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Spare tire winch won't come down

ssrgeoff

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I took off the spare tire for a short bit and looking to get it back in its place under the bed. When I spun the winch to lower I noticed it didn't start lowering the cable right away and then it started coming down but only a quarter of the way down and then it seemed to bind. Looking online it seems it should be lubed, some manufactures have a safety mechanism you can push but I don't see that on the Gladiator. Anyone else ever had this issue, if so how did you resolve?
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Levi.Butler

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I took off the spare tire for a short bit and looking to get it back in its place under the bed. When I spun the winch to lower I noticed it didn't start lowering the cable right away and then it started coming down but only a quarter of the way down and then it seemed to bind. Looking online it seems it should be lubed, some manufactures have a safety mechanism you can push but I don't see that on the Gladiator. Anyone else ever had this issue, if so how did you resolve?
I've seen issues with them binding up like that if you are trying to lower the winch with no weight on it. You will probable need a second set of hands to run the thing in and out while you get under there and put weight on the end of the line. It should come free eventually.
 

JeepOfTheseus

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I gave it a tug to get some tension on it. Without the tire, the metal plate isn’t heavy enough compared to the cable itself to keep tension and prevent the binding.
 
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ssrgeoff

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I've seen issues with them binding up like that if you are trying to lower the winch with no weight on it. You will probable need a second set of hands to run the thing in and out while you get under there and put weight on the end of the line. It should come free eventually.
I gave it a tug to get some tension on it. Without the tire, the metal plate isn’t heavy enough compared to the cable itself to keep tension and prevent the binding.
Thank you both for your responses. I'll get back out there today and try it again.
 

j2paulino

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Any luck? I’ve been trying to get mine down for the last hour to put my spare back under. Nothing is working. It’s no stuck about a foot down. I tried to lube it, then go up and down a whole bunch of times. I even had my daughter come out and wind it up and down with me pulling on it, to no avail. I may have to take it in.
 

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ssrgeoff

ssrgeoff

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Any luck? I’ve been trying to get mine down for the last hour to put my spare back under. Nothing is working. It’s no stuck about a foot down. I tried to lube it, then go up and down a whole bunch of times. I even had my daughter come out and wind it up and down with me pulling on it, to no avail. I may have to take it in.
Yeah, it was exactly as they said above, I needed to weight it down and then it worked. Since you have done that and its still not winding down, could be the cable is wrapped up.
 

Marlinvx

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Gotta have the tension, anyone who has used a bumper-mounted winch, or a bait cast reel knows this...lol.
 

WILDHOBO

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Gotta have the tension, anyone who has used a bumper-mounted winch, or a bait cast reel knows this...lol.
Yep. It’s backlashed. It happened to me once. Just give it some down pressure while either winding the crank up or down, slowly. Eventually you’ll hit the rotation right so you can pull the backlash out. Then just make sure there is weight on it when going either up or down in the future.
 

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Yep. It’s backlashed. It happened to me once. Just give it some down pressure while either winding the crank up or down, slowly. Eventually you’ll hit the rotation right so you can pull the backlash out. Then just make sure there is weight on it when going either up or down in the future.
My concern would be if it kinked the wire rope. Not a big deal for the spare mount, but could make winding/unwinding a PITA.
 

WILDHOBO

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It’s po
My concern would be if it kinked the wire rope. Not a big deal for the spare mount, but could make winding/unwinding a PITA.
It’s possible I guess, but I don’t think very likely.
 

Wilhelm Reis

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I took off the spare tire for a short bit and looking to get it back in its place under the bed. When I spun the winch to lower I noticed it didn't start lowering the cable right away and then it started coming down but only a quarter of the way down and then it seemed to bind. Looking online it seems it should be lubed, some manufactures have a safety mechanism you can push but I don't see that on the Gladiator. Anyone else ever had this issue, if so how did you resolve?
A couple of 10 pound plates and dog chain collar worked really good.
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