Mechanical PTO superwinch H14 - niggles

[Saffy]

I do not need to use my winch very often but when I have it always had niggling issues. My superwinch H14 (mechanical PTO driven) is a PITA to engage drive or select free spool, is this a characteristics of this model winch? Once it's engaged it's great, just getting there takes effort. I know there is an in-built safety feature to not to allow freespool when under load which is fair enough but that's not the issue I am having but it might be related.

When I want to use the winch I pull the winch lever over to the offside (labelled engage) and the spring loaded lock holds the lever in place, the drum starts to turn but it's not really engaged because as soon as any load comes on the line then drum just slips and gives way. The only way I found to get it to engage properly is to have drum turning and then hold the lever hard over to the left (passed the spring lock) until the drum drive really 'clicks' in, I can then stand clear.  Also getting back into freespool is a hit and miss affair, haven't figured the 'trick' to that one yet, it just happens sometimes. These winches are not really meant for solo operation at best of times but these niggles really increase any risk involved. I never actually 'driven' the winch myself (at least in recovery situation) as it always ends up my mrs or someone else in the driver seat whilst I try to get winch engaged.

I have seen a few off these ex-utility truck superwinches H14 winches with levers that have clearly been hit by animals with hammers and mine shows sign of that too.

[Mash]

Hi I've got a mechanical PTO winch...not sure what model it is though and when I first got it it was very similar to yours.
So it got stripped and cleaned then regreased now its dead easy to put into freespool and vice versa.

I normally put it into freespool without the pto engaged and re-engage it with the PTO turning, just a little pressure on the freespool lever and it "pops" in:)

hope this helps Jon

[Saffy]

Hi I've got a mechanical PTO winch...not sure what model it is though and when I first got it it was very similar to yours.
So it got stripped and cleaned then regreased now its dead easy to put into freespool and vice versa.

I normally put it into freespool without the pto engaged and re-engage it with the PTO turning, just a little pressure on the freespool lever and it "pops" in:)

hope this helps Jon

I guess it is worth a looksee at it's giblets as it wasn't this bad when I got it and it hardly been used. I have the service manual. Just spent the last two n half hours getting the winch off. Didn't want to take whole bumper off and the front UJ *was* seized on the keyed shaft. Anyway it's now on the bench, I'll drain the oil tomorrow and strip it down.

[Saffy]

Stripped down the freespool end of winch, the drum seal is a tad worn so there has been a build up of Sailsbury Plain inside which stopped the drive engaging fully. All cleaned, greased and moving freely . The handle wasn't aligned properly which wasn't helping matters either so re-weld that. Engages and free spools sweet as a nut now. Will see about trying to get hold of some new drum seals.

[Mash]

Thats great I'm glad you've got it working ok...Used mine quite a lot the other weekend for the first time and was well impressed with it..Just need to find a new fairlead now  :'(

[Saffy]

Thats great I'm glad you've got it working ok...Used mine quite a lot the other weekend for the first time and was well impressed with it..Just need to find a new fairlead now  :'(

When I used mine in the snow last winter I knew it had gained some issues but forgot to attended to it. Then last week in lakedistrict it came back to haunt me when I used winch for self recovery, it made the job more stressful and harder than needed. Should be sweet now for awhile. They are good workhorse winches. I use it with dyneema bowrope so have got the alloy hawse fairlead. Fairlead for these thing are huge and hard to get hold off, goodwinch supplied mine I think they made it in house.

[Mash]

Yes the fairleads are huge...I think I've found some but they're not cheap ! looking in ther region of 90 quid ouch..

[Saffy]

Ordered a pair of drum face end seals direct from superwinch, only 4.44 ex vat each so won't have to re-mortgage the house. They have plenty in stock.

V-Ring Seal (Face Seal), Part no: 4-22-180204143