How to install a winch to an old ARB bullbar on an 80 series?
Submitted: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 22:42
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jamohamo
Well the topic says it all although it could be an old TJM bar - I dont know! Anyway, I've just bought a new winch. It's a 12000lbs electric from eBay. The problem I have is how to install the thing! It is so heavy that I need two people to lift it. Does the "bottom" of the winch bolt onto the front of the bullbar basically right behind where the fairlead would go or do I need another cross member joining the chassis rails to mount it on?
The bar has got a cut out panel on the top and behind the licence plate are the mounting holes (you can just see the bottom ones under the rego). The bottom of the bar slants down smoothly - not like the modern stepped ones.
Have a look at what I mean -->
http://factus8.dnsalias.net:8980/readable/Photos/2007-02%2017-19%20Mitta%20Mitta/Landcruiser%20bullbar.JPG
Thanks for any help you can give me!
Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 22:52
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 22:52
jamo, yes, you can mount your winch as you describe, but you have to rotate the clutch assembly to suit the new orientation. Which winch did you buy from ebay?
John
AnswerID:
241744
Follow Up By: jamohamo - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:16
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:16
It's the one from 4x4Point. It has a 1 year warranty and the guy reckons he's tested them (lab and field tests) and even done a hardness
test on them (the gears and bearings I imagine).
here it is -->
Site Link
How do you put the thing on, though? Should I take the cable off the drum to make it lighter to fit? I am a total newbie. I'd be prepared to pay someone a little to fit it (anyone want a slab?).
FollowupID:
502695
Reply By: Member - John - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:22
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:22
jamo, where abouts are you? You can take the rope off, but is easier to get a mate to help.
John
AnswerID:
241755
Follow Up By: jamohamo - Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:36
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 23:36
Burwood East (Victoria) very near the big K-Mart on Burwood Hwy, near
intersection of Burwood Hwy and Blackburn Rd.
Rotating the clutch thingy?! That sounds tricky.
If you know a mechanic who could help that'd be great. I don't want to put anyone to any trouble.
FollowupID:
502701
Reply By: Member - John L G - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 11:46
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 11:46
I solicited, no that's untrue, I press-ganged my two sons to hold it in place whilst I got the bolts started.
They were a bit buggered by the time they reappeared from under the truck but hooked up some safety lines to the top of the roo bar in case it slipped.
Worked for me but as said previously, make sure you rotate the gear box to line up with the top cut outs before you start expending energy....
AnswerID:
241821
Reply By: jamohamo - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 14:19
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 14:19
OK. I seriously need help with this and I've almost exhausted my options.
ARB will not do it.
Toyota want $350 to fit it and that's before wiring or anything!
The mechanics I've called are not willing or too busy to do it.
If you know anyone around Abbotsford (where I work) or Burwood East (where I live) then please let me know. Thanks.
AnswerID:
241846
Reply By: Member - Howard (ACT) - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 19:47
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 19:47
Jamohamo,
I fitted an 12000lb ebay winch to tjm bar on 80 series easily on my own. Its not rocket science to fit and the winch only weighs 43 kg. took about an hour all up.
you only need an allum key to undo the screws( about 15 of them) to rotate the clutch unit and you just rotate whole unit to realign the handle so you can operate from in front of the vehicle.
the mounting holes will fit but you will most likely have to redrill the fairhead as mounting holes in it didnt line up. ( this may have been fixed on later units I have had my winch for a couple of years now)
I mounted the control box under the bullbar on the drivers side.
Have a go you will find its quite doable.
cheers
Howard
AnswerID:
241913
Reply By: jamohamo - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 21:22
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 21:22
There aren't any little allen key bolts at all. The clutch end is completely smooth with no screws or bolts at all. The other end with the motor and electrical connections only has two bolts on the end.
I think I'll have to get a mounting bar/bracket for it so it can sit on its bottom and cut a hole in the top of the bullbar so I can put the clutch lever through.
I suppose the easiest way is to take off the bullbar and fit it.
AnswerID:
241939
Follow Up By: MichaelR - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 22:23
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 22:23
jamohamo,
Don't know if this is correct but the orientation of the winch is the same my Warn. It is mounted on a horizontal plate bolted between the chassis rails behind the bullbar. The release lever pokes out a cutout on the upper left side of the bullbar. The bullbar takes no role in supporting the winch. Happy to send further details if necessary.
Michael
FollowupID:
502946
Reply By: jamohamo - Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 22:49
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 22:49
Yep! I believe this is the only way for me to do it and have the clutch lever poke through a hole in the bullbar. Where can I get a mounting bar from? Did your Warn come with a mounting diagram?
The thing is, though, that the bolt holes on the winch fit exactly with the holes on the front of the bullbar leading me to think that it would work mounted that way BUT then the lever is under the bullbar facing the radiator.
Either way I'm pretty sure I'd have to mount the control box to the bullbar with screws because there's no way it could mount to the two round bars on top of the winch.
AnswerID:
241959
Reply By: jamohamo - Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 08:21
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 08:21
Well a mate and I finally got it done on the weekend.
Well almost. Just a few little things to tidy it up but it all works. It took 7 hours all up but that's mainly because we installed things in the wrong order and then spent ages trying to do simple things in awkward positions.
I would make the worst mechanic in the world.
AnswerID:
243085