polaris winch problems

[ants]

I have a 2007 Polaris 700 EFI with a Polaris winch, which I use to plow with. Today while plowing out the driveway the winch would let cable out but not in, so I cant raise the blade. When I hit the "in" button, on the handle bars, it justs clicks but wont take in the cable. The "out" mode works fine. Any ideas?????

[HectorBuckBuster]

Check to connections on the solinod for the winch.

[fasteddie]

If you can't find any help on here , try a Polaris Site forum . I have a Honda and have gotten help from their site a couple times .

[ants]

Any idea where the solinod is located on this machine??

[HopkintonHunter]

Any idea where the solinod is located on this machine??

All depends on where it was mounted. Under the seat or body plastics, best bet follow wires from winch.

[ants]

I'll give it a shot. Thanks

[ants]

Looks like I have to take off the front fenders to get to the thing !! There are 100 better places to mount it and they put it on top of the frame under the front fender!!!! Should of bought a Honda

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I have a 2001 500 sportsman and the dealer mounted my in the water proof area under the seat towards the back . Mine looked like it was up in there but the wires go under the seat area nd into the waterproof storage area

Check the engage dial on the winch itself. I have had this happen when it got bumped and wasn't all the way in operate or freespool. It worked one way and not the other but I can't recall which.

Edited January 16, 2012 by Culvercreek hunt club

[HectorBuckBuster]

I have a 98 Sportman 500 4x4 I bought of the neighbor for $400 (needed a cam)it had a factory winch mounted, and the solonoid was mounted on the left side of the frame just under the seat infront of the battery.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Looks like I have to take off the front fenders to get to the thing !! There are 100 better places to mount it and they put it on top of the frame under the front fender!!!! Should of bought a Honda

Winches are not usually installed at the factory, the dealer adds that stuff most of the time. They all install them slightly differently. Hondas included.

[Lawdwaz]

I have a 2001 500 sportsman and the dealer mounted my in the water proof area under the seat towards the back . Mine looked like it was up in there but the wires go under the seat area nd into the waterproof storage area

Check the engage dial on the winch itself. I have had this happen when it got bumped and wasn't all the way in operate or freespool. It worked one way and not the other but I can't recall which.

First thing I thought of.

[fasteddie]

See if this does anything for you ..................

http://www.snowandmud.com/forum/f41/polaris-winches-25549.html

[ants]

Thanks fasteddie. Sounds like my problem to a T, right down to the crappy location of the solinod. I'm really gonna hate taking this thing apart. I have'nt looked close yet but I hope theres just one big bolt that holds all the front plastic on......and that I hit the lottory

Edited January 19, 2012 by ants

[WNYBuckHunter]

The front plastic isnt that tough to get off. You have to remove the racks first, then the bolts holding the plastic on are exposed. I had to take the one I had last year apart to fix the headlight wiring.

[ants]

This morning I tapped on the selonoid with a long screwdriver and the winch worked fine for a while then stopped. I tapped on it again and it's been working ever since. I'll try to clean the selenoid connections first, if that dosn't work I'll shell out the $100 for a new one. Thanks for all the info......big help

[fasteddie]

I am a firm believer in "Murphy's Laws" ! And ....... one of them is an item will quit working at the worst possible time .

[buddybags]

get a new solenoid!

[ants]

Yeah....I been thinking about that and I'm going to. With my luck the old one will just quit on me, the day after I clean everything up, and I'll have to take the machine all apart again.

[HectorBuckBuster]

I would check around for a solenod. I bought brand new winch from harbir freight for $59.99 for one of my other 4 wheelers. I looked it over and I could use the parts from the and interchange them with my winch on my polaris. as both winchs have two wiring points on the winch. I was thinking about buying another one to convert my polaris over to a rocker switch on the handle bars to get rid of the big dial switch mounted on the front fender.

[RobC]

I had problems with my warn winch and after a few google searches it turned out that there was a recall on the solenod and I was sent one for free. Now currently two years later I'm having problems again. Not sure if it's the solenod or not.

[ants]

gonna get into it this weekend . I'll let you guys know

[ants]

had the solenoid tested .....Its good. how do I tell if I have power at the winch??? Any one ?

[WNYBuckHunter]

Get a multimeter and test the wires before and after the switch and at the winch itself.

[ants]

Forgive my ignorance but I'm clueless on electrical stuff... I have a multimeter but what do I set it at and how do I use it to test power at the winch itself. I have the meter set at DCV-20 I just use it to test batteries (12 volt car..ATV etc..)

Thanks

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Well I would start from the battery and check all your points towards the winch. Hot side of the switches, selenoid and winch itself. go to ground against the frame since you probably won't have enough lead to get to the battery.

if you have a good selenoid, battery is good and the winch isn't burned out there has to be a bad connection someplace.

I know I asked this before but is the winch making any noise at all? Are you sure it is in gear and not free spool.

Are you sure there isn't another switch? Mine actually has a toggle and then the switch onthe fender to operate. without the toggle in the ON position the whole system does nothing.