Every mechanical and automotive equipment requires regular maintenance to prevent them from developing a mechanical fault. A truck winch is no different. Maintaining a winch is no easy task. This is because various processes include servicing, cleaning, storage, and lubrication. Truck winch maintenance may seem overwhelming for many users and prevent them from adequately caring for their truck winches.
This guide solves this problem by explaining each facet of the maintenance process and providing simplified tips that make it easier to maintain and care for your truck bed winches or your off road truck winch. By the end of this guide, you should be equipped with detailed information on how to maintain your truck winches.
Table of Contents
What is Truck Winch Maintenance?
Truck winch maintenance refers to the processes and actions involved in caring for and prolonging the usable life of a truck winch. It includes several aspects: truck winch storage, cleaning, lubrication, and servicing.
When adequately carried out, you stand to enjoy many benefits from truck winch maintenance, some of which include,
✅ Prolonged use
✅ Optimal function
✅ Reduced possibility of accidents during usage
Having understood the importance of truck winch maintenance, let us touch on the different aspects and facets.
Check out Offroad Addiction TV’s video below for some helpful tips as this is serious business!
Servicing a Truck Winch
One of the primary maintenance processes in a truck winch is servicing. The winch is predominantly a mechanical device and features moving components. The following are some essential tips for servicing a truck winch;
✅ Service the Winch Regularly
The standard interval for servicing the winch is after every 200 hours of operation.
✅ Check for Corrosion
Corrosion is one of the most devastating defects affecting a truck winch. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most common defects, mainly if the truck winch is regularly used in wet conditions. Thus, after disassembling the winch for servicing, check out the gearbox, contact plates, bearings, motor brushes, and gear sets for any signs of corrosion.
✅ Clean your Winch Cables
Besides being an aspect of truck winch maintenance, cleaning is also an essential servicing process. In this case, you should focus on cleaning the synthetic ropes or winch cables used in the winch. First, remove the rope or cable from the drum and wash it in mildly soapy water.
While washing, you should inspect the cable or rope and look for any damage or frayed ends. This damage can result in a weak point along the rope. Thus, it is advisable to re-splice the rope or replace the cable if you find any damage or frayed ends along the winch line.
✅ Clean the Electrical Components
The electrical components in the winch are usually located in the control box. You should open the box and clean the solenoids and other connections within the box using electrical grease and fine-grit sandpaper.
You should also check these electrical connections for any damage and wear while cleaning them.
Lubricating the Truck Winch
This is another vital maintenance process as it helps to prevent wear, tear, and friction between moving parts within the truck winch. The following are a few tips to note while lubricating the truck winch;
✅ Lubricate the Cable and Ropes
The cable and rope are the first and most essential parts of the winch that you should lubricate. They rub against each other and the brake drum a lot, so to prevent them from rusting, you should lubricate them regularly.
✅ Use Petroleum and Vegetable Oils
While it is advisable to stick to a dedicated winch lubricant, especially for winch cables, petroleum and vegetable oils are great alternatives. You can also use petroleum and vegetable oils. These oils penetrate the cables easily and have an additive design resistant to corrosion and wear.
✅ Touch on the Gearbox and Bearings
The winch cable and rope are not the only moving parts that need to be lubed. The gearbox consists of moving parts that ensure the winch works properly. You should lubricate these parts, too, as they are also at risk of experiencing wear and tear.
Truck Winch Storage
The truck winch is as safe as the place where you store it. This is why it is important that you properly store the winch after use and while not in use. While there are numerous options, the best place to store the truck winch is a clean, cool place with low humidity. Using a suitable winch cover is a good way to prolong the life of your winch.
FAQs about Truck Winch Maintenance
How long does a winch last?
There is no exact lifespan for a winch. It can last up to fifty years or fail within five years. It all depends on how you use and maintain it.
Do winches need maintenance?
Winches are mechanical devices, and as a result, they require regular and consistent maintenance.
How to care for a winch?
The best way to care for a winch is to service, clean, and lubricate it regularly, preferably after every 200 hours of usage.
Conclusion
Truck winch maintenance is one of the ways to prevent your winch from developing a mechanical fault. Servicing your winch after every 200 hours of operation helps you keep the winch in top condition, allows you to avoid recurring repair costs, ensures safe use of your winch and ultimately, prolongs the life of your truck winch.