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Servo winch advantages

dubyas1989

Quarry Creeper
Joined
Jul 30, 2014
Messages
310
Location
saranac
So I'm looking to buy a winch, I have had the 3 racing one before but I never hooked it up, it was just for looks. I'm wondering why servo winches are always recommended over say the rc4wd warn winches? I think the warn units would be easier to mount since they fit on the bumper but I also see the advantages of a servo winch behind the grill/bumper too, like better approach angle and I assume more pulling power. So what's the scoop?
 
Servo winches are much stronger, even when made from cheap servos, than the scale winches. I made one out of a $12 Tower Pro servo and it is 2-3 times as strong as my Warn winch. It is also a good way to breath new life into old servos with burnt out boards.
 
Let's see.....

1. Stronger
2. More reliable
3. Faster (with the correct voltage and controller)
4. Install inside the body to give more approach angle.
5. Capability of having more winch line.
6. Stronger

.
 
ok so if im going to be actually using the winch a servo winch is probably the way to go, but just how are they usually mounted? now that i think about it im not sure either of my rigs has room for a servo winch, especially my cmx.
 
Most servo winches require less voltage 6v - 7.4v
to net the same amount or more torque.
Tho this does not necessarily equate to more line speed.
As that will likely be dependent of an particular servo's actual speed,
voltage demand and gear ratio.

IMO servo winches are not scale looking whatsoever.
Many choose a servo winch more for performance...
then how it will realistically looks mounted on a chassis.

I instead prefer the scale look, over performance solely.

My RC4WD Warn winch can handle 12.60 v without issue
and while I initially utilized the RC4WD wireless controller.
I have since changed to the Heyok wireless controller.
The Heyok wireless controller much improves the RC4WD Warn winch's
performance and strength.
And IMO is a must have if running a scale looking winch.

Changing to the Heyok wireless has increased power
as well as line hold/strength.
Prior the RC4WD line/spool would creep out due to the chassis weight.
This occurance has been nearly diminished with the use
of the Heyok wireless controller.

The Heyok line hold is electronic
and is incorporated on their wireless, as well their "hard wired" TX winch controllers.

Because they are designed to utilize 12.60 volts.
the RC4WD Warn winch is faster and stronger as far as it's holding power.

Granted the rig weight will play a vital role
on how fast the spool/line may unspool due to rig weight.

But mine holds purdy well...
and my over-all chassis weight probably weighs in near 10lbs +

It does creep out ever so slightly...
but is likely due to my excessive weight
and if weighing less... wouldn't probