Winch Brainstorm

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

I just started taking this class called Introduction to Manufacturing at college earlier in the month and it's pretty awesome. We basically have full run of an awesome machine shop and all the tools inside. The final project is building a little motor that runs off air, BUT the professor said towards the end of the semester we can bring in personal projects and use anything from inside to shop to work on it. So naturally I figured I'd use this opportunity to build an awesome winch! And because I'd be making it all myself, I'm guessing the only thing i have to pay for is the engine and maybe materials. I have access to manual lathes, mills, drill presses, cnc machine basically anything you can think of. The sky is the limit on this winch and I have a long time to think about it and plan it out.

I've been searching through these forums, winchskating.com and iwinchglobal.com looking for frame ideas, spool ideas, all that. If anyone has any advice to give, ideas, how i can put all these resources to awesome use, i'd really appreciate it.

Basically if you have any winch wisdom, and want to drop ANY knowledge at all, just write anything in this thread that you've done or tried that could be helpful in anyway. No matter how small it is I would love to know!!!! It would be awesome if this thread could be overflowing with awesome winch ideas and stuff so I'll be adding things in here that I find interesting.

Thanks guys!

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

Here is a sweet thread I found, with all kinds of winches. Plus a comprehensive list of all the things you need from winch guru Jeff Knox!!

http://www.wakeskating.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16393&highlight=

GnarShredd · Backside 180 Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 1529 City: Seattle

If at all possible... aluminum frame. I built mine out of 2x2 steel (i got it for free, can't complain!) and it's just a beat to try and move around, even with wheels.

Also, put a lot of thought in to the design of your frame. I only had a day to design/cut the steel for mine and I had to guess on all the measurements for the most part. I used a lot more metal than I needed to an therefore, it's WAY heavier than it should be.

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

GnarShredd, Thanks for the input!!!

I'm definitely going to use aluminum for the frame, just trying to find where i can get some kind of cheap. We have an awesome heavy duty production band saw ima slice that open with I can't wait!!!

Oh yea anyone have any advice on where to get kinda cheap raw materials needed for a winch?

wakeboarderx03x · Posted: Sep 28, 2009 1:01 pm Post subject:

Ya definitely go with aluminum for the frame. If possible, have every component of the winch aluminum.
Also, being that you have access to all the equip. Water jet or laser cut your spool. I swear trying to rig up a spool or make one from wheel hubs just never seems to work. IMO.

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

Thanks for the response Aaron!! I think we have a laser cut cnc machine here, I'd have to make sure because we haven't used it yet but that's what I was planning on using!

I have a couple questions (for now, I'm sure I'll have much more when I start working on it!)

How do you set up a throttle to the engine? I've seen people with what looks like a motor cycle handle thing and some other people with just a tiny bar thing you push for throttle. Any opinions on what would be the easiest throttle to really pin it on a specific mph?

GnarShredd · Backside 180 Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 1529 City: Seattle

Also on the spool (people argue still but it's kind of preference), making a releasing spool is worth your while if you can do it and you have the time/materials to (which it sounds like you do.)

Can't really offer any advice on the throttle since I have mine tuned to where you just push the lever all the way up and it's dialed to a good speed.

Brett Leadley · Posted: Sep 28, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

You can get some of the materials you need from this place-

Fazzio Machine & Steel‎
3278 Glassboro Cross Keys Rd, Glassboro, NJ‎
(856) 881-2832‎

they're open weekdays and Saturdays until like 2 or 3 I think

Def go with an aluminum frame, that's why we re-did mine because it was a bit heavy.. I also suggest a releasable spool, make that out of a piece of steel because the one we had that was made out of aluminum didn't work so hot. The pin started boring out the hole, which caused all those problems that day I had it on the river.

You have any days off this week? If you want to go and mess around with mine to see what you like/don't like or what you would want to do different with yours, I'm down. I haven't had a chance to try it out since we made some adjustments to it.

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

Brett Leadley, the only day off i had was yesterday. i might be able to do something friday, i'm taking off from work to help my dad take our boat out so i'll be on the river all day. i'll let you know, it would be sweet to finally check out that winch

GnarShredd · Backside 180 Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 1529 City: Seattle

Oh, another thing I wanted to do on mine but didn't for some reason is to attach a metal tube or two somewhere on the back and position it vertically. (I'll draw a picture in paint or make up a model in google sketchup if you don't get what I mean).

Nothing to tie the winch to/no room to back yout truck in? BAM! instant anchor point.

Raven · Posted: Sep 30, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject:

winch crossbow.

GnarShredd · Backside 180 Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Posts: 1529 City: Seattle

Raven, holy shizzle, I really wish I was an engineer, haha.

Brett Leadley · Posted: Sep 30, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject:

Raven, haha remember this Laughing

You're the man Cool

http://www.wakeskating.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8615&highlight=crossbow

caprice150, let me know about Friday, or maybe we'll do it next week. That Sicklerville winch spot I was using last year is still good to go. The water isn't even brown anymore Surprised

I'm stickin' that incline in there fo sho Exclamation

caprice150 · Backside 180 Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 593

Brett Leadley, sicklerville is my old stomping grounds thats where i grew up, where is this spot?