Hi guys, I've got a winch problem on my '04 Rancher 350...... and i will admit it, i am not a mechanical person so bear with me.

I've got what i think is a Quadrax 1700 winch (I know its a 1700lb for sure, and it says Quadrax on the winch so i don't think its a Warn, lol). It has the rocker switch up on the handlebar. Anyhow, one day this summer i went to use the winch and it was completely dead... no clicks or noises of any kind. A few minutes later it started working again normally, so i never thought much about it more. It worked the rest of the summer and into the fall when i tried using it. The other day i went to try the winch again and same thing.... completely dead. I have had it warmed up completely in the shop to make sure nothing was froze up but still nothing. Fuses seem to be ok. Wiring appears to be secure. It was installed by the honda dealer. I have used this winch very little (perhaps 8 or 10 times for light duty stuff since i bought the bike).

Could my problem be a solenoid? Is there anything else i can check for?

Thanks for any info.

 

ok, now i'm confused. The winch itself says "Quadrax".... but the rocker switch and the black contactor at the back are labelled "Warn". So do i have a Quadrax or a Warn winch, or are they one in the same?

Also... was wondering about the contactor.... is the solenoid inside of the contactor unit, or is it a separate part located somewhere else?
I was wondering if the problem could be just the solenoid, or just the contactor, or if everything is a unit.

 

Have someone hold the switch in the "out" position and try tapping on the winch and contactor. It might be dirty or stuck. If it turns out to be the contactor, I'm pretty sure it's not servicable. The winch can be taken apart and cleaned. It could also just be a dirty switch. Check to see if it makes contact when you use it. As far as what you have ..... Probably a Quadrax winch with a Warn install kit.

 

Just for information, he did NOT say that anything was Warn.

 

Actually he corrected himself. The rocker and contactor is warn. probablyt a kit as mentioned.

Start from the front or from the back.

Jump from the battery to the winch + post and see it the winch works, if yes then the winch is ok.

No go simple, remove the rocker and jump the 2 wires to make the connection, this will bypass the switch. If works, then replace the rocker switch. If not, jump the 2 wires at the contactor. If work then the wiring to the rocker is bad.

Otherwise it looks like the contactor is bad. They are usually pretty tough. But about $65 for a Ramsey one. I've got some links to the ramsey kits on my sites.

 

Wow idaho vinnie, maybe you should get a pro reader status to go with your "pro rider" status. He clearly states that he has a "warn" rocker switch.

 

Why do you have to be so ignorant? In the post previous to yours, robnhouston pointed that out, and I admit that I was incorrect. It's a shame that you can't make a point in a polite manner as he did.

 

It's a shame that you can't make a point in a polite manner as he did.

READ AND HEED!!!

 

Hi guys.... just giving an update and solution to my problem. I ended up calling my Honda dealer and they told me to bring the bike in. I dropped it off for a couple of hours, and when i came back they had everything all fixed up. Turns out there was a pinched cable down under the steering column. They replaced with a better wiring harness that will not pinch, and everything works fine now. The best part of it all.... total cost $0.00. They said it only took a few minutes to isolate the problem, and a few more to patch in a new cable.

I was thoroughly impressed with their service.... they could have easily charged me for a "wiring harness" plus 1/2 hr shop time to isolate the problem and fix it. Instead they said it was on the house, and happy new year. I guess that's a perk for having bought the bike from them a couple of years ago. Full props to my local Honda service dept. It's not every day that happens in a service dept... atvs, vehicles or otherwise.

oh btw, in case anyone was wondering my winch is a Quadrax brand that is manufactured by Warn. So it is a warn winch, but sold and labeled under the Quadrax brand name.

Thanks for the help everyone. I am now back in business.... and also picked up a new Quadivator snow blade for pushing snow so i can play in the winter as well.... works absolutely awesome and $450cdn plus tax is not too shabby for a universal, non-bracketed, high quality and very heavy duty blade.

 

You've got to love it when things turn out that way!