Thread: Winches - Clutch in or out when not in use

Originally Posted by Iain_B

Hi all, the instruction on my Aldi (Ironman) winch says that I should leave it with the clutch in the freewheel position when I'm not using it - this makes it easy for some cretin to wind out the winch cable and tie it to something. (I disconnect the main power when not in use)

Can I leave it in the clutch in position with a bit of tension on the wire to stop anyone for tampering with it?

So how is the winch and how much did it cost you, and how could you tell it is an Ironman?

Originally Posted by vnx205

Is there any truth in the story that it is possible for someone to hook your winch rope over the roof and onto the towbar, short out the contacts somehow and walk away leaving you vehicle to do some awful damage to the roof? Or is that as I suspect yet another urban myth. If it's true would that make any difference to the way you would leave the clutch?

A good friend of mine HAS seen the result of a version of the above.
Cable spooled out of the winch, passed the cars parked next to the 4wd & attached to a concrete pillar. Short out the plug with a paper clip.
Result, five cars squashed together sideways till the winch over loaded.

I have my winch isolated so this can't be done.

i leave mine in gear because it wont go into free spool

I have my control box mounted under the bonnet out of sight and reach. Much neater!

My wife drove into the driveway once with the winch smoking, it wastrying 2 pull the hook through the rollers.
Yes I get a sloppy cable but I have left mine disengaged since.
Cheers Dean.

Originally Posted by Larry

A good friend of mine HAS seen the result of a version of the above.
Cable spooled out of the winch, passed the cars parked next to the 4wd & attached to a concrete pillar. Short out the plug with a paper clip.
Result, five cars squashed together sideways till the winch over loaded.

I have my winch isolated so this can't be done.

Ive seen pics of a police rodeo turned into a convertable after the winch cable was wraped round the cab and back to the front bar and sliced the top of her off

Best solution ive seen is to padlock the end of the cable to the eye on the front bar

Re; the PTO comment above, not the electric winches. I leave my PTO Thomas winch dog clutch engaged all the time or else it goes into auto tangle mode. To do damage the infidel would have to break in (not hard on a SIII), start the engine and work out where the PTO lever is. I keep the cable and hook well soaked in Lanoguard, both to preserve it and also to coat potential vandals with filthy goop, usually enough to discourage them.

Originally Posted by seqfisho

So how is the winch and how much did it cost you, and how could you tell it is an Ironman?

It cost me $599, and before buying it I asked the forum, and got a definite answer that it was an Ironman winch - someone heard if first hand from the Ironman supplier.