I have an 07 sportsman. The other night I got hung up and tried to use the winch. It worked fine all winter plowing but I hadn't used it this summer. I free spooled it to a tree then I went to pull myself out and out is in and in is out on the controls Once any tension is put on it just slips. it will pull the rope in but I can even stop it with my hand.

I don't know where to even start to look for the problem. Thanks

 

is the wire spinning on the winch spindle thingy or is it stopping the whole assembly

 

It's stopping the whole thing

 

hmm...just a guess but maybe has something to do with the free spool mechanism...the reverse in and out is weird too..hope its no toast

 

Might be possible it spooled all the way out and wound up backwards which would explain the control issue. As for the slipping, make sure the freespool **** is completely back to engaged. Sometimes they have a spring in there that goes too so it doesn't lock back in correctly...

 

very possible, ive had this happen too

 

Only three possibilties - it was spooled all the way out and reversed on the drum as others said or the power wires to the winch got reversed or the control switch wires got reversed .

 

so turns out is did spool all the way out and reverse. one problem solved. it is still slipping. i messed with freespool **** but it seems like its fine.