Lorax
New member
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- Location
- Hampton Virginia
Well, I just walked in the house from finishing my first winch install. What an experience. Everything went well, it just took a little longer than expected.
A couple weeks of tinkering with the winch on a worktable to make sure it worked right, and to sand/paint all the brackets, bumper, and winch. The engine lift paid for itself multiple times on this project alone.
Some experiences from someone that has never done a job like this before, but had the TMs, and most of the parts:
1. Check the little cotter pin inside the PTO housing. Mine was worn halfway thru and needed replacing.
2. An extra set of hands when installing the PTO can literally be a life saver. In order to reach the studs, I had to have my face directly under the PTO.
3. Looking at how the PTO gears move is really quite interesting. It gives a better idea of what's happening when shifting the PTO handle.
4. I was pleased that all the mounting holes were already drilled and/or tapped and waiting in the truck. It's just a matter of lining all the parts up and tightening them down.
5. What a feeling of satisfaction to hook the cable to a tree, and let the winch wind the cable up good and tight. To know it all works.
6. Don't leave the PTO in LOW, and hold the brake pedal down, then release the clutch. That winch will pull the truck nose down toward the ground and kill the engine. Oops. Not paying attention to the new coordination required for running a winch.
It actually worked. The first time. Fantastic.
A couple weeks of tinkering with the winch on a worktable to make sure it worked right, and to sand/paint all the brackets, bumper, and winch. The engine lift paid for itself multiple times on this project alone.
Some experiences from someone that has never done a job like this before, but had the TMs, and most of the parts:
1. Check the little cotter pin inside the PTO housing. Mine was worn halfway thru and needed replacing.
2. An extra set of hands when installing the PTO can literally be a life saver. In order to reach the studs, I had to have my face directly under the PTO.
3. Looking at how the PTO gears move is really quite interesting. It gives a better idea of what's happening when shifting the PTO handle.
4. I was pleased that all the mounting holes were already drilled and/or tapped and waiting in the truck. It's just a matter of lining all the parts up and tightening them down.
5. What a feeling of satisfaction to hook the cable to a tree, and let the winch wind the cable up good and tight. To know it all works.
6. Don't leave the PTO in LOW, and hold the brake pedal down, then release the clutch. That winch will pull the truck nose down toward the ground and kill the engine. Oops. Not paying attention to the new coordination required for running a winch.
It actually worked. The first time. Fantastic.
