Winch cable length question

[jackiduke]

Hi everyone,
I'm Jacqueline, and I'm new to the forum.
Hopefully someone here can answer my question.....
I've got an early '41 closed cab LWB CCKW with a Garwood winch,
and I need to replace the cable as it's way too long. (Not orig)

Nothing I can find has any specs for the correct length of cable to
be used. Does anyone know how they originally were?

Appreciate any help!
Thanks,
Jacqueline

[Degsy]

Hi Jacqueline, welcome to the forum.
The winch cable is 300ft longx0.5" diameter and was originally hemp cored,the chain is 4ft long. Hope this helps.

[jackiduke]

Thanks Degsy.
The last owner put 5/8 on it. The clamp on the reel will hold the size alright, but it appears to not bend properly when wound onto the reel.
1/2 would work indeed better. Thanks again!
Jacqueline

P.S. What was the reason for the hemp core in the originals?

[John V Cliche]

Hi Jackie
Welcome
The Hemp core make the wire rope more flexible and easier to handle
I've been told the hemp also acted as a wick and soaked up the crankcase oil used to keep the wire from rusting.
But it is not as stong as a wire cored version.
A commercial fishing supplier may have the 1/2 " wire rope avail ( not galv.) thats where I got mine
Hope this helps
John

[Karoshi]

Are you going to use the winch or is the cable only for dressing ?

The original hemp cored steel is designed to fall dead in the event of a breakage, the hemp acts as a sponge to soak up the backlash.

An all-steel rope when it breaks recoils like a tense spring, decapitation of the winchman is not unknown !!

[jackiduke]

Thanks John!
There's a wire rope supplier here in the tideflats, so it should be no problem. It'd be nice to replace it with the hemp-cored version, but I suppose that's unobtainable these days..
I'll ask just in case though before I purchase.

And.....

Thanks Karoshi!
That's a good bit of info to have!
This'll probably never have a load on it of more than what it takes to keep it taught while winding onto the reel. I baby this truck too much, and would never put it in a situation where the winch needed to be used to get me out. This old CCKW paid it's dues in Norway, so I'm giving it a life of leisure.

Jackie