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Warn M8274 Rebuild


derekmac

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So this isn't a vehicle, but it is a rebuild. 

Recently I picked up a 1985 Warn M8274. The overall condition was unknown, but it was thought to be working. 

When I picked it up, we hooked a battery up to it, and I jumped the solenoids, and low and behold it would power out and in. Off to a good start I thought. 

It was mounted to a homemade hitch mount, though I have no clue who in the hell would want to be lugging this heavy beast around!

When I went to remove the winch from the mount, the first bolt came right out, but the next two snapped as soon as I started to turn them. Once that happened, the winch just kind of fell, revealing a broken mount on the lower half of the case. 

Well **** I thought. So I jumped on Facebook asking if it can be replaced, and a bunch of people posted up the same guys name to get ahold of. Sure enough, he has what I need!

So I started stripping it down, and cleaning it up. I bead blasted some of it, and shot some clear on it to help protect it. 

 

CD5 is the date code.  March 6, 1985 is what I believe to be the manufacturing date.  The date on the motor was right around the same time frame as well.

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Dirty, and slightly corroded, but functional.

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Here's the broken mount. 😞 

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The brake pawl was seized solid, and I had to use a puller to get it off.  I dare say it hadn't been greased in a while, lol.

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Just about torn down as much as I need it to be here.

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Here are some of the cleaned up and cleared pieces.  I didn't want to go too aggressive with the cleaning as I wanted to keep the used/vintage look.

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I started cleaning up the solenoids, and copper bridge pieces. I screwed up one of the lugs on one of the solenoids removing a nut, so I might have to get a new one. 

Pics of how everything is wired so I know how to put it back together. 

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Getting things cleaned up. 

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5 hours ago, autumnwalker said:

Great find! I believe @sar4x4 runs the same winch(s)?

Yup!  We have at least 3, possibly 4.  One on the ‘Burb, one on the ‘74 P’Wagon, and the others in milk crates.....

Folks often want an inexpensive winch from some hole in the wall, or whatever.  And brag about dubious pull strength.  They can have them.

If ya want a good beast of a winch, an 8274 is it!  FAST, powerful, reliable.  Oh, I digress, as Scott(?) knows, lol.  And I’m biased, lol.

You did the right thing by photoing the wiring!  Done that many times myself.  I haven’t found a good source for replacement solenoids, though Warn makes a replacement solid state module ($$$).  I just use remote starter/lift gate/etc solenoids.  Though you have to wire them correctly, and some have to be grounded.  

I got lucky and once sourced an upper case half.  I don’t have a spare lower.

Good luck with your rebuild, and enjoy!

Oh yeah, I just use a PA-sourced overhead crane -type controller.  It was a quick and inexpensive replacement at the time.

Nothing says classic like an 8274!

 

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7 hours ago, sar4x4 said:

Oh yeah, I just use a PA-sourced overhead crane -type controller.  It was a quick and inexpensive replacement at the time.

Ah, great idea!  I just started looking for a controller, and quickly decided to skip Warn ($$$$$).  I'll have a look at PA.  I'm wired for an in-cab switch now, so I'll still have use of the winch even if I don't find a controller for a bit.

7 hours ago, sar4x4 said:

You did the right thing by photoing the wiring!  Done that many times myself.  I haven’t found a good source for replacement solenoids, though Warn makes a replacement solid state module ($$$).  I just use remote starter/lift gate/etc solenoids.  Though you have to wire them correctly, and some have to be grounded.

I thought I had one dead solenoid (my fault), but when I tested them today, it turns out two are bad.  I'm going to order a contactor and ditch the four solenoids.  I found a Runva one that I had read that some guys had used with good luck. Winch Relay Solenoid 12V 500Amps

 

I'm also going to order a brake service kit, probably the lower case bushing kit, and eventually synthetic line for it.  I still also need to find a winch plate.

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3 hours ago, autumnwalker said:

I do love the vintage winch, but I am curious; after all of the rehab and replacement parts are you any further ahead than buying a new winch?

These 8274's are over $2k new!  They command that price new and are sought after used, for good reason.  Period.  Nuff said.  

 

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13 hours ago, autumnwalker said:

I do love the vintage winch, but I am curious; after all of the rehab and replacement parts are you any further ahead than buying a new winch?

Definitely worth it, at least in my eyes.

