I just got my first winch. The guy I got it from didn't use it much or know much about it.
The line is spooled so that it comes off the top of the spool and then down to go out the fairlead. It doesn't look right to me.
It's a Ramsey QM8000. The red button lets line out, the black button brings line in.
I read the manual off Ramsey's site and it does not answer my questions.
Should the line come off the top or bottom of the spool?

all of my winches spool off of the bottom.

is that one of the old worm drive winches? if so i'm pretty sure it can be setup to spool from the top or bottom. i was looking into one of these a while back and it seems like there are instructions on how to switch it over somewhere on ramsey's site

No, it's a planetary gear winch. I guess I'll run the line out and redo it.
Thanks for your help.

If the controls work properly wouldnt the winch be spooled properly...

Dane

If the controls work properly wouldnt the winch be spooled properly...

Dane
Not is someone switched the wires around to compensate for spooling the winch backwards. Seems like a lot of effort to fuck things up, but I never put anything past shadetree mechanics. Especially that snowbird13 guy.:laughing::laughing:

True, and it just looks wrong being spooled that way...or the PO had the controls backwards in his mind??

Dane

And that's part of my question: is the red button supposed to let line out and the black take it in?
There's no writing or signs on the controller nor is there any indication in the manual.

It needs to wrap from the bottom so that it passes straight through the fairlead.

My m8000 was realed on that way when I got it too...The sticker on the controller is backwards I guess...I re-rolled the correct way because the cable was grinding under load on the winch plate the way you have it....So I just have to do the opposite on my controller picture...

I have seen people mount the winch 180 degrees off before. example, if the motor is on the drivers side "in" would wrap on the bottom, if the motor is on the pass side "in" would then have to wrap on the top side, which is wrong. the winch should always wrap onto the bottom of the drum.

if you find the buttons are correct (assuming no one hacked the wiring up) you might just have to turn the winch 180 and be good to go

Ah, thanks 95Rok, that 180 out thing might be the ticket.
The clutch lever, as the winch is mounted, is on the driver's side, facing forward.
I'm still not sure which of the buttons should bring line in or out.

sweet, I've had 4-5 differant brands of winchs and they all had the motor on the drivers side

hope it works out for ya :smokin:

motor goes on the passenger side and line spools from the bottom. Unless Ramsey has it wrong on their website.

http://www.snakpaksadventures.com/pics/pirate/qm8000.jpg