Synthetic winch = BS

quadboy55

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Everywhere I heard, synthetic rope is the best darn rope you can get for your winch and I'd just like to call BS on that. My 850XP I just got has a 3500lb winch with the synthetic rope and I sh*t you not, the very first time I took it out to actually use it the rope snapped, not once, but twice.

So much for 3X as strong as a cable.

So, heres the story, my buddy and me are out riding in some of the deeper snow drifts when his quad starts to sputter and loose power. We figure its time to head back before it gets worse. To top it off our quads are low on fuel. On the way back my Po-Po gets stuck in a snow filled ditch and my buddy and his Brute, and my winch are the only things that can get it back out. Thankfully he had a tow rope after my POS cable snapped to bring the Sportsman back on solid ground.

I guess one of these days here I gotta take 'er back to the dealer and find out whats up. I'm not paying for a new rope because this is BS, A steel one wouldn't have snapped there so one thats 3X stronger shouldn't have either.
 

slomo

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were you jerking it and pinning it in reverse?cause that will make it break
 

rzrgade

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Everywhere I heard, synthetic rope is the best darn rope you can get for your winch and I'd just like to call BS on that. My 850XP I just got has a 3500lb winch with the synthetic rope and I sh*t you not, the very first time I took it out to actually use it the rope snapped, not once, but twice.

So much for 3X as strong as a cable.

So, heres the story, my buddy and me are out riding in some of the deeper snow drifts when his quad starts to sputter and loose power. We figure its time to head back before it gets worse. To top it off our quads are low on fuel. On the way back my Po-Po gets stuck in a snow filled ditch and my buddy and his Brute, and my winch are the only things that can get it back out. Thankfully he had a tow rope after my POS cable snapped to bring the Sportsman back on solid ground.

I guess one of these days here I gotta take 'er back to the dealer and find out whats up. I'm not paying for a new rope because this is BS, A steel one wouldn't have snapped there so one thats 3X stronger shouldn't have either.

I call BS ...no way a 850 popo gets stuck in a snow bank AND if it did you should of walked home before let that brute tow you......lol
 

sirzones

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If the rope was grey.then it is actually weaker than equal size cable, if it is blue synthetic its about 30% stronger. I have the blue on my quad and have not been able to break it on a 2500lb warn winch.
 

hadster

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I had the same machine with the same synthetic rope, it seemed good in the summer, but in winter....yes it would snap easily (primarily using the winch and snow plow).
The snow would get on the rope and with some use slowly melt into the fibers of the rope, then freeze....that freezing would weaken the rope fibers and allow it to snap.
THE FACTORY POLARIS ROPE IS THE ONLY ROPE THAT I FOUND THIS TO HAPPEN, buy a good quality rope maybe heavier gage as well. I'm sure that'll fix the problem.
You could go back to steel cable and get those great steel shreds in your hand, and don't forget when you break the steel out in the bush with limited tools etc. it's pretty hard to fix, but break a rope in the same bush and a fast knot fixes it in minutes.
 

Captjacksparrow

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There is different sizes of rope. The rope for a 1500lb winch won't take the pull of a 3500lb winch. Make sure they didn't put the little rope on your winch? You need the biggest rope for a 3500lb. When your plowing with a rope you need a plow fairlead. The have a really big lower roller so the rope doesn't make such a tight corner and the fibers don't cut against themselves as bad.
 
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quadboy55

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I call BS ...no way a 850 popo gets stuck in a snow bank AND if it did you should of walked home before let that brute tow you......lol

The snow was up to my rack! And thats also pretty funny.

If the rope was grey.then it is actually weaker than equal size cable, if it is blue synthetic its about 30% stronger. I have the blue on my quad and have not been able to break it on a 2500lb warn winch.

She's the blue kind, snapped twice. We did do some tugging because winching alone pulled the brute in with me. We ended up using his tow strap to yank me out.

There is different sizes of rope. The rope for a 1500lb winch won't take the pull of a 3500lb winch. Make sure they didn't put the little rope on your winch? You need the biggest rope for a 3500lb. When your plowing with a rope you need a plow fairlead. The have a really big lower roller so the rope doesn't make such a tight corner and the fibers don't cut against themselves as bad.

