So, synthetic ropes turn to rigid cables when frozen.

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ajh

Guest
I found this out the hard way. A spectra/dyneema synthetic winch rope has no hydrophobic properties and will freeze into a solid cable when exposed to road conditions and cold. The chafe guards are particularly bad for this, at least on my Viking combo line. I had to hook to a telephone pole and pull the line all the way out and re-wind it to have any chance of using it, but I'm sure in a few days due to the (ARB bumper) design it'll be soaked and frozen again.

Has anyone come up with a solution for this other than storing the rope inside and hooking it up only when you need it... because the way my winch is in the ARB (this is changing, lets not digress) doing this is fairly hard and time consuming and would be very unpleasant with slush/snow on the ground.

I'm thinking that mounting one of those stick on heating pads intended for oil pans (temp checked to make sure it doesn't exceed the temp for spectra line of course still need to check that), to the drum itself with a quick disconnect of some kind so you can plug it in with your block heater and battery blanket to soften things up... another option is to wrap a battery blanket around the full spool then pull some kind of cover over the drum to hold in some of the heat when not in use. This of course sucks on an ARB because of how things are mounted... (yeah going to modify it to open the entire top and move the winch up and box the bottom on mine to keep the road spray down a bit...)

I'd love to hear others experiences with this. I have to admit since I'm used to using kernmantle ropes with dry coatings in wet/icy weather I didn't even consider that the braided rope would cable like this.
 
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ajh

Guest
Sigh, dunno how I missed it, I've been reading daily. Well, it doesn't really address the ice issues in a 'solved' kinda way. Getting the winch up and above the bumper is probably the main thing to do, I should have realized a 'hidden' winch might look clean and cool but nothing you need at hand can be hidden.

Ah well, time to plan the bumper mods... hope I can do them quickly enough, would rather not drive around without a front bumper. :)
 
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jhmover

jhmover

Well-known member
Apr 23, 2004
5,571
3
California
After reading the homemade snorkel thread, I'm waiting for some enterprising redneck to "engineer" a winch line defroster. I can somehow picture two blow dryers duct taped on to the front bumper with curved black pvc pipe extensions on so the air blows on the winch line. (Picture the blow dryers facing forward with a 270 degree or so loop so the hot air blows out then curved around to blow on the winch line - kind of like ram horns, which would be an added bonus on a Dodge Ram pickup I suspicion). Then during the summer more redneck engineering will come into play as they can then extend both pipes through holes in the hood and make a dual supercharger by hooking them up to the intake. Yeeeehawwww!
 
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DiscoDino

Guest
Not to be disgusting, but had my rope somewhat freeze on me once...decided to pee on it (needed 3 dudes) and then spray shitloads of WD40 on it while it was still "tangible"...

Discusting, I know...it worked and got me out...
 
I HATE PONIES

I HATE PONIES

Well-known member
Aug 3, 2006
4,864
0
Just a thought but could you mount a small fan in front of the radiator that would blow warm air on it when you are stopped? If not would it be possible to extend one of the transmission lines to wrap the winch motor and keep it warm?
 
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ajh

Guest
DiscoDino said:
Not to be disgusting, but had my rope somewhat freeze on me once...decided to pee on it (needed 3 dudes) and then spray shitloads of WD40 on it while it was still "tangible"...

Discusting, I know...it worked and got me out...
Click to expand...

There's studies that show urine degrades nylon fibres, I'm not sure about aramid though.
 
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ajh

Guest
So far placing one of those flexible pan heaters on the drum below the line seems to be the most viable option, just need to do it in such a way that when the drum rotates it doesn't tear off the power line for it.

Once I get it above the bumper there will be more options, the battery blanket and cover seems the easiest then.
 
MUSKYMAN

MUSKYMAN

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
8,277
0
OverBarrington IL
ajh said:
So, someone trying to be helpful deserves being mocked?
Click to expand...

Dude you were just here complaining about the site being difficult to use and that information isnt able to be found easily yet you just started a nearly identicle thread to another one that you were actively posting in.

thats just plain stupid...so yes I am clearly picking on you about it(just so people know my intentions:reddevil: )

make sence?
 
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RichardS

Well-known member
May 2, 2005
871
0
Maryville, TN
How about just making a cover to wrap over the winch line to keep the water out? I used some heavy vinyl stuff from the fabric store and some velcro. Cut into the appropriate size rectangle so that the width spans the whole winch spool from side to side and the length will wrap around the spool/line and secure with velcro.

If I had to do it again I would look into using neoprene instead of vinyl. I think the neoprene would conform and seal better, especially when cold. The vinyl gets really stiff when cold.
 
kellymoe

kellymoe

Banned
Apr 23, 2004
1,282
1
Burbank
It's my understanding that the fibers are hydrophobic. It's the void space between the fibers and the voids spaces in the rope as it's wound on the drum that hold water and freeze. Pee is probably no big deal but I would not spray WD40 on my rope. As a climber I have gone to great lengths to keep petroleum products off my ropes and webbing to prevent breakdown. I would think the same would apply here. I think covering it during the winter would be the easiest solution.
 
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DiscoDino

Guest
kellymoe said:
It's my understanding that the fibers are hydrophobic. It's the void space between the fibers and the voids spaces in the rope as it's wound on the drum that hold water and freeze. Pee is probably no big deal but I would not spray WD40 on my rope. As a climber I have gone to great lengths to keep petroleum products off my ropes and webbing to prevent breakdown. I would think the same would apply here. I think covering it during the winter would be the easiest solution.
Click to expand...

Yeah, we thought about that...but it was December 24th at 6pm at ~2,000m altitude and my mum/fiancee was on the phone bitching about me not being home for Xmas Dinner...so yeah, WD40 was it for now...
 
A

ajh

Guest
RichardS said:
How about just making a cover to wrap over the winch line to keep the water out? I used some heavy vinyl stuff from the fabric store and some velcro. Cut into the appropriate size rectangle so that the width spans the whole winch spool from side to side and the length will wrap around the spool/line and secure with velcro.

If I had to do it again I would look into using neoprene instead of vinyl. I think the neoprene would conform and seal better, especially when cold. The vinyl gets really stiff when cold.
Click to expand...

If your winch placement allows you could do a cover with insulation in it, or wrap a battery warming blanket around the spool while you're at home and cover that, then you can dry it out again once used too.
 
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