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Plow/ Winch Easy Lift Arm Mod

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30K views 26 replies 8 participants last post by  GRIZZLY77  
#1 ·
I have read a lot of posts regarding winch cables wearing out very quickly when used to raise and lower a plow blade. The problem is the extreme angle that the cable must pull at to raise the plow. A roller fairlead helps but the angled pull is still rough on the system. The winch is actually pulling in two directions - the intended vertical lift direction and the unwanted horizontal pull. The horizontal pull tries to pull the plow blade into the front tires - very uncool. To resolve the horizontal pull (or reduce its effect), I fabricated a pulley onto a pivoting arm. I used 1" square tubing for the arm and a pulley from Lowes. The mount is some tabs welded to a piece of flat stock. I used U-bolts to mount it to the Grizzly. I then used a ratchet strap to transfer the load of the plow to the front gear rack.


Click
to see a short video.
 

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#2 ·
I really like the looks of this setup. I was going to build one tomorrow off the rack and was concerned about bending the rack if I lifted the plow too high. This is exactly what I am looking for. Thanks for posting, very good pics!!!!
 
#4 ·
Yeah, I just threw that on. Its a coated steel cable. If the coating wears off, I will change it out and put on the roller fairlead I have. The cable cost like $4 for 10 feet. A heck of lot cheaper than the amsteel cable that came with the winch! If I adjust the pivot arm down, the cable does not even touch the hawse. Good catch!
 
G
#6 ·
Where did You get that brass pulley from?
I did my own version of that kind of bracket. Same idea, different mounting but the problem I have is that currently I have plastic pulley and it has a bit to small dia.
I'm looking for brass one and as big dia as I can get- 2.5-3" would be perfect.
Thanks
 
#7 ·
I got the pulley at Lowes. It was like $4. It was in the rope and cable section. Your in luck - I found it:
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Campbell</st1:place></st1:City> Commercial
2" Heavy-Duty Wall/Ceiling Mount Pulley
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Item #: 80784 Model: T7550502
 
#10 ·
I think it depends on whether you get the synthetic cable or wire cable. The wire cable comes with the roller fairlead, the synthetic cable comes with the hawse. I bought my winch with the synthetic cable, so it came with the hawse. I purchased the roller fairlead separately from Moto Alliance - it was less than $20 shipped!
 
#14 ·
Hey Tim, maybe you can take my idea or some of the others posted on GC to the next level. The problem is described above (the horizontal vector load). GRIZZLY77 constructed a similar unit that used a second load arm attached to the upper bumper cross tube (instead of the strap attached to the rack like I used). He promised to post a picture, hopefully he does.
-Quint
 
#18 ·
GRIZZLY77 you would be correct, having a larger pulley is best. However, Mudduck is using a strap, which is able to roller over a smaller wheel with ease. We would have problems with using a strap roller over our pulleys.

Looks good Mudduck - nice work.
 
G
#19 ·
Quint,
Do You remember -We were talking about the strap from boat trailer, sort of safety belt with hook at the end.
the belt is approx.2" wide so his design + that belt would be awsome. However I want to check mine first and if it's snaps it snaps. then I"ll use roller from a fairlead w/belt.
I think I have a photo of it. You see guys there's nothinkg like a good brain storm
 

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#20 ·
I like the strap idea that mudduck uses with the fairlead roller. I used a 1" wide strap with electrical tape around the section that goes over the pulley to hold it together. It worked, but the strap did not like riding in the groove of the pulley. I then switched to the short section of coated steel cable. The steel cable is cheap and easy to change if it breaks.
 
#25 ·
Amazing that the cables and ropes break lifting a tiny blade, but yet we rely on them to pull us out of 30 inch deep mud pits.

I have plowed a LOT of snow for the past 7 years with my old Honda Foreman, and never had the cable break by the way, so maybe its just a better cable they used back then.