The winch is a Po-Po 3500, so I hope they didn't put some measly 1500lb rope on instead. Thats a sure piss-off. Its pretty much the same type of rope I had on my Foreman500 (2500 WARN). I used a metal cable before and did insane amounts of tugging and not a problem. I get this synthetic stuff and its garbage.
 

steveo10

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ive had my rope for 3 seasons now... less tingle, no wires sticking out going through your gloves and hands

broke the rope once cause i got rammy trying to pull out a heavy popo, which was my fault
 

goodngrubby

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My wife's 6x6 Ranger has been using the same 3/16" synthetic line on a 4000lb winch for 2 or 3 years (can't remember), and she shows that thing no mercy....haven't had a single issue.
 

Twig

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Shaun, I guess that goes to show you that the synthetic crap can't hold up to my brutes pulling power haha. I couldn't belive it when I looked back and it was only hooked to my quad haha!!
 

Sun Sport

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Blue steel 3/16 , had it on my 08 gade x cut trees in half with it. Never had a problem in any season. But did not use it for a plow.
 

AreWeThereYet

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Was it Amsteel Blue? It also comes in different colors,.. I have a hard time believing that it broke on a straight pull,.. it would be more inclined to breaking using it like a top rope or a snatch strap.

But I guess chit happens,.. find out what your dealer put on, I would be interested to know.
 

neilsleder

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I bought some blue rope from Super Slings in Niscu and its tuff as h$ll, 3 seasons ofheavey winching and not one issue! My brother bought grey stuff from Warn and it brakes super easy!
 

quadboy55

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Yeah Ryan, I was surprised to see you keep going with half my winch cable!

And yeah, I'll take it to the dealer and let you guys know whats up. I think I'm headed back to steel.

I usually always wear gloves when I ride anyways.
 

Brute Force Boy

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One problem I did find with steel is that it would freeze in the fall and early spring when it was cold enough to freeze when wet. Never had this problem with my synthetic. The only time I broke my syn was "jerkin" it real hard to get out.
I'll stick with my synthetic for now.
 

imdoo'n

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almost quarantee more to the story than has been told. the right size blue steel cable will pull more lbs than the equal size steel cable, you better be looking for wear, or something rubbing, otherwise you will need the next size blue steel rope. you may find a hook and cable coming at you real fast next time. i would suggest a 9000 lb winch for a polaris anyway, only a fool would go out with anything less, for a polaris.
 

quadboy55

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almost quarantee more to the story than has been told. the right size blue steel cable will pull more lbs than the equal size steel cable, you better be looking for wear, or something rubbing, otherwise you will need the next size blue steel rope. you may find a hook and cable coming at you real fast next time. i would suggest a 9000 lb winch for a polaris anyway, only a fool would go out with anything less, for a polaris.

Yes my buddy jerked to get me out, but I never had that problem with any winch prior to owning my 3500lb. I had 2500's before and they held up to many jerks before. Truth be told, we snapped the cable twice.

This also was the VERY FIRST time I ever used this winch on my 2011 XP. It was a virgin winch, and snapped on her very first outing.

And seriously? A 9000lb winch for a quad? A 3500 is almost overkill.

Once again, I had 2500lb winches with steel cables hold up to more abuse over a longer period of time that this winch. If you like, after I get a new cable I'll go snap my old one on camera a few more times just to show how extremely low quality this cable is.
 

youngpolarisguy

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I have the same quad, same winch, and same blue rope. broke it twice both times jerking on the rope really hard. my bad. hey i snaped steel cables doing the same thing can't blame the rope they are desinged to pull a steady load not a sudden jerk. If thats what your doing use a tow rope thats made for that. The bonus is that the rope i really easy to fix.
 

imdoo'n

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Yes my buddy jerked to get me out, but I never had that problem with any winch prior to owning my 3500lb. I had 2500's before and they held up to many jerks before. Truth be told, we snapped the cable twice.

This also was the VERY FIRST time I ever used this winch on my 2011 XP. It was a virgin winch, and snapped on her very first outing.

And seriously? A 9000lb winch for a quad? A 3500 is almost overkill.

Once again, I had 2500lb winches with steel cables hold up to more abuse over a longer period of time that this winch. If you like, after I get a new cable I'll go snap my old one on camera a few more times just to show how extremely low quality this cable is.
so how many jerks were on this bike anyway?
 

S.W.A.T.

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it probably is better on the first use. that is until it gets mud and sand in it.
 
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