Just a thought...

soy escuala · Backside 180 Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 2248

Wouldn't it be a lot better if the fairlead on a winch was located directly between the rider and the contact point of the rope to the spool?

That way the line wouldn't eat threw the fairlead as much, It would be minimal pressure. There's really no reason to have them located as high as they are on most winches.

We'd save a lot of weight, money and size if we built them like that.

bachlonso · Backside 180 Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 670 City: NFA

soy escuala, can't really picture what you're saying - quick sketch???

dylo · Posted: May 18, 2009 6:55 am Post subject:

i get what your saying soy, so there's less stress on the rope against the fairlead? closer to the spool so the rope is relying on the fairlead to guide it so much.

Guy · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 842 City: Orillia

soy escuala, it's kinda of been done if i get what you saying.

The fairlead would have to be adjust able because the rider isn't going to be in the same position all the time.

-=AlexXx=- · Posted: May 18, 2009 9:01 am Post subject:

and some times you have to put the winch up high or down low... or slightly to the side, the rope is going to be pulling the rider in different directions nearly every time or different spot you shred.

JeffKnox · Posted: May 18, 2009 10:23 am Post subject:

yes it will help if there is less force on the roller but as alex said you can never get away from it completely.... best way to save your fairleads is to keep them oiled up... as long as they are spinning as the rope is going in the friction is minimized.... once they get rusted shut the rope eats thru it in no time... especially if your using it at the beach

bromfutter · Posted: May 18, 2009 10:45 am Post subject:

why use a fairlead at all?

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

bromfutter, when your line jumps off your spool when your fat friend falls and snaps the handle youll know

bromfutter · Posted: May 18, 2009 10:58 am Post subject:

that doesn't mean you need a fairlead.

nopulseimpulse · Posted: May 18, 2009 11:07 am Post subject:

Here, check these out if your having reliability issues . These fairleads won't be for everyone cause they are so $$$. Made for heavy duty commercial fishing in saltwater, I doubt any one of us could damage these in a short time. That and they look pretty too... but, maybe thats just the engineering geek in me.

here's the link
http://www.lindgren-pitman.com/pc-42-8-rollerfairleads.aspx

TWG · Kickflip Joined: 25 Sep 2006 Posts: 3258

POPTART, no fat people in fla bru...only ripped abs here

bachlonso · Backside 180 Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 670 City: NFA

nopulseimpulse, you always have to take into consideration that the rope on a wakeskate winch is moving at higher speeds then any of the fish-nets or off-road winch applications. thus the mechanics of those fairleads are dimensioned for different loads.
the best way to build a specific wakeskate winch fairlead is to take precision bearings (capsuled) and fit them into a light weight steel or aluminium tube. this way the rollers will have less inertia and will be easily able to accelerate up to the speeds you're operating the winch at. put grease on them every once in a while and you're fine.

nopulseimpulse · Posted: May 19, 2009 7:27 am Post subject:

bachlonso, They'll work fine, trust me. If you look closely that's the way the top two are built. Note the stainless steel/aluminum used and the grease fittings. Not to mention the sealed bearings, which would be great for beach winching.

Those fairleads are built for hydraulic winches on long lining boats. I'm not going to go into depth about the fishing, but most of the time these fairleads handle gear which is up to/over a mile in length and will put much more load than any wakeskater ever could. Unless your pulling 5 ppl at once, that is. Laughing

just sayin... Cool

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

dont try and fix something that isn't broken

bachlonso · Backside 180 Joined: 02 Jul 2007 Posts: 670 City: NFA

-LoGiK-, yeah, never change a running system. lol

nopulseimpulse, yes, they indeed look fine. i just think they are unnecessarily heavy and thus quite inert when it comes to reaching the rpms. and of course, too expensive.

my 0.02€ Wink

YaBro · Backside 180 Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Posts: 624

TWG,

soy escuala · Backside 180 Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 2248

kornhouse · Posted: May 20, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject:

soy escuala, I'm curious as to how your new method makes the winch light, a fairlead wouldn't weigh more than a pound right?

kornhouse · Posted: May 20, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

soy escuala, I'm curious as to how your new method makes the winch light, a fairlead wouldn't weigh more than a pound right?

Kyle Trigniety · Posted: May 20, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject:

-1 pound = lighter