Photos needed. Shed full of S**t Auction

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

a cranking handle with a flat bar slides in the end of it.

Thanks Richard, I finally get the idea now! I hadn't considered that slot in the outer boss, which is the correct size for the Dawn crank handle, and provides variable cranking radius by sliding through to the desired position according to cable load. That would be essential with this modification kit because the winch is fixed permanently in low ratio, so you'd need to shorten the handle to wind it rapidly, particularly when reeling in loose cable after winching.

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Presumably the folding shaft extension is designed to protect it from damage through tree strikes etc., and while the locking mechanism isn't quite clear to me there's obviously a retaining cage of some kind, possibly sprung, to keep it in both the locked and retracted positions. All in all a rather clever design and no doubt a very welcome piece of kit when bogged in a jeep with no CMP nearby to tow you out! Yes it would be a bit slower than a power winch but sure beats trying to push it out with spinning wheels covering you in mud!

BTW it turns out my own winch is a No.5 so I'm not sure what's on this jeep because it looks identical to me. Is there any major difference between the No.2 and No.5 ? As you can see it came with a home made short handle as well as the Dawn handle, and while the short one is much faster to use and a lot more ergonomic, it starts to become hard work for anything heavier than a ton so I switched to the Dawn handle. It's a pain in the neck to swing through such a wide arc but I need the extra leverage for lift towing.

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