Got it last night yellow sp 500 ho. 1 word awsome!I only rode it for 1.1 miles through snow was getting dark and I was not dressed for the cold.
Just one question do they always mount wench switch in front rack?

 

My wench enjoys the front rack too, beats rollin’ around in the poison ivy!

It always amazes me to hear people talk about wenching (oops!) winching without running the throttle at the same time. This is hard on the wench (damn!) winch and the battery. Wenching (winching) with the rpms up and the machine in gear is much more likely to keep your battery charged and get you out of (into) the hole.

This is only possible if your switch is mounted where you can reach it easily with your left hand while your right thumb applies throttle. The best place I’ve found to mount it for ease of operation is on the left body panel below and a little behind center of the headlight pod. This way I can operate it easily whether I’m the saddle or standing in front of the machine making sure the cable spools evenly. Make sure you mount it low enough on the side panel that it doesn’t interfere with the headlight pod when you turn. Just my preference.

Hmmm, why do I have the sudden urge to ride?

 

i thought that the Warn 2500 came with a handle bar mounted switch? where the 2000lbs one doesnt. i think all superwinches have a handle bar mounted switch too. i would think that the handle bar mounted switch would be much easier, especially if u are using a winch u lift a snow blade.

later
jon

 

The handlebar rocker switches are junk. Yeah, I know they “recalled and upgraded” them a couple years back, but the new ones don’t seem a whole lot better. At least that’s been my experience with the “new” one I sent back and from talking to those on the trail who have them.

 

floodrunner,

which ones are u refering too?? the Warn or Superwinch??

and why do u feel that they are junk? they seem like the easiest way to operate especaily if u are using a plow.

i dont have a winch as of yet, but i am thinking about getting the Warn 2500.

later
jon

 

There can be only one reason to say they are junk; they fail. They perform intermittently. They screw up! Now I’m talking about the rocker switches with the yellow rocker, not the one that comes with the A2500. That’s a different setup I believe. My impression of that system is that the switch similar to the turn switches but is somehow easily removed from the handlebar mount to be used as a remote switch. But that’s only my impression, I’ve no actual first-hand experience with it. Surely someone else on this forum does.

Did you know the only significant differences between the A2000 and the A2500 are the solenoid and the different switch? If you wire the switch directly to your battery (my preference anyway) then the ONLY difference is the switch. So unless you’re sold on the more complicated wiring that uses the solenoid or you really fancy that switch you can save yourself a bunch of bucks by buying the A2000 and have the same pulling power for less.

 

I have the superwinch 2500 with the handlebar switch and I can say that it is a pain in the rear. The wires have pulled luce several times always when I'm buried in the mud. I do like the convinance (were is spell check on this thing) but not to happy with reliabilety.
Sparke

 

That’s exactly my point. I’ve never used a winch unless I was REALLY stuck. Thigh-deep in mud/water/goo or upside down in a crevasse is not the time I want to be whipping out my tools to diagnose/repair my winch or any part of it. My winch is my last resort before hoofin’ it, and I didn’t buy an ATV to walk.

On a ride last year 5 of us went through one of the sloppiest, muddiest (and most fun!) trails in Iron Co. (Trail 8, for those of you familiar) In one deep water hole between the huge roots of two trees only the Sportsmans could make it through without aid due to their superior ground clearance. An Xpedition with a yellow handlebar rocker winch switch (can’t remember what winch Dusty has) was stuck in the hole and we were desperately trying to get him up and over the big roots. His situation was urgent because his exhaust was blowing bubbles under water. If he couldn’t keep his machine running it would almost certainly have meant water in the crankcase and a tow home, the end of a long planned day of riding. Somehow I cracked a rib giving it my all trying to lift his machine over the underwater root. That didn’t work so I jumped in front of his machine and paid out some winch line to the only thing immediately at hand, a tree about 2 ½” in diameter. He hits the winch switch and guess what? Sorry Captain, we’ve just lost the Warp Drive! Now he’s trying to finesse the throttle with one hand and get his faulty winch switch working with the other.

He’s still there, frozen in the swamp with one hand on that switch…………… well no, not really. He finally got the switch to work intermittently, but enough to pull him forward, and we all enjoyed a great day of riding afterward. That’s not the only story of disappointment I could relate about wimpy winches and faulty components/wiring. I keep it simple. No solenoids and reliable switches.

 

Hey flood when will people learn K.I.S.S. and make sure it works.

 

If I understand correctly, the Superwinch JUNK switches carry the winch current. I do know the Warn switch activates a relay which is much better.

I chose the multi mount (EXPENSIVE!) so I did not have a mounted switch and could swap/remove the winch weight.

Rack mounting is simplest and least invasive, but it screws you for mounting a box/cargo. Fender mounting adds unwanted holes.

Floodrunner, we'll definitely have to get together in Hurley on Memorial weekend! You gotta show me the mud trails!