When I hit the IN/OUT toggle swith for my winch, nothing happens. I just hear a clicking sound coming from under the seat. Can the control switch(i think its called the solonoid) gone? It was working ok one minute then after riding hard on rough trails dose not work anymore. I have checked and everything seems to be tight.
HELP!!!!

 

This is simple to check out with a test light. Just because tha solenoid clicks does mean it is good. If it checks good could be the motor died. First check all the connections again and make sure they are tight, at the battery, solenoid and motor. Check the grounds a an extra time. After making sure everything is tight, take the test light and ground the gound clip to the ground wire terminal from the battery to the solenoid and touch the other end to the terminal with 12 volts + wire going to it, light should light. Now take pointy end of test light to one of the terminals that has a wire from the winch on it (there are 2, either will do to start with). Hit both in then out on the bar switch. Light should light at least one direction (note which direction caused the lite to come on). Move the pointy end of test light to the other wire to the winch motor and hit in and then out again. Light should light for the opposite switch position as before. If you get that, then you need to take jumper cables and connect the battery (or a spare battery) directly to the winch motor terminals. If it doesn't run, bad motor.

 

Just to add to Bears' last, take the wires off the motor terminals, and measure across them with an meter on the Ohms' scale. You should read a small value of resistance. If the meter reads O/L, the motor's shot, or the brushes are open. All the solenoid does is allow low voltage control of a high current cct, the solenoid may "click", but if the contacts aren't making, the motor won't turn. Could be stuck internally, and as they're sealed units, you may be looking at a new one. Good luck

 

thanks for the help guys. I will try those tests tonight.