and back.
5000 lb. Step Bumper Receiver

GolfAddict · Mar 13, 2015

dragoneggs said:
...
Thanks Golf... I think this is a good solution for the back. Funny is the dang receiver will cost more than the winch! :laughing: My focus now will turn to a QA for the front.

Well, as long as I'm helping spend your money,

, here's a solution for the front:
Fab Works OEM | Kubota Attachments

dragoneggs · Mar 13, 2015

GolfAddict said:
Well, as long as I'm helping spend your money, , here's a solution for the front:
Fab Works OEM | Kubota Attachments

You're killing me! But THANKS! :drink:

Sodo · Mar 13, 2015

Shield I don't know that a BX has enough extra space for the 5,000 lb step receiver. The 3,500lb unit may be more feasible. I'd use item 69879 as 'raw materials' then add bracing etc as needed to adapt to the tractor. Plus it's long enough to cut it into 2 (or 3) receivers. A winch receiver for a 2600 lb tractor would not need a lot of engagement.

Heres the 12" receiver for raw materials (sometimes easier/cheaper than locating the sq tube). You get (the first) 5/8" hole pre-drilled.

Heres the 3500 lb step receiver.

Dragon I know this is killing you, halfway around the world, Miller211 & BX sitting in the garage,,,,,I feel your pain! (sorry)

2458n · Mar 13, 2015

oosik said:
James, your advice is both good & correct. Believe me Dragoneggs - a small super winch on the front of your tractor is there mainly for show. Its going to peter out in a heartbeat if its ever put to the test. If you are looking to pull the tractor out - get a cable come-along or such. No electrical connections, no boiled over battery, no burned up alternator and a whole lot better capacity.

This is the truth. IF this winch gets you unstuck you really were not.

Threepoint · Mar 13, 2015

Sodo said:
[snip]
Dragon I know this is killing you, halfway around the world, Miller211 & BX sitting in the garage,,,,,I feel your pain! (sorry)

Just guessing, but seeing DE's reef pics and knowing where he is, I don't think we need to be playing any tiny violins for him. :laughing:

dragoneggs · Mar 13, 2015

Sodo said:
Shield I don't know that a BX has enough extra space for the 5,000 lb step receiver. The 3,500lb unit may be more feasible. I'd use item 69879 as 'raw materials' then add bracing etc as needed to adapt to the tractor. Plus it's long enough to cut it into 2 (or 3) receivers. A winch receiver for a 2600 lb tractor would not need a lot of engagement.

Heres the 12" receiver for raw materials (sometimes easier/cheaper than locating the sq tube). You get (the first) 5/8" hole pre-drilled.
View attachment 416406

Heres the 3500 lb step receiver.
View attachment 416407

Dragon I know this is killing you, halfway around the world, Miller211 & BX sitting in the garage,,,,,I feel your pain! (sorry)

ha ha, at least I can still talk to my buddy yahoos here! :laughing:

2458n said:
This is the truth. IF this winch gets you unstuck you really were not.

Yeah you are probably right but this isn't the main purpose. I have a pile of downed junk maples, and other junk brush that I need to pull out of an area that I can't reach. I am guessing this will be big enough winch. It sure is cheap enough and worth a try

Threepoint said:
Just guessing, but seeing DE's reef pics and knowing where he is, I don't think we need to be playing any tiny violins for him. :laughing:

If you knew the half it you surely wouldn't feel sorry for me. Just spent last weekend in Margaret River near Perth. Work is getting in the way!