I never had much luck with winches, my Sportsman's Warn died rather quick but I found out that one was just shot and threw it out.

The one on my Yamaha is different, It will free coast the line out, it will power the line out as well when the winch is engaged but it will not power the line back in while engaged.

If it was the other way around and powered "in" I would just free wheel it out and live with it. Is there a way to reverse the wires? I don't ride alone and really do not need a winch so I,m not going to put any money in this thing. Right now its just a 40lb dead beat coming along for the ride.

 

I think you would be able to switch the wires where they attach to the winch, or just free spool all the way out, and wind it in the opposite way around the drum.

 

Great, that worked perfect (wire swap), Thanks. Just have to remember "out" means "in" now.

 

It is likely an electrical contact that has gone bad, or a switch. Pretty easy to check with a multi meter, and the parts are fairly cheap as well.

 

I was told it was the switch since their in not even a click when I hit the "in" button. Not sure where to get the switch separately. It looks like this one.
The old one does not come apart to look at the wires,I tried.
I hate those round kind (bottom) that mount on the rack since I always carry stuff and cover it.

 

I mounted an old rotary switch on the top of the left fender of one quad because I had a cargo box on the front rack. It was easy to reach but I never did like that kind of switch. Mine got water in it, plus if you have it on something curved like a fender it can bend the whole switch so it doesn't make as good of a contact.