Synthetic Winch Rope Question
Sep 28, 2006 | 02:02 AM
#1
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Synthetic Winch Rope Question
I've been looking at the various synth options out there now and have come across two categories of rope that I don't recall seeing before.
Some rope is called Trail Line and some is called Fire Line. What's the difference?
Some rope is called Trail Line and some is called Fire Line. What's the difference?
Sep 28, 2006 | 06:58 AM
#2
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From: Ft. Collins, Co
Fire Line has an extra heat capacity. I don't know EXACTLY what you'd use it for, but I know that's the difference. I've seen some rope, that's fire line for the first 10 feet or so (the part that is against the drum) and then regular rope the rest of the way.
Sep 28, 2006 | 10:15 AM
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From: Grapevine TX
If I remember right, more heat is generated when your using a winch to power out the line. Like if your lowering someting with the winch. Not that you would or should, just what I can see as an example. The heat gaurd is great to have for protection. But unless you use it in competition I dont see benifit of having the fully heat rated supper dupper stuff on a rig.
Sep 28, 2006 | 10:20 AM
#4
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From: Peoria IL
no the heat problem is this... wire rope/cable is metal = conduct heat away from the motor....
synthetic rope = plastic = insulates = more heat= burn up motor and cause the "plastic" fibers to break down (ie melt) = bad
so i assume the "extra heat cpacity" they have refomulated the rope to better withstand the higher temps
synthetic rope = plastic = insulates = more heat= burn up motor and cause the "plastic" fibers to break down (ie melt) = bad
so i assume the "extra heat cpacity" they have refomulated the rope to better withstand the higher temps
Sep 28, 2006 | 12:57 PM
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I've had to winch down (power out) on an iceroad. 4 back-to-back sets of all 100 feet. I don't think the brake works right on my good old Worn(sic) 8000. I've seen it spool back out on it's own with winch stalling tension on it.
Sep 28, 2006 | 03:35 PM
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From: Ft. Collins, Co
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Sep 28, 2006 | 04:59 PM
#8
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
Here's Rockstomper's blurbs:
Originally Posted by Rockstomper's Website
Winch Rope Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Some of the more common questions about winch rope.
What about heat from the winch drum?
Heat is generated in planetary winch drums (Warn laydown-style, Ramsey planetary winches, most Superwinches) only under "Power-Out" condition. This type of use drives the winch motor against the brake (note references by winch companies about "Automatic Load-Holding Brake"). This is similar to driving your vehicle with the parking brake engaged.
Doing so will generate heat if you were to use it extensively in this mode. Similar to driving your vehicle with the parking brake engaged, you can drive out of a parking space without causing problems, but if you drove for significant distance, you would quickly wear out the brake. The same is true for your winch. The "Power-Out" function should be used for relieving tension on the rope, not for extended distances, nor for lowering a load--4WD winches are not designed to be used as hoists. Our testing has shown that powering out for 10-20 feet is not a problem, but will cause excessive wear to the winch brake, so we recommend using the "Power-Out" to relieve tension only.
No winches currently made, if used correctly, will heat the drum on "Power-In" use.
Can I use my roller fairlead with rope?
Many of our customers do; the roller is susceptible to damage, and if damaged, can damage the rope. We recommend the aluminum fairleads because they are nearly impervious to the type of damage that causes roller fairleads to fail.
Can I use my snatch block with rope?
Yes, as long as it is not burred-up from steel cable.
How does synthetic rope hold up to UV exposure?
Amsteel Blue has a proprietary urethane-based coating, factory-applied, to help it resist UV radiation. Additionally, Amsteel Blue was not actually designed for the 4WD industry; it was developed for offshore commercial fishing purposes, where it would be exposed to nearly-constant sunlight. Because of these design criteria, it resists UV exposure very well.
How does your rope compare with XYZ company's product?
We have tested many varieties of rope currently on the market, and supply what we feel to be the best material for the application at hand. Because a large number of companies sell synthetic winch rope, from a variety of sources, we have opted to supply you, our customer, with as much information as possible about our product, in order to let you make the most informed decision possible. But we often don't know what another particular company is selling, so we can't tell you about their product.
Some of the more common questions about winch rope.
What about heat from the winch drum?
Heat is generated in planetary winch drums (Warn laydown-style, Ramsey planetary winches, most Superwinches) only under "Power-Out" condition. This type of use drives the winch motor against the brake (note references by winch companies about "Automatic Load-Holding Brake"). This is similar to driving your vehicle with the parking brake engaged.
Doing so will generate heat if you were to use it extensively in this mode. Similar to driving your vehicle with the parking brake engaged, you can drive out of a parking space without causing problems, but if you drove for significant distance, you would quickly wear out the brake. The same is true for your winch. The "Power-Out" function should be used for relieving tension on the rope, not for extended distances, nor for lowering a load--4WD winches are not designed to be used as hoists. Our testing has shown that powering out for 10-20 feet is not a problem, but will cause excessive wear to the winch brake, so we recommend using the "Power-Out" to relieve tension only.
No winches currently made, if used correctly, will heat the drum on "Power-In" use.
Can I use my roller fairlead with rope?
Many of our customers do; the roller is susceptible to damage, and if damaged, can damage the rope. We recommend the aluminum fairleads because they are nearly impervious to the type of damage that causes roller fairleads to fail.
Can I use my snatch block with rope?
Yes, as long as it is not burred-up from steel cable.
How does synthetic rope hold up to UV exposure?
Amsteel Blue has a proprietary urethane-based coating, factory-applied, to help it resist UV radiation. Additionally, Amsteel Blue was not actually designed for the 4WD industry; it was developed for offshore commercial fishing purposes, where it would be exposed to nearly-constant sunlight. Because of these design criteria, it resists UV exposure very well.
How does your rope compare with XYZ company's product?
We have tested many varieties of rope currently on the market, and supply what we feel to be the best material for the application at hand. Because a large number of companies sell synthetic winch rope, from a variety of sources, we have opted to supply you, our customer, with as much information as possible about our product, in order to let you make the most informed decision possible. But we often don't know what another particular company is selling, so we can't tell you about their product.
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