Tips for removing spare tire hoist winch?

There is an alternative method to fixing your spare-tire hoist that may be a lot easier. Commonly, when the hoist is rusted up and not turning, it means that those bolts that hold it to the frame may also be very difficult to get off— as you can see from the comments, people resort to drilling them out or grinding the tops off, etc. I couldn't budge mine, but this forced me into a fairly straightforward workaround which I think is better. Leave the those rusted bolts alone.

1. On the bottom edge of the winch there are four tabs on the steel base plate which are bent into slots to keep the base plate there— using a screwdriver, bend those back a little (you may have to give the screwdriver a light tap with a hammer to get under the tabs). Now pull the baseplate off— the chain will still be going through it, so it will just hang loose. (there is a little spring there too, use some pliers to detach it)

2. Now, look on the back side of the winch— on the end of the large pin that goes through the middle of the hoist mechanism there's a C-clip there, easily accessible. Pop that off with yr hammer and screwdriver, and don't lose it. Now we need to push the pin out— this is also likely seized/sticky, so I used a 3lb hammer and a sturdy bolt as a punch. Just put the punch on the back of the pin and keep whacking at it, it will eventually come out the front of the hoist and drop to the ground.

3. Now the gears and plates of the hoist mechanism are free and mine dropped easily into my hand. Look at how the chain goes over it and remember how to put it back, then slip the chain off and you will have the hoist mechanism in your hand.

4. I used a stiff wire brush, sandpaper, and a little file to clean up the rust, corrosion, and dried grease in the gears, and sanded the pin, etc. Ideally apply new grease or lube, and then reassemble. Reassembly is straightforward, a little jimmying necessary to line the pin back up as you push it through, then put the C-clip back on, then the bottom plate, bend the tabs back, put the spring back on and you’re good good to go. Mine went back together pretty easily and now functions quite smoothly— and this was after being totally seized.

 

Great first post! Welcome aboard.

 

I had to cut my bolts as they were so sexed up The nuts broke off their welds on the frame. Much easier with the bed removed.

 

Great post. I will be crawling under my truck and using your post as a reference this weekend to do my spring check-up, and verify whether or not I need to take it apart to do the lubrication and Fluid Film maintenance. Post some pics of your truck when you get a chance. We like pics here!

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