How to replace Winch Rope?

[flafonta]

Hi,
After dealer screwed-up my winch install (did not reverse the bolts) and destroyed the synthetic rope, they finally got a replacement rope for me.
How easy is it to replace myself? (I am not trusting the dealer too much at this point with anything related to the winch).
I tried to remove the small fairlead, but the bolts in the back need to be held in place and no easy access. So looks like I need to remove a much larger front section. And then, not sure how easy to disconnect and reconnect the new rope.
Thanks!

 

[MTmudrunner]

The ones I have owned in the past the rope had a metal tab on the end where it bolted to the drum I would guess yours is similar. Warn might have an exploded view for parts ordering on their website? I am not sure how they are bolted to the housing but if you can see the drum from under the truck you might be able to unbolt it without removing too many parts.

 

[ccw]

Hi,
After dealer screwed-up my winch install (did not reverse the bolts) and destroyed the synthetic rope, they finally got a replacement rope for me.
How easy is it to replace myself? (I am not trusting the dealer too much at this point with anything related to the winch).
I tried to remove the small fairlead, but the bolts in the back need to be held in place and no easy access. So looks like I need to remove a much larger front section. And then, not sure how easy to disconnect and reconnect the new rope.
Thanks!View attachment 30752

Look up some videos on YouTube and they will explain it really well. Doesn't need to be specific to the Ford winch. Quick summary:

1. Pull out all of the rope until you can see where it's pinned into the winch drum.
2. Remove pin holding the rope to the drum.
3. Remove rope entirely.
4. Pin new rope to the drum.
5. Wind the new rope onto the drum (be sure to tension appropriately).

None of the steps explicitly require you to remove the fairlead, though removing/installing the pin in the drum may be difficult through the fairlead just because of limited access.

 

[flafonta]

Thanks for the answers. But I thought the Ford Warn winch does not have a tab/pin in the drum but a side bolt. And accessing looks really difficult without removing the fairlead.

 

[ccw]

Thanks for the answers. But I thought the Ford Warn winch does not have a tab/pin in the drum but a side bolt. And accessing looks really difficult without removing the fairlead.

Curious where you heard that? My understanding is that it's one of Warn's previous winches (not a current model), but obviously it was modified to work in the Ford application.

It seems like it comes to Ford with the rope pre-installed since the installation instructions don't mention installing the rope specifically, just the hook.

 

[flafonta]

Curious where you heard that? My understanding is that it's one of Warn's previous winches (not a current model), but obviously it was modified to work in the Ford application.

It seems like it comes to Ford with the rope pre-installed since the installation instructions don't mention installing the rope specifically, just the hook.

I unspooled it completely, and comparing to the Warn instructions (see image), it looks like the ones on the left (Non-Zeon) with the bolt not on the drum. (I was a bit disappointed it did not look like the Zeon for $3K).

 

[SomethingRandom]

I unspooled it completely, and comparing to the Warn instructions (see image), it looks like the ones on the left (Non-Zeon) with the bolt not on the drum. (I was a bit disappointed it did not look like the Zeon for $3K).

I don't have my truck yet. But it seems like you could unspool and rotate the drum so that the attachment point was at 6 o'clock. It looks like a 1/4 ratchet with a universal joint and extension would handle this nicely?

 

[ccw]

I unspooled it completely, and comparing to the Warn instructions (see image), it looks like the ones on the left (Non-Zeon) with the bolt not on the drum. (I was a bit disappointed it did not look like the Zeon for $3K).

Ohh dang. Ya I guess that speaks to it being an older model. And would indeed make it much more difficult to remove.

I don't have my truck yet. But it seems like you could unspool and rotate the drum so that the attachment point was at 6 o'clock. It looks like a 1/4 ratchet with a universal joint and extension would handle this nicely?

That's what I was thinking as well.

 

[flafonta]

I don't have my truck yet. But it seems like you could unspool and rotate the drum so that the attachment point was at 6 o'clock. It looks like a 1/4 ratchet with a universal joint and extension would handle this nicely?

You are right, that should give better access. (I wrongly assumed it was fixed). (I corrected this response)

 

[SomethingRandom]

I think the attachment point does not rotate, it is always at the top right on the frame of the winch, a bit in front, making it hard to access from under. So front access is likely easier, but impossible with fairlead.

Doesn't the rope attachment point have to rotate with the drum?

 

[flafonta]

Doesn't the rope attachment point have to rotate with the drum?

Actually you are right. SO I could rotate the drum to the best position for access