How to Install a Synthetic Winch Rope
A synthetic winch rope is a great way to save some weight on your four-wheel-drive vehicle while still having the pulling strength you need. Winches are tools for extricating your vehicle, pulling out a friend's four-wheel drive or moving heavy items such as downed trees. Wire rope is heavy, stiff and can fray easily. Synthetic rope is more durable and easier to work with. Swapping your wire rope for a synthetic one is fairly simple if you follow a few easy steps using simple hand tools.
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Things You'll Need
- Synthetic winch rope
- Fairlead
- Socket and ratchet set
- Thread-locking compound
Instructions
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1
Remove the wire rope from your winch by unwinding it and removing the retaining bolt that holds the rope to the winch drum. Save it as a backup if it is in good condition.
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2
Remove the fairlead from the front of your winch, using the socket set. The fairlead is the set of rollers bolted to the front of the winch that the wire rope passes through.
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3
Clean the mount were the fairlead attaches to the winch. If the paint is peeling or damaged, now is a good time to take care of that, too.
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4
Install the Hawse fairlead that is designed to be used with your new synthetic rope. Most synthetic ropes come with a Hawse fairlead, but if yours didn't, buy one. Roller fairleads cannot be used with synthetic rope because the rollers can damage the rope.
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5
Thread the drum end of the synthetic rope through the fairlead. There should be an eyelet on the end of the rope that you can pass the retaining bolt through.
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6
Apply some of the thread-locking compound to the retaining bolt, slide it through the eyelet on the rope and thread it into the hole on the drum. Tighten the bolt with the socket and ratchet.
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7
Wrap the rope around the winch drum, working across the drum while keeping the rope tight. The first layer should be wrapped by hand with synthetic line.
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8
Wrap the remaining rope onto the drum. Work side to side across the drum, keeping the wraps snug to each other as you go. Keep the rope taut as you wind it onto the drum.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wind the rope on the drum so that it spools off the bottom of the winch drum.
When working around winches, be aware that ropes do break and can injure or kill you if they hit you.
References
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Comments
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"Roller fairleads cannot be used with synthetic rope because the rollers can damage the rope." This is an incorrect statement. Roller fairleads are perfectly acceptable for synthetic line. In fact there is less friction generated when using a roller fairlead vs. a Hawse. You do not need to replace the steel rollers with Delrin rollers. You simply need to ensure your rollers are free from defects (cuts, scrapes, etc.) that could damage the line. You should also ensure there is enough clearance (bumper/winch plate & roller housing) to avoid issue with abrasion or cutting of the line. Of course, you should do that with steel cable as well.
