releasing spool

waterweasel · Faceplant Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 City: Hickory

I'm building my winch, any tips on how to make the spool release so that I can walk the rope out easier..... and how important is having a break on a winch?

DVSKATE · Backside 180 Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 654 City: IL

you dont need a brake

-LoGiK- · Kickflip Joined: 22 Sep 2005 Posts: 2747 City: Orlando

waterweasel, nor a releasing spool

DVSKATE · Backside 180 Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 654 City: IL

nor a winch

DMoneyy · Backside 180 Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 1576 City: SK 941

releasing spool = <3

DVSKATE · Backside 180 Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 654 City: IL

why do you need that?? i hear those released spools break all the time

waterweasel · Faceplant Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 City: Hickory

Alrighty this makes my winch building ALOT easier.... all i have to do now is attatch my 25 hp john deer motor to my frame and i'm good to go.... As long as my 1800 feet of 1/2" steel cable doesnt break.

kyle41 · Posted: Mar 04, 2008 9:46 pm Post subject:

DVSKATE, mines never broken nor have any of my friends that I can think of.

JeffKnox · Posted: Mar 04, 2008 9:54 pm Post subject:

releasing spool = money

but being part of releasing winching co i cant really help you build one... chris and john would shoot me... its not too difficult though... youd be surprised how simple it is you just gotta think about it....

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031

Always bein negative and hatin'. Rolling Eyes

I got about 10 people telling me they wanted one this weekend. It's easier on the driver and the rider so no one is pulling rope all day. Nor have I ever heard of anyone's breaking. But i'll be sure to let you know when this half inch thick hub breaks.

To answer your question: A brake isn't a necessity but it's a nice addition to have. Depending what your spool looks like, if a rider falls and pops the handle while you are still on the gas, it's easy for the rope to free spool and hop off the side, which sucks. We have a few gaps where there is a lot of water between the gap and the winch so a brake would be nice for the rider so they don't have to swim for 10 minutes.

But... 25hp and steel cable? Are you pulling a trick ski team at the same time or something?

De Oro · Backside 180 Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1064 City: Austin

DVSKATE, im sorry but i will 100% disagree with anything he has said in this thread.

^ He has the simpliest winch possibly made

A Brake is very good idea to have in the long run because you always get the people who have never been behind a winch and deep water start with it. Without a brake - the rope gets pulled further away from the rider when the rider falls because there isnt any way for the spool to stop other than the engine slowing itself down. With a Brake - you can quickly stop the spool from spinning and you never have to turn the engine off because you automatically throttle down when a rider falls (and you know they wont recover)

Now for a free releasing spool I see is a very good feature to have on a winch. Again I disagree with DVSKATE because I dont think he has seen it all. Im sure a free releasing spool pin break and ya that does happen, but with the wrong equipment. I've had a free releasing spool and had the same damn pen in it the entire time. Sh:ts strong as hell and its perfect. HAHAH even Ken Land sent me a private message saying his broke all the time and I did go buy more and you know what, they are still in the Home Depot bag with a reciept so I can return them.

Brake = Good

Free Releasing Spool = Good

Both = Pricey Very Happy

Completly worth it in the long run and I fully recommend a hydralic brake.

waterweasel · Faceplant Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 City: Hickory

TAD: thanks for the pic, and no, I'm not pulling a trick ski team. but when your a 350lb 45 year old man that deepwater starts and loves to butterslide all day you too will realize the need for a 25 hp motor and a steel cable.

Thanks for the pic, any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

EJazzle · Posted: Mar 04, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

i have a brake and i use it allll the time! i love having it! i just wish i had a free releasing spool now.. Sad

Mr. Top Hat · Dead Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 5818

i just grab my spool and have never once had a problem.

JB_CANSKATE · Posted: Mar 04, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

waterweasel, Even at your size I don't think you'd need more than 13 hp. A 25 hp engine will be so hard to move around, and steel cable sounds heavy and dangerous to me.

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031

Mr. Top Hat, ditto.

uidzero · Kickflip Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 3839 City: Casselberry

I personally witnessed a released spool self-destruct... they used a thin collar where the pin goes through the shalf, I'm not sure what started to give first but the pin ended up sandwiched between the collar/shaft.

From that picture it looks like they fixed that issue with a nice thick collar.

funky · Faceplant Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 47

So all you need is a centrugal clutch then there is no worries about the rope being hard to pull. And really you do not need a brake how hard is it to just hold onto the handle.

chriscut · Backside 180 Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 2000

I have a brake on my winch.. i love it. When you fall or bail the handle is right next to you. I can fall on tricks and just hold onto the handle with ease. It saves a lot of time.. esp when the winch driver doesnt kill the winch fast enough.. it sucks to swim for a handle over and over.

De Oro · Backside 180 Joined: 20 Nov 2007 Posts: 1064 City: Austin

heres the pulldozers: