[31151]

I've read a few threads here regarding the shortcomings of BRP/Warn winches packaged with CanAm atvs. One of the common statements being, these winches are "dumbed down" to save cost. After reading that these units are not sealed (no o-rings/seals) I decided to tear mine down and clean it. This is what I found...

All but the freespool "knob" is metal construction. This was a suprise as I thought the end housing would be composite.
The internals of the winch are dirt/water free due to the seven seals/o-rings I found inside this unit.
I wiped down, inspected and re-lubed everything before assembling and putting it back in the bike.

While I'm happy to find this winch is of better construction than I've read, I'm left wondering why it's being misrepresented. This winch is all metal where it counts and it is most definitely sealed.
For any who care I will post a link here to a chronological photo series of the disassembly/reassembly process as soon as it's done uploading.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vv1v9f5jaisbmte/AAAtnL9dB6U3s_Rwhr8qfM37a?dl=0

 

[RedClay]

I'm on several Gun Forums, two Harley Davidson Forums and just got on this forum. The one thing I've learned over the past 6 or 7 years of being apart of Forums is half these people don't even know what they are talking about, just saying stuff to be saying something, when really not having a clue.

Thanks for sharing your info and true findings.

 

[Chief...]

Can Am used two different versions of the same winch, one was sealed and the other one wasn't. One was black and the other was grey (as I recall the grey one was the sealed version).

 

[jmason]

What are the reported problems?

Ive not had any direct experience with Warns due to their prices, with that being said you generally get what you pay for. My last 2 ATV winches have been Vipers. My oldest winch is over 7 years old and other than frying a relay the only failure Ive had is the plastic knob for the freespool/lock up. Im on my 3rd knob but fortunately they are only a few bucks to replace.

 

[31151]

Can Am used two different versions of the same winch, one was sealed and the other one wasn't. One was black and the other was grey (as I recall the grey one was the sealed version).

Yeah, I guess mine is grey.
Either way, a pleasant surprise as I won't have to replace it right away. :th_smiliethumbsup:

 

[MacGyver]

Just took mine apart. It was hard free spooling. The x-ring hub seal was spoiled and stretched so it will not fit in the groove of the spool now. Other wise it was very clean. I was pleasantly surprised. I cleaned the guts and dabbed on some new Lucas grease. Just waiting for the new seal to arrive. Mine is the grey one.

 

[Chief...]

What are the reported problems?

Ive not had any direct experience with Warns due to their prices, with that being said you generally get what you pay for. My last 2 ATV winches have been Vipers. My oldest winch is over 7 years old and other than frying a relay the only failure Ive had is the plastic knob for the freespool/lock up. Im on my 3rd knob but fortunately they are only a few bucks to replace.

As I recall the complaints were that (1) they weren't sealed and (2) they didn't have a brake.

 

[sledman8002002]

It was hard free spooling.

The 3000 is the first Warn I've not been completely satisfied with. It just didn't/wouldn't free spool worth a hoot, (like a tug of war). Waited for months to find the Superwinch T3500 to come on sale locally and snapped one up.

 

[jmason]

What are the reported problems?

Ive not had any direct experience with Warns due to their prices, with that being said you generally get what you pay for. My last 2 ATV winches have been Vipers. My oldest winch is over 7 years old and other than frying a relay the only failure Ive had is the plastic knob for the freespool/lock up. Im on my 3rd knob but fortunately they are only a few bucks to replace.

As I recall the complaints were that (1) they weren't sealed and (2) they didn't have a brake.

They dont have a brake at all? That's plain nuts! Even cheap low end winches have brakes, that would be completely unacceptable to me.

 

[31151]

What are the reported problems?

Ive not had any direct experience with Warns due to their prices, with that being said you generally get what you pay for. My last 2 ATV winches have been Vipers. My oldest winch is over 7 years old and other than frying a relay the only failure Ive had is the plastic knob for the freespool/lock up. Im on my 3rd knob but fortunately they are only a few bucks to replace.

As I recall the complaints were that (1) they weren't sealed and (2) they didn't have a brake.

They dont have a brake at all? That's plain nuts! Even cheap low end winches have brakes, that would be completely unacceptable to me.

It has a brake.. just not the top line dynamic brake.
A winch is useless/dangerous without a brake.

 

[Chief...]

As I recall the complaints were that (1) they weren't sealed and (2) they didn't have a brake.

They dont have a brake at all? That's plain nuts! Even cheap low end winches have brakes, that would be completely unacceptable to me.

It has a brake.. just not the top line dynamic brake.
A winch is useless/dangerous without a brake.

Actually, my research showed that it did not have a brake. A couple years ago I contacted Warn and requested a parts break down for both the black and grey warn XL3000 winches that they made for BRP. I no longer have the those parts list or I would post them here, but here is what I found:
The XL3000 Grey is identical to the XT30 (I have an XT30 on my Rincon and compared the these two together) it has all the same seals and brake components. The XL3000 Black is missing all the seals and the brake components.
Here is a list of the parts the XL3000 Black is missing:

#3 MS X-Ring Drum Seal
#7 GS X-Ring Flange Drum Seal
#12 Yellow 4.1" O-Ring Seal
#24 Brake Retainer Plate
#25 Brake Assembly Disk
#26 Brake Thrust Bearing
#27 Brake Thrust Washer
#28 Brake Wave Spring
#29 Winch Quad-Ring Seal

 

[MUDDINMIKE]

I can't believe Warn would leave out $1 worth of rubber seals and sell them like that. The reputation has got to be worth more to them than that...

 

[31151]

I do not doubt your findings, I'm just trying to wrap my head around it.
This is a planetary gear set so.....
If I was pulling the atv up an incline it would roll back down each time I release the switch no?
Maybe the black one uses dynamic braking in the motor circuit vs the mechanical type we have?
Anybody who is using one of the black XL3000 winches wanna chime in and let us know how it behaves holding load?

 

[Chief...]

Yeah, I found that difficult to understand on the seals, just doesn't make a lot of sense. And on the brakes, I didn't have an actual XL3000 black winch to verify, but it would be really nice if someone who has one to chime in. (I only looked at the parts drawings and noted the differences).

On a side note, now I don't know if they still make two the XL3000's anymore, all the winches I have seen on newer machines (2012 and newer) have been the grey model or in the case of my 6x6 a Provantage 3000.

 

[MUDDINMIKE]

I'll check mine today when I clean it. I think it has grey ends

 

[ForestStar]

In my opinion these warn winches are crap.
I did the same with my old warn winch i took it apart and after i threw it in the garbage bin.