Argh!
This AM I was de-dusting the Land Rover from it's trip to Belgium, and while re-charging the air filter and generally checking all the fluids I saw the winch cut off swinging behind the headlight.
"What the heck!" I thought and hooked it up to test the winch. I duly walked the back of the vehicle, got my gloves, my special device for ensuring the last few feet of rope are wound properly (and not including my fingers!) and the controller.
Controller plugged it, gloves on, battery cut-off switch "switched". Set winch to freespool and pull. "OUCH". Oh, it appears not to be spooling. Scratch head and check lever. Set winch to normal mode and click "winch out" on the controller. Silence is broken by an ominous "click".
10 minutes of possibly amusing (for the neighbours) tugging, pulling and general swearing at the rope and winch later I call my friend. It may be stuck.....oh cheers :)I ring another friend with a winch and within minutes he's around my house and we have hooked the end of my rope up to his winch.
Gentle pull. Crack. Dust Storm. Whiiiiiiirrrrrrr.
Worried it will spool out, but not in we release the clutch on his winch and try mine. It winds in. Albeit grindily (is that a word?)
Liberal coatings of WD-40 later and we have a silent freespool and motor noise assisted powered winching. Phew.
I'm just VERY GLAD it happend on the drive and *not* in a situation where it was required and I was on my own.
The moral? Check your winch. Go on, get out there now. Do it!