Winch Won't Freewheel

I have a Smittybilt X20 12,000 winch (nylon rope version). I have not used it since last year and I just wanted to make sure everything is still working properly.

I put the winch in Freewheel but the rope won't unspool no matter how hard I try.

Any thoughts?

 

Anchor the rope and back the truck up slowly in free spool? Can you use the controller to verify the drum will turn?

 

Can you power the line out with the controller? (Will the drum spin?)

 

Second both opinions above. Make sure the drum will power out. If so, tie off to a tree, double check you are in freespool, and back the truck up to spool off almost all the line.

Inspect, clean, and dry the line as needed. Then spool it all back in neatly with a light load on the line.

The Smittybilt users manual for my 9500 lbs winch specifically says to spool in / out once a month. And to spool it in with a light load. I have noticed over the years that not running it for a while makes it hard to unwind, similarly after a heavy pull it can be hard to unwind