Finger crunching during winching in w/Factor55

[JAsh1967]

So I've got a Factor55 Flatlink and today, I nearly crunched my fingers winching the line in and am looking for suggestions. I had unspooled the line some, just to show someone the line and when I was winching back in, I will admit I was holding the Flatlink in a bad way. I was holding it with my fingers wrapped around it near the line, and set up so it would lay flat on the fairlead and, well, the line reeled in quicker than I was expecting (despite having been reeling it in for a minute!)

So, the good news, no damage done to the fingers, it was more a hard squeeze because the MOMENT I saw what was about to happen I let go of the IN button on the winch control.

What I'm wondering is, is there a better way to reel in the line with these Flatlinks? There's not really a way to put a loop through the hole in the Flatlink, not unless I want to take it out every time I need to use a shackle (hard OR soft) and I'd prefer not having the Flatlink sticking out straight like my Jeep is sticking it's tongue out at people.

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[JAsh1967]

And from watching Factor55's video on the Flatlinks...
Yeah, like Steve Jobs told iPhone users years back, "I was holding it wrong." LoL

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’ve had one for 5 years. I hold it from the front of the flat link, with it perpendicular to the line. That way my fingers are never behind it. I also do the final tap to snug it up, after it’s touching. So no fingers at all.

 

[Jaxmax]

Sorry you were holding it wrong, just hold it right and rethink it before pushing the button.
Winches are right up there with chain saws for danger never get careless with them.....Jack
PS: Glad you are ok it could have been bad but for your quick thinking!

 

[caryt]

IMO its just overpriced, I just use a winch thimble that's a clone my Friend made from 7075 and a std shackle WLL rated. Fast, light and safe to use.

 

[WILDHOBO]

IMO its just overpriced, I just use a winch thimble that's a clone my Friend made from 7075 and a std shackle WLL rated. Fast, light and safe to use.

How was it tested for breaking strength? I’ll happily buy something that’s ben tested. Cool to be able to make your own stuff though.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I’d honestly like to go all metal less for my winching needs. At least for line and connections on my side of operations. Still going to have D-rings on the attachment points but as far as the winch and moving parts go I’d like all synthetic. Only really need a metal attachment point for snatches or something of that nature and that doesn’t happen with a winch.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Sorry you were holding it wrong, just hold it right and rethink it before pushing the button.
Winches are right up there with chain saws for danger never get careless with them.....Jack
PS: Glad you are ok it could have been bad but for your quick thinking!

I miss you Jack.

 

[Jaxmax]

I miss you Jack.

Yes!!, I saw you coming and jumped aside just in time, fix those brakes on that old willys!

 

[drexotic]

I've seen the damage a winch can do to fingers and the damage a metal projectile launched by a winch can do (shakle through a CJ7 windshield and driver's seat). I'm a strong advocate for synthetic winch line, no metal eyes or ferrels, or shackle. Even then, winches demand the utmost respect.
This is a tough lesson to learn but you're lucky to have learned it and not lost a fingers or worse.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I've seen the damage a winch can do to fingers and the damage a metal projectile launched by a winch can do (shakle through a CJ7 windshield and driver's seat). I'm a strong advocate for synthetic winch line, no metal eyes or ferrels, or shackle. Even then, winches demand the utmost respect.
This is a tough lesson to learn but you're lucky to have learned it and not lost a fingers or worse.

Exactly. First time you see a cable fly through a windshield you’ll know why synthetic line exists. I won’t run steel line anymore. I’m sketchy around metal connections that aren’t locked down onto a vehicle.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I've seen the damage a winch can do to fingers and the damage a metal projectile launched by a winch can do (shakle through a CJ7 windshield and driver's seat). I'm a strong advocate for synthetic winch line, no metal eyes or ferrels, or shackle. Even then, winches demand the utmost respect.
This is a tough lesson to learn but you're lucky to have learned it and not lost a fingers or worse.

. Bo matter how experienced you are, no one should be within the radius of the winch line length. And always use a dampener. I hate seeing people skip the dampener.

 

[caryt]

How was it tested for breaking strength? I’ll happily buy something that’s been tested. Cool to be able to make your own stuff though.

No we didn't but its 7075 so IMO no issue and its patterned exactly after the Prolink which is made from 6061-T6 and is rated 16k lbs. 7075 is 2x's as strong as 5061-T6.

 

[WILDHOBO]

No we didn't but its 7075 so IMO no issue and its patterned exactly after the Prolink which is made from 6061-T6 and is rated 16k lbs. 7075 is 2x's as strong as 5061-T6.

To be able to make your own billet parts is insane. So damn cool.

 

[ChrisNLA]

That's why I really liked my Prolink on my last Jeep. You would have to go out of your way to smash a finger with it.

I need to get another one for my current Jeep. I'm too cheap for a new Prolink - I'll probably go with one of the competitors. My last one I bought used

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