Jim
December 18th, 2011, 05:37 PM
Looking for info on if a winch cable should be lubricated, not seeing anything in search results here, I looked and found info outside...
Nice article on metal wire cable / wire rope lubrication:
www.MachineryLubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication (http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication)
Wire rope lubricants have two principal functions:
1. To reduce friction as the individual wires move over each other.
2. To provide corrosion protection and lubrication in the core and inside wires and on the exterior surfaces.
Lubrication is desired. Article talks about different types of lubrication (penetrating for mechanical slippage & coating for corrosion resistance). Two issues - to keep the cable lubricated as it bends/un-bends so it internally is able to flex easier and to keep corrosion / debris off of the cable (reducing friction from grit).
Some talk about using grease. I'd not go the grease route (getting greasy while using it and more so having the grease catching & holding dust and grit), nor the plain WD-40 route (but it would be better than nothing IMO). I'd be looking for some penetrating, light weight protective film fluid. Possibly the "Slick 50 One Lube" spray. Light weight to penetrate, good long term corrosion preventative (IME, used on garage based bare metal shop tools), not "clingy" for dust/grit, not dirty when handling the cable, gloved hand or bare.
Slick 50 One Lube
http://www.slick50.com/products/OtherProducts.htm
Additional Info
Trucks25Ton.tpub.com/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-1/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-11017.htm (http://trucks25ton.tpub.com/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-1/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-11017.htm)
"Soak winch cable (3) in lubricating oil (TM 9-2320-386-10). Clean winch cable (3) with wire brush"
A marine cable based article is here (PDF, 26 pages, 363KB):
http://unols.org/publications/winch_wire_handbook__3rd_ed/06_wire_rope_em_cable_lub.PDF
It talks about lubrication for working lines for internal mechanical motion as well as for corrosion prevention. Certainly aimed for the marine industry though it applies to on/offroad 4x4 wire ropes / cables as there is road salt.
[mods: edit/move as appropriate]
Nice article on metal wire cable / wire rope lubrication:
www.MachineryLubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication (http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/372/wire-rope-lubrication)
Wire rope lubricants have two principal functions:
1. To reduce friction as the individual wires move over each other.
2. To provide corrosion protection and lubrication in the core and inside wires and on the exterior surfaces.
Lubrication is desired. Article talks about different types of lubrication (penetrating for mechanical slippage & coating for corrosion resistance). Two issues - to keep the cable lubricated as it bends/un-bends so it internally is able to flex easier and to keep corrosion / debris off of the cable (reducing friction from grit).
Some talk about using grease. I'd not go the grease route (getting greasy while using it and more so having the grease catching & holding dust and grit), nor the plain WD-40 route (but it would be better than nothing IMO). I'd be looking for some penetrating, light weight protective film fluid. Possibly the "Slick 50 One Lube" spray. Light weight to penetrate, good long term corrosion preventative (IME, used on garage based bare metal shop tools), not "clingy" for dust/grit, not dirty when handling the cable, gloved hand or bare.
Slick 50 One Lube
http://www.slick50.com/products/OtherProducts.htm
Additional Info
Trucks25Ton.tpub.com/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-1/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-11017.htm (http://trucks25ton.tpub.com/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-1/TM-9-2320-386-24-1-11017.htm)
"Soak winch cable (3) in lubricating oil (TM 9-2320-386-10). Clean winch cable (3) with wire brush"
A marine cable based article is here (PDF, 26 pages, 363KB):
http://unols.org/publications/winch_wire_handbook__3rd_ed/06_wire_rope_em_cable_lub.PDF
It talks about lubrication for working lines for internal mechanical motion as well as for corrosion prevention. Certainly aimed for the marine industry though it applies to on/offroad 4x4 wire ropes / cables as there is road salt.
[mods: edit/move as appropriate]