Mini-Winch Uses Power Window Motors

Mini-Winch Uses Power Window Motors FARM SHOP Miscellaneous When Ron Krentz needed a small winch he made one using salvaged power window motors The compact motors drive a mini-winch with a 3-in long spool and high-strength webbing “The motors have gears only 1 in in diameter but that’s just right to drive the spool ” says Krentz “I run the 1/5-in wide webbing through a pulley and back to the winch to double the pulling power ” Krentz made the winch to help lift a spare tire back into position under the bed of his 1982 F-150 He mounted it inside a plywood box to the underside of the bed The box keeps rain and mud off the winch The winch itself consists of the two motors mounted to a plate of 3/4-in plywood with a 1/8-in thick 1-in inside dia 3-in long aluminum tube between the two gears Mounting the motors so the gears faced each other ensured they would both drive the spool the same direction The gears drive against sheet metal screws mounted through the spool ends The webbing is recycled from material used by the local telephone company to pull wiring through underground conduit Krentz says it has 10 000-lb tensile strength more than enough to lift a spare tire into place “It’s always a hassle to get spare tires back into place and attach the wing nut ” says Krentz “With the winch it’s no problem ” He also uses the idea to lift his riding mower for blade replacement “I like to change blades every time I mow my three acres ” he says Krentz powers the winch with alligator clamps that attach to the battery in the mower “When I want to lower the mower I just reverse polarity on the clamps and hit the switch ” says Krentz Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Ronald Krentz 9108 S Timberline Terrace Inverness Fla 34452 ph 352 341-0612

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