steel winch rope question

[andy3542]

my synthetic rope is now buggered and with funds running thin i wont be buying more for a while. so iv got about 20m of steel on the safari now and i also have roughly 35m i reckon that came on a toyota pto i picked up.

now my question-
about 4m for the end closest to the drum there is a section about 1" long where the strands seem to have unwound so they are straight? does this weaken it or is it still safe to use?

cheers

[kiwipete]

I would say if the strands have come unwoven/uncoiled then they are at their very weakest.

[andy3542]

I would say if the strands have come unwoven/uncoiled then they are at their very weakest.

each one of the 8? strands that make up the 'rope' is sweet as in they havnt unwound themselves its just that instead of being twisted they have straightened out?

[kbushnz]

I had one like that, got flattened and when it straigtened out the budles of 8 strands splayed out a bit...
I say it will be fine... And as you have said its on the first 4m.. so it will spend most of its time wrapped around the drum.....

[Ralfie]

Tension it up under load and it should twist back.
Its how you get crushed and kinked cables back properly.

If you read the manual all cable, steel or synthetic, should be wound onto the drum under load. And you need to do it again after use. The good winch comp guys will redo their ropes after every stage.