winches - plasma rope or wire cable?

[Ozzy119]

Hi all,

Just curious for some views and opinions really. I'll soon be organising a bar and winch so wondered whether to bother getting the cable changed to a plasma. It would shed quite a bit of weight from the final install but is it worth it?

thanks,

[Ivan]

Definitely Plasma. The first winch I had had wire rope and it was a PITA. I now have Plasma and it's much better. Lighter, easier to handle, does not take your head off if it snaps.....

HTH

Ivan

[Xtreme]

Try the 'search' function - this subject/comparison has already been discussed at length.

[Slunnie]

I think steel if you want to have it on and forget about it over the years - just in case you get stuck type of thing. If you use it regularly or semi-regularly for playing etc then plasma as it's lighter, doesn't recoil much but I don't think it has the same life as steel when on the bar.

[Tank]

Plasma rope will die if you put any heat into it, like heat from the drum brake on your winch, also will destroy itself if you drag it (under load) over rock. It's light, but it needs to washed thoroughly if immersed in mud, otherwise internal grit will destroy and cut fibres, it's light and floats.
Wire Rope is fine and as long as you use it to it's WLL/SWL and not the Bull**** rated load as stated by the Manufacturer/Seller, which is usually the Guaranteed Breaking Strain. For example most winches are "RATED" by the Seller /Manufacturer, at 4100kg./5500kg.. Most winches will have, on average a 10mm dia. IWRC cable with a WLL/SWL of 1200kgs.. It's no wonder winch cables break when end users use them at the "RATED" advertised load.
IWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core/ 7 Strand) does not like being put around the small diameter snatch blocks available, the small dia. roller stretches the outside of the wire and compresses the inside (closest to the roller), this can cause kinks in the wire and broken wires (spiders), which usually stand proud and can cut your hand. Wire rope does not need as much maintenace as Plasma, but it will take a hell of a lot more abuse, good luck with your choice, Regards Frank.

[Tank]

Definitely Plasma. The first winch I had had wire rope and it was a PITA. I now have Plasma and it's much better. Lighter, easier to handle, does not take your head off if it snaps.....

HTH

Ivan

Ivan, was genuinely wondering why you had problems with your wire rope on your winch, what didn't you like about it, Regards Frank.

[Hymie]

I'm with Tank.
Steel Wire Rope is much harder wearing and with care will last a lifetime. Dyneema Ropes and their Plasma "Cousins"are relative newcomers and have not proven their longevity yet IMHO.
I do have concerns about the heat resistance and UV stability of these new "Wonder Ropes", although I have read that the Synthetic Ropes in sunlight form an protective layer that protects them from further degradation.
(http://www.colligomarine.com/docs/re...pe/RTRDyn1.pdf)

When I service my winch I pull my Steel rope out and scrub it clean with a wire brush and lightly oil it before relaying it onto the drum.

[Blknight.aus]

you seen plasma on a tow truck or proper recovery vehicle yet?

that about sums it up.

[123rover50]

They dont use toy electric winches either

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Plasma for me, everytime, Why:

1. As others have said, recall is MUCH less than with steel and consequently much safer.
2. You don't need to be careful when spooling back onto the drum, just let it pull itself on.
3. You don't get those broken strands that slice through a few layers of skin when you aren't looking.
4. Less spring weight on the vehicle.
5. Easier to handle.
6. Easier to repair in the bush if it does break - just tie a good knot it in.
7. Doesn't go rusty and stiff like steel.

All that said, you do need to look after it. If it gets blathered in mud it is a good idea to unspool and give it a soaking in a bucket. It is true that the rope is more suceptable to heat damage than steel.

UV protection is something that is still unknown to a large extent, however, I always slide a protective sheath / marker tape over the final and first 3m. 3m on the end of the rope is to protect from UV rays when on the drum, the 3m sheath on the other end is so that I can tell when Im about to pull off the drum.


Whilst you don't see plasma on recovery trucks, thats probably more to do with economics and or lack of education of operators.

All the competition boys use it. I haven't seen steel on a comp truck for many years.


As a side note, the number of badly fitted hooks Ive seen on the end of steel wires whilst Ive been here in Oz is ridiculous. Does anyone actually use a thimble on the inside of the wire return? I think 99% of all winch wires Ive seen simply have a loop made in the wire and the M8 hook bolt is the connection. The M8 hook bolt should rest against a thimble to distribute stresses in the wire along the length of the thimble so as to reduce fatigue and chance of failure. Even worse, the majority of plasma ropes Ive seen are also fitted in this way. No wonder its got a bad rep...