Here's a quick estimate/breakdown for cost:

  • Winch: $0 (did a swap, so not counting it)
  • Used lower case: $75
  • Brake service kit: $116
  • Contactor (to replace solenoids): $79
  • Winch plate: New $289.  I'll try and find something used though.
  • Total: $270 plus whatever the winch plate will cost.

I also sold my current winch for $220, so that helps offset the cost to get this one ready.

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I'm also going to upgrade the wiring for it. The leads from the soleoids to the motor are 4 gauge, and I'm not sure what the battery leads were. 

Everything will be wired with tinned 1/0 when I do it. I'm not sure if I'll be mounting the contactor to the motor, or under the hood. I do like the classic look of the solenoid box on the motor though...

Here's the size comparison in case you're wondering. 

 

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On ‎6‎/‎28‎/‎2019 at 1:25 PM, derekmac said:

I'm also going to upgrade the wiring for it. The leads from the soleoids to the motor are 4 gauge, and I'm not sure what the battery leads were. 

Everything will be wired with tinned 1/0 when I do it. I'm not sure if I'll be mounting the contactor to the motor, or under the hood. I do like the classic look of the solenoid box on the motor though...

Here's the size comparison in case you're wondering. 

 

 

Does the tinned 1/0 help?  I've never read up on that.  But bigger wires, within reason, never hurt a winch and can only help!

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4 hours ago, sar4x4 said:

Does the tinned 1/0 help?  I've never read up on that.  But bigger wires, within reason, never hurt a winch and can only help!

It should help prevent corrosion. The stuff I have is aircraft power cable, and is pretty much the same as marine cable. Very thin, but also very tough sheath on it as well. I will be running it through conduit though to make sure it's well protected. 

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Went to TMR Customs today to pickup my mounting plate for the winch. Had a good little chat with co-founder Tim, and was given a tour of the shop. Great setup they have, and Tim was a hell of a nice guy! He even through in some decals and a t-shirt for me. 

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I also have some pics of the rig they are hoping to debut at Invasion, but I won't post those until after they reveal it.

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My brake service kit arrived, so the winch is back together. The new contactor will be here Tuesday, along with a remote for it. 

I think I'll mount the contactor under the hood, and put the plug for the remote in the grill. Still undecided on that though. 

I also need to get a piece of 1/4" plate cut so I can have the TMR mount welded to it and get it on the Jeep. I should make a post and see if anyone has any...

Anyways, here's how it's sitting right now. 

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Picked up a piece of 1/4" plate today, and started making the winch plate. 

I have the general shape cut out. My poor old angle grinder was pretty hot by the end of it. I have to say, I love the Canadian Tire Maximum super thin cut-off discs. Took 3.5 of them to cut it out. 

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I still have to notch here out some more, and round the corners a bit on both sides. 

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I think it's going to look pretty good when it's done though. 

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All mounted up, and the plug for the controller is installed. 

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I went a little different with the plug for the controller. I'm mounting the contactor under the hood, so the box won't be on the motor with the original plug. I figured where I put it, it would be pretty safe from stuff hitting it, and from road spray.

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Finally, got it wired up, and the cable spooled on!

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Let me tell you, snaking four pieces of 1/0 wire that's in conduit through the small opening in the grill was a major pain in the ***!

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The contactor is sealed, so it should be ok here. 

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Now I can't wait to try it out! Oh, and get some synthetic line for it!

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On 7/19/2019 at 12:08 PM, sar4x4 said:

Welcome to the world of a classic and robust winch.  And a beautiful Jeep with quality workmanship.....

Congrats Derek! I hope to meet you on the trail/event sometime again soon!

Thanks Eugene!  I look forward to the next time we can get out on a run together!

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Almost forgot to post this. I added shrink wrap terminal boots to the motor, and since the motor looks ugly because of an ugly *** paint job, I put the box on back on it. It's kind of in sad shape too, so I'm not sure which ugliness is better, lol. 

 

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On 7/19/2019 at 12:08 PM, sar4x4 said:

Welcome to the world of a classic and robust winch.

Touching on this a bit, it amazes me how simple and tough this winch is.  The motor is date stamped Feb, 1985, and it seems to work perfectly.  I'm not sure a motor on a modern-day winch will have that sort of life span.  Everything is easy to service, with all parts still available to buy, and no special tools are needed to work on it.

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