Broke my Rock Stomper 5/16 synthetic winch rope the other day winching a stump out and nearly killed my friend. It broke about 10ft off. I have about 100 winches from deep mud with a mile marker E8000 and it is on it's second motor. I have a spider trax aluminum fairlead. Just thought you guys would like to know.

 

Did the rope fall to the ground as they say it will, or did it snap and recoil like a steel line?

Part of the reason I switched to syn line was because of all the positive talk I read about it not snapping back like a steel line would.

 

It was attached to a tow stap that was wrapped around the stump and had about 10ft of tow strap out. It recoiled due to that but it did not travel far it went upwards, probible due to the non-elastic properties. It became disconected and then fell into a nearby tree.

IMO there was no activity from the rope during the break.

 

So what is it you're trying to say? The line broke but performed as advertised? How was it your friend was "nearly killed"?

 

like a bunch of dumb@sses we were standing around the stump. The tow strap recoil caused the rope/hook to fly toward him.

 

Offroad tech.

Glad your buddy was not killed.

What part of the line broke? The middle, or the end that is exposed to UV and frequently used?

 

It was about 10 foot from the end near the hook, just past the tree saver sleeve. I have a tjm and keep the plastic cover on over the winch so none of my winch line is exposed to UV. It is due to stress on the line. It seems to wear better than the origional galvanized cable.

I was planning on tying a double figure 8 w/ a safety knot or just re brade it like a ski rope. i think I might just use a shackle instead of the original hook. I found a hook where a bulldozer was previously parked, it is freaking huge, I hight be able to clip it over my bros ARB bar, but it would look rather large on my bumper.

Actually it is the second time I about hurt someone with my winch. The first time we drove a 60"Hilift about 45" into the mud in front of my truck and tried to winch to that. My freind saw the winch cable bending the hi lift so he ran to hold it :pat:. All I saw was sparks and the hook slid up the hi lift and smaked my freinds hand. I really thought it broke his hands to peices, but it only bruised it.

 

An old Saskatchewan farmer I once knew had a favourite saying, and often used it when someone lost a body part during harvest time.:

'It's not always survival of the fittest ... sometimes it's survival of the smartest.'

 

Where it failed must have been weak from something. The ropes are pretty uniform.

I still say Offroad Tech.

Get some 3/8's so it doesn't feel like you are fishing.

 

How do I move it to Offroad tech? I have pics that I will post soon, the rope looks like the fiber just pulled apart.
What do you guys think is the best way to re-tie it. I can rebrade it or tie a double figure 8.

 

If you tie a knot in synthetic rope you reduce the strength of the rope by 50%. You should us a eye splice technique.

 

Nice site, We splice all our ropes for or boat and dock. I guess I'll be getting those out of the storage shed.
A double figure 8 is primarilly used in rock climbing for safety and strength. I don't think that particular knot would reduce the strength.

 

Don't bet your life on it. If you are going to use synthetic rope you should know the do's and dont's of the product before you use it.

 

I guess I should not "bet my life on it" regardless cause the damn thing broke in the first place.