How I Diagnose and Repair A Dead ATV Winch

Having an issue with your ATV winch? My winch recently quit on me, so in this video I'll cover a typical winch circuit and go through the basic steps you can try to figure out your issue. I'll review the switches and solenoids and related wiring usually found on a basic ATV winch set up, and cover the steps I use to problem solve.

This video is intended as entertainment, always check with a qualified technician or your dealer before attempting any of the procedures depicted on this channel.
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🎵 Track Info:

Title: Acoustic Folk Instrumental by Hyde - Free Instrumentals
Genre and Mood: Country & Folk + Calm

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[RiderOfTree]

Spent 29 years working my a$$ off, and saved up for the home of my dreams! That’s when all the nickel and dimming started. You, sir, just saved me a bunch of money, renewed my belief in good people helping others, and taught me a valuable lesson about my new (used) equipment. Thank you!!!!

[scottleppard]

I'm thankful for your video. One click with pushing the winch switch and nothing happens. Checking connections and solenoid in the morning, thanks from New Hampshire!

[delsnaturepics]

Thankyou, ! the nuts and cables securing the hot leads to my winch looked perfect so I 'd never questioned them being the problem, a wire brush, a dab of dielectric grease, and I am back to plowing.

[gilb]

Thanks for the tips. We have had a lot of snow the last few days and I went out with my 2003 Polaris 600 to clear the neighbour's driveway. Lots of lifting and dropping and I was just about done and the blade lifted but didn't go down....after a couple of minutes it did go down and I finished the job. I think I overheated it because I was lifting the blade while tight against the snow bank. One lesson learned here! When I got the unit back to the barn, I checked the solenoid and it was caked in mud. It looks fairly easy to remove it so I will have a go at it after I get a new unit....looks like the original so might as well put in a new one. This Polaris is a great machine around the farm, lots of power, few issues.

[MyOldSled]

Stay tuned, I have had the sleds out! Getting colder, starting to see trails open up. Hopefully some riding content soon. In the meantime, I had to fix my ATV winch, so something to watch while we wait.

[stevehobson]

Just put a winch on my Xmark mower in IL, with a switch to operate a snow blade. All worked great in garage. Worked well for 2 ydriveways, then appears to have started to bind up when I lifted it, would not go back down, as I may have gotten a chain link into the winding. Also I may remove 10-20 feet of cable from the winch so there is more clearance on the drum. will try to determine the problem when it gets a little warmer (was -10F) the last few days 12-2022. and will be in 50's next week! thanks for the video!

[farmark]

On my gator snow plow the winch cable was getting wrapped up too twisted so I let a few ft out and lubed the cable and also added a pulley to increase the pull. Worked great after and doesn’t dim the lights so bad when plowing at night. Although the last couple of yrs it’s not getting used much in Southern Ontario. Good video

[waypastdone]

As always clean, clear and concise. Thanks!

[fullthrottleornothrottle]

Great video Dave keep up the great work!

[bwj]

Terminals on my winch got loose, would work intermittently. Cleaned and tightness them up, it's all good now.

I will check in the morning my winch is only a year old but like a dummy left it out in the open when it rains and probably get rusted . I installed it last year never had a chance to use it yet .... stay tuned.

[josephfjellgren]

awesome video, will trouble shoot my winch now, had 20 cm snow this night

[HeidiNJames]

Welcome back David. And the 360s at the beginning, You party animal, you bad boy
You're a crazy son of a gun lmao

[rogersmith]

Thank you for video I think it is my winch one coming in mail did everything u mentioned in video so winch I think lol

[upnorthvlogs]

I just put my plow on the wheeler and put new carbides on sled I’m hoping for some snow this year Minnesota

[johnfoster]

The lights on the instrument panel were flickering and engine stalling when I'd slow down or stop to raise the blade. Then I went to do an oil change and the blade wouldn't go up or down. I tested the port to the solenoid whish was good. I checked the wires from the solenoid to the winch but had nothing. I ordered another solenoid and installed it. It's working fine now. I haven't been able to check about the flickering lights on the instrument panel or the stalling yet. I hope it's all good.

[avid]

Concise and to the point. Question. If you went straight to the winch with the volt meter and got the correct volts, would that essentially negate all of the previous steps?

[frankpagniello]

does pully on your cable reduce drag on winch

[Wrenchslinger-oq]

I see this is three years old. I thought it was my handlebar switch as it would only draw the cable in. I hooked up the remote and same only one direction with switching in both directions your thoughts.

[eugenethorne]

Hello great video i have a question the bluee strap you have on your rack to run your cable through where did you get that? thanks for the video