Hypoxic Chronology

Black bear would be perfect for the drone!
Guess we'll have to go back.

 

Man please invite me next time you's go somewhere looks so fun

 

If you need help with the crossmember let me know.

 

Found a new favorite route out after running Redcone/Radical Hill.

I consider it the northern version of the Alpine loop

 

Amazing view.

 

^This! Wow

 

What's this new route? Just back towards I 70?

 

Yeah. In the past, I've either gone straight down to Montezuma or north back to 285. This still goes to Montezuma, it just traverses some of the mountain ranges first.

 

Had to look back in this thread to find out how long I'd had my front bumper and therefore, how long the winch had been sitting in there untouched and neglected.

Looks like it has been a little better than 3 years. When I got the bumper, I bought a $299 Badlands 12,000lb winch.

Now many many people (who have never had one) will tell you what a worthless piece of equipment these winches are. After all, they're from Harbor Freight so they must be junk right?

I must have lucked out big time because the winch went into the bumper before the bumper was mounted and hasn't been out since. In all that time, I've used it for countless pulls to recover my truck and other's. Never once has it failed me.

Having run out of major modifications to do to the truck and with a thought for maintenance, I decided that the winch needed a little bit of love.

I was able to access it without removing the bumper.


Before removing it, I thought I'd check out the solenoid. It's been submerged several times and absolutely covered in mud so I honestly figured it would need some cleaning and sealing.

Nope. Clean as a whistle.


I did switch to a synthetic line at some point. I think the synthetic is really bad about trapping moisture because the drum is in much worse condition than it was when I made the switch.


I figure I'll take the winch apart to clean and regrease it and I'll probably sandblast and repaint the drum. Might have to look around this site and google a bit to see what others have done to recondition a winch drum.

 

Can't see pics... But want to.

 

They disappeared

 

Crom said he couldn't see them, so I attempted to fix them and they disappeared for me too...

Andy, I take it you could see them the first go-round? If so, we'll just blame Crom and he can go HERE to see them.

 

It's Google. They broke their Picasa file embedding system. No official workaround, but I found a way. Kind of a pain. Will PM you tomorrow need to be at workstation.

Link to album worked.

Great value on the winch.

 

Yes I saw them the first time

 

I know someone that has a sand blaster

 

I saw them too

 

It'll be interesting to see if I can put this thing back together when it's time

Gear side had what I typically think of as grease. Black and greasy, it did not appear to have been contaminated at all.
Motor side has some "dry" grease... maybe graphite based? It's the contraption on a stick at the bottom of one of these pictures. Maybe it has to do with the brake?

 

Yep. Me too.

Have you used it yet? Want to break it in on a winch drum?

I wish I still had access to a parts cleaner/ solvent tank

 

Yeah I used it to clean off my barbecue er. It's a messy job without a cabin. Shit flys every ware. How bad is the drum pitted? If it can't be wire wheeled then I can get the drum from you and blast it at work. I still have some sand left over from my project. You don't want to blast it at your place with out a cabin. The results are awesome. Way better then any wheel I've used.

 

It's pretty bad... not sure a wire wheel would cut it.

There's a sandblaster at the shop at work too. I don't know if that one would work or not. Apparently, it needs to be hooked up to one of those monster trailer compressors and there's this hood/hazmat suit thing you wear to use it . Might be overkill.

I'm contemplating lining the drum with gaffer's tape... The brake on this winch is mechanical so I don't think the drum gets hot or anything.