So not the dreamy weekend vacation I've seen some post, but timing was too synchronistic to pass up. I just spent almost exactly that this weekend. $1,058 to be exact with tax.
It started as a repeating nightmare. Got the new UTV and snow plow just in time for the second snow. It worked great clearing the driveway the first couple times.
Brush Guard and Grill off, waiting for Kolpin Winch removal.
Then had a problem. The winch used to lift the plow up and down would go out, but not in. It would make a clicking noise, I would fiddle with it for 5-10 minutes and it would start working again. This went on for a few snows. A hassle, but got the job done.
I'm not much of a mechanic. I did internet research, checked the forums, and called a mechanic who said it was a bad controller on the winch. The nearest shop is over 2 hours drive from me. not to mention the hassle of trying to load it up on a trailer with a plow attached and non-working winch to lift it. I'm sure it would have been a few hundred dollars as well, just to roll up the shop door.
Close up of old Kolpin Winch and the "Connector" which is the little black box with all the wires just to the passenger side of the winch.
I ordered the part for $29, had it sent 2 day post, and put it on myself in about 45 minutes. Not bad. It worked great. For two snows. then it stopped working.
It had blown a fuse. Just like the little flat fuses in cars nowadays. I replaced the fuse, and working again. For 10 minutes. I replaced the fuse, and working again. For 5 minutes. I replaced the fuse with a larger fuse, and working again. For 5 minutes. I replaced the fuse with a larger fuse, and working again. For 5 minutes.
You get the idea. I went from multiple 7.5 amp fuses to multiple 10's, a few 15's, and a 20 amp before I gave up.
The definition of Insanity is what?
This UTV, plow and winch was only 2 months old! Arrghhh! The winch was a lower end "Kolpin" model that the shop put on there rather than the more expensive Polaris winch that was supposed to be on it due to shipment supplier shortages. Out of frustration, I looked around, found a Polaris winch for it and made the two hour drive there and two hour drive back.
Then settled in for the install. Watched a few videos, read the manual. Looked do-able. Remove a few parts and put back together. Well had to take off the plow, then the brushguard, then the hood, then the grill, then the old winch. Of course this was more difficult than expected because the wonderful engineers had designed the brush guard screws where you couldn't get to them. Not with a socket, not even with a box end wrench on one side. Had to use open end wrench and then could only make a quarter turn at a time. Argghh!
Running the wires up the engine compartment and into the cab.
Then removed the wiring. As I started removing the old wiring and replacing the new, I saw some differences. In particular, there was this one red wire hidden under the dashboard (which I had to partially disassemble to get to the switch connectors). Low and behold as I was tracing that wire out, look what I found. Not only a small gauge wire, but one that had been cut and spliced together with this cheesy little snap connector. Arrggghhhh!!!
AHA! Houston, we've found the problem!
Needless to say, that was the culprit. With that out of the picture and the new winch properly connected with new wiring, the new winch is working flawlessly so far. Yes, a few choice words for the twit that did this on my new UTV.
Picture from the box of the new Polaris winch. (Courtesy Polaris Packaging)
New winch mounted. It has a few additional nice features. It's 6,000 lb. capacity vs. 4,500. It has a wireless remote (that was shown in the top picture). It has a "Rapid Recovery" mode that winds the cable in 5x faster with no load on it. There is supposed to be a feature with the ride command that automatically raises and lowers the plow when shifting from forward to reverse, but don't have that working yet. Happy to just have it move on command.
All back together and ready for plow.
And of course, how about a little action. The wireless remote is handy feature.
So now we are ready for the next snow, and just in time, we are supposed to get another 8-12 inches this Friday.
Have a great weekend, my next will start with clearing snow!
The definition of insanity is doing same thing over and over again and expecting a different result 😂
That snow plow is a beast I can testify
Nice article, hope you do allot with your new BEAST
@khingstan Cares 🤴✌️
@tipu curate
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 60/100) Liquid rewards.
Thank you!
My pleasure! 😉😊
I felt your frustrating vibes coming through my smartphone's screen as I read about your "Groundhog Day" UTV nightmare project.
The only thing missing were the choice strings of cuss words you censored! @ksteem💭🤔💭
sonofabitch💭Just think though. You acquired a unique skillset to add to your resume. You are a one of a kind experienced Kolpin-winch-remover-replaced-with-Polais-winch assembler!🔧👨🔧🛠
Hope your beast Polaris UTV plows like a mutherfker from here on out!❄🌨📏❄
Note there's a tiny typo on the price in the third sentence (should be a comma $1,058)
Upvoted and curated💯
Lol, yes there were a few very colorful words expressed. Both at the idiot that did that cheap wire hack, and at those #$$%%^^! bolts! I've got to say though, I have matured over the years, or the therapy has helped. No wrenches were thrown in the building of this project! Thanks for the typo, seems my glasses need update as well!
