I just got my new Superwinch in the mail (I know, should have went with Warn). It will be going on a 500i auto and I'm trying to figure out the best place to mount the rocker switch. Since I will be plowing snow with it, I'd like it on the left side handlebar so I can operate the throttle while lifting/lowering the plow but it's awful crowded on that side. Thought about the left side of the front rack but think that would be somewhat awkward. Any ideas folks?

Bob

 

The heavy gauge wires tend to rub bare spots and short out if run to the handle bars. All the side to side movement of the bars, with the stiff wires. May want to put it on the rack. Maybe make a bracket to raise it up and in close to the plastic. So you don't have to bend over to operate it, yet it is out of the way.
Just a thought, tell me what you think.

 

IowaBob,
I too installed the Superwinch....just because I had one from the old quad. I ran all the wiring under the plastic and up the front of the handlebars. The switch I mounted forward of the speedo, and attached it with cable ties and black tape. From the front, you can see the heavy wires going down and it looks a little different. Only other option I could see was to mount it on the left rack.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Hey Bob, Did you get your plow also ? I don't know if you noticed mine when you drove it but, my switch is on the right side of the handle bars. I meant to get back to you thanking you for the ride and the refreshments also. Did you get a trailer yet ? I havn't rode mine since the day we went out between work and working around the house. Let me know if you need any help with your winch. Mines a warn but, i,m sure they wire up about the same. One guy who rides with us has his switch mounted on the front/top of the left rear fender which is pretty easy for plowing as I'm pretty sure he has a plow for his. Gotta run for now.. Kevin

 

Thanks for the replies guys, you've given me some new ideas!

Kevin (Iowahuntr), good to hear from you. Went to a friends farm for a ride with two buddies last weekend and had a great time. The 500 is starting to loosen up more (80 miles on it now) and starting to open my eyes, although that doesn't take much. Got both the trailer and the plow which I used on our last, and first, snow (I've never seen an Iowa winter like this!) and it worked fine. The trailer is the same as yours. Been so darn busy haven't had time to get much more riding in though. Going South to see the grandson this weekend and then I'll try to glue all my new toys together the weekend after that. Darn, no time for riding!

Bob

 

IowaBob, I was at a local motorsports dealer in St. Paul, and I saw a 2001 500 auto with a Warn U2500 (which is the one I have ordered), mounted on it. They ran the switch up to the front rack closest to the driver on the left side. I think I am going to do the same thing when I get mine in the mail.

 

powercat,

I gave it a good look tonight and am leaning toward the location you mentioned. mudcat47537, you had a very good point on the stiff wires and handlebar mount. Also thought about a remote relay controlled by a smaller switch on the handlebar with smaller wires but think I'll use that as a back-up if I have problems with the rocker switch like many have apparently had. One thing I can't figure out though is that the winch specs put the current draw some where around 100 amps in the worst case load and the curcuit breaker is 50 amps. That doesn't seem to make sense unless they don't think that the ATV could supply that much current, which is probably the case with that whimpy battery. Thanks to all for your help!

Bob

 

The three warns that I wired up all have the switch mounted on the left side of the front rack. Not too much of a lean to reach, and still back and out of the way of most front rack mounted cargo. I have seen several times where they mounted it on the plastic of the left front fender. Of course, this is a superwinch, so I don't know what the switch looks like. Guess that wasn't very helpful.