How to Unbind Winch Cable

A winch provides an off-road enthusiast with a method of freeing a stuck vehicle. These devices use a powerful electric motor to pull the vehicle to solid ground. A winch cable can bind because of an off-angle pull, loose wire wraps around the drum, or improper winching technique. This binding causes the cable to become wedged between the rod and the drum, and freeing the cable requires significant force.

Instructions

1

Put on leather gloves to protect your hands. Pull the winch's hook to a stable object like a tree. Wrap the tree strap around the tree and secure the winch hook to the tree strap.

2

Place the moving blanket over the middle of the wire rope. This absorbs the energy if the cable breaks during a pull.

3

Place the winch in the free-spool position. Reverse the vehicle to uncoil the wire from the drum.