winch cable care

[Gerry]

getting ready to install my cable back onto winch.It needs to be cleaned. Should I wash with simple green and dry then lightly oil?
Thanks,

[w30bob]

Hi Gerry,

How dirty is your cable? I'm no expert on cable cleaning, but I wouldn't put water on it. I assume you're talking about diluting the Simple Green with water. If it's greasy dirty I'd hit it with carb or brake cleaner, let air dry, and then hit it with a spray lubricant like Fluid Film. Wipe off the excess and you're good to go. That stuff is amazing.

regards,
bob

[Gerry]

Never heard of fluid film. Is it available at normal hardware stores?

[Tuko]

Napa in Naugatuck has it if that's the route you choose.

[Gerry]

Thanks Tuko

[pwrwagonfire]

Should I be doing anything special to my winch cable?


-T

[F18hornetm]

Where I work we have over a 100 trucks with front winch's as well as leveling cables. We use lubriplate brand chain and cable spray. It will not wash away with water easily and soaks into the cable strands. I am sure there are other brands of cable spray, I know NAPA makes one. The Lubriplate brand is pricey but really good stuff.

[w30bob]

Hi Gerry,

I didn't mean to imply that Fluid Film was the only thing to use....F18 is right in that now-a-days they make a variety of spray on lubricants that solidify when exposed to the air and stay put real well. Most motorcycle chain lubes are now this type. You spray it on as a liquid and it sets up into a nice thick lube. If it sticks to a motorcycle chain spinning fast it will surely stick to your winch cable. The Fluid Film is more of a penetrating lubricant, and I always go over it with a rag to get off the excess, as it doesn't solidify. But I've put it on metal parts and left them outside for over a year and they never started to rust. Bottom line is you've got lots of choices!

regards,
bob

[F18hornetm]

I agree Bob, I use chain and cable fluid on anything don't want to not rust. I even use it on drill press, mill and lathe parts to prevent surface rust due to humidty. It turns things sorta brown but no rust. Washes off with brake clean. But will not evaporate like WD40 etc.
I've not done it yet, but I have seen canvas covers for the winch drums. It would seem would work well, saturate cable with fluid then put cover on.

[Gerry]

Thanks for the info.