Maybe a little bit of both. You have to set a good example for Betty!😄😅😂
Glad to help with the typo.
Hmm, I think I would have opted for a mechanical solution. That is perhaps not as luxurious for using the plow, but less vulnerable and cheaper. I mean, with that thing you can't winch 3 tons anway, since its much too light. But at least you can pull yourself out of some swamp hole or so with that. Of course it would be better not to drive into one in the first place... :)
Not sure what mechanical solutions would be. Any Ideas? I'm definitely not going to be hopping in and out of the UTV 20-40 times a session to move it up and down. It's a manual tilt left and right, and that's enough of a deterrent that I seldom if ever change the angle, it's easier to just change directions or do extra passes. I may add the hydraulic side to side later. For some uses, it would be nice to switch the direction easily.
Yes, the winch is for pulling out of stuck areas if needed. The extra strength to ensure it can pull it up steep hills around here if needed. With this one, it could easily lift straight up in the air off the ground if needed.
Well, as a alternative it could use a spindle drive that you crank by hand - like they did for decades in the past. I don't really see why you would have to change the height of the shield all the time, at least if the surface that you are clearing is fairly level.
Well, one option to make up for the lack of weight would be, to tie the vehicle to something like a tree or so - if there is one. But then you don't need a vehicle mounted electric winch for that, a portable chain winch would do the same job. And it always works... :)
You have to raise the plow to backup. Lot's of back and forth needed in my two driveways.
Not interested in the manual spindle, spent way too much money for convenience and enclosed cab for that so I don't have to be hanging out in the weather at -20F. And the external spindle would be more prone to freezing up with the snow/rain/freeze. I suppose an option, but not for me.
It needs to be up for reversing? Ok, if you say so. The ones we had in the army didn't need to do that. You would just set the height (at both ends) with threaded spindles and off you go. It wasn't meant to shave down all the way to the tarmac anyway, just to clear so much that cars don't get stuck in the snow. An inch of snow left is not a problem, unless its really steep.
Reversing definitely needed for small areas like here with only limited places to push the snow piles that are out of the way. Now if I'm able to upgrade to that snow-blower for the front next year instead of the plow, then reverse not needed as much. Reverse also needed to pull it back from the house/garage to then plow away, except when little snow and I just do it manually or with the walk blower.
What a great feeling that must be, finding the culprit and then finally being able to remove it for the UTV to work flawlessly :) All the best with the clearing!
Yes, it was good solving the mystery, but I'd rather be wakeboarding!
Ah, that would be fun indeed, some adrenaline rush :)
Cool device! 👍
Will be putting it to use later today, 2 of 6 inches predicted on the ground so far.
I saw that in our village a person uses a UAZ car to clear snow
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Sounds like a fun but frustrating ordeal. All comes down to a Mickey Mouse job! Usually how it all pans out with so many things lol. Glad you got it sorted out in the end! Did you call the place you got it and let them know of the issue so they can educate the goof who did that?
I love UTV’s those things look like they would be so much fun!
Nice job of tackling your winch problem. Are you saying the snap connector was causing the fuses to blow?
I believe it was the snap connector (it was semi-loose) and/or the small gauge wire. It could have been another internal connector problem, but not likely since that was the second new one. No time or desire to perform more detailed testing. Other than the winch itself, that was the only key changes. I had one warm day to work on it, before the bitter cold comes again tonight no time to waste. Dropping from 50 degreesF down to 3F. Not fun working in unheated garage!
What are you going to do with the old winch might I ask, try to return it ?
I'm going to try to return it. If they won't take it or only give me a portion back then I may keep it and mount to the deck or tree and use for dragging a sled of firewood to the house, or other projects. They can be quite handy. I don't think I would bother trying to hook it back up to another vehicle after that experience.
I had a 17 foot long Walnut tree truck that a guy use one of these winches he bought at Tracker Supply to pull up on his flat bed trailer. Worked great with no damage to my grass.
Good to hear!
Next project for next winter heated garage maybe ..🤣
Lol, that would be nice! I'm thinking I may put a small wood burning stove for the external garage. I probably wouldn't use it much, but sure nice to have when needed!
My neighbored has that in his external garage. He has one of those metal quonset types. Gets toasty warm .