Who Else is Running a 15,000 LB+ winch

[OC455]

Well since it is a nearly new winch, like I said above, I think I will let the installing dealer fix whatever the issue is, even if it is just new grease. If I open it up, no more warranty, if the dealer does, all is good. What the replies to this thread have been really helpful with is, I know for certain this is not a normal condition for the large Smittybuilt winches. Will provide an update once the dealer has fixed or replaced it.

Let us know, I was always under the impression that Smittybuilt was one of the top tier winches that were made up there with Warn.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Smittybuilt is made in China junk. You have to remote mount the winch box under the hood if you dont want it to fail due to rain... lol.. The circuit board is fully exposed under the cheap plastic cover... lol...

I take my apart once a year , and the grease is full of junk without fail every time. And mine is mounted behind my bumper away from the elements.

But reading the horror stories that Warn also has makes me think that these companies sell this stuff hoping guys dont actually use them... lol...

 

[Dean2]

Smittybuilt is made in China junk. You have to remote mount the winch box under the hood if you dont want it to fail due to rain... lol.. The circuit board is fully exposed under the cheap plastic cover... lol...

I take my apart once a year , and the grease is full of junk without fail every time. And mine is mounted behind my bumper away from the elements.

But reading the horror stories that Warn also has makes me think that these companies sell this stuff hoping guys dont actually use them... lol...

So smitty is China junk and warn is just as bad. Who do you use and recommend for a quality which because I have one warn 8274 that is now 50 years old, a 8000 lbs level wind that is 27 years old and a 14000 lbs that is 12 years old. None have ever needed service or repair despite a ton of use. The 8274 did need new connector plug for the remote though about 10 years ago, that makes it real junk i guess.

 

[DILLIGAF]

You cant compare stuff made 25+ years ago to the crap thats made today. Unfortunately in this day in age its all about maximizing profits for shareholders.

some guys on the Jeep forum have better luck with cheap harbor freight winches... lol.

The only good side to Warn a Smitty is you can get parts and fix them when they break.

 

[bcbouy]

the first week of my old 12000# smittybilt the solenoid box broke right off the winch.every smittybilt product i've owned has been garbage.i refuse to buy anything from them now.

 

[OC455]

I bought a Superwinch for my Kubota, 4000lbs pull. Haven't got around to getting hooked up though. Their bigger models look pretty good.

 

[Dean2]

Took the truck in, it is definitely way too thick grease that is causing the problem. The grease is so thick that it acts like a near solid connection and allows the motor to turn the gears under light load, even in free spool. The dealer called Smittybuilt, apparently they started putting in much thicker grease in the 15,000 to 17,500 series industrial winches because many of the guys using the winches on wreckers, flat decks and car haulers were complaining they free spooled too easily and jumbled the nicely wrapped under tension wire rope when kicked into free spool. Pretty clear they have WAY over done the grease viscosity.

The installing dealer is going to pull the gear set off and replace the grease with a Synthetic/moly type grease under warranty and that should solve the problem. We shall see how I like it once they get that done.

 

[olyelr]

Took the truck in, it is definitely way too thick grease that is causing the problem. The grease is so thick that it acts like a near solid connection and allows the motor to turn the gears under light load, even in free spool. The dealer called Smittybuilt, apparently they started putting in much thicker grease in the 15,000 to 17,500 series industrial winches because many of the guys using the winches on wreckers, flat decks and car haulers were complaining they free spooled too easily and jumbled the nicely wrapped under tension wire rope when kicked into free spool. Pretty clear they have WAY over done the grease viscosity.

The installing dealer is going to pull the gear set off and replace the grease with a Synthetic/moly type grease under warranty and that should solve the problem. We shall see how I like it once they get that done.

Nice!
Keep us updated

 

[Dean2]

They re-greased the winch yesterday. Huge difference in how it works. It now free spools nicely but isn't so loose that it unwraps itself and jumbles the cable. With the old grease, even in warm temps you had to power the cable out, at -30 it would have been rock solid, winch would have been unusable. Dealer said the original lube was so thick you could push a screw driver into it and it would stay upright no problem. Said it was a real bear getting the old lube out.

Who would have thought something as simple as grease viscosity could make that much difference. Anyone buying a Smittybuilt may want to ensure the vendor re-lubes it before installing it on a vehicle.

 

[crazy jerry]

people want cheap junk and companies know this. some day i would like to try one of these https://www.red-winches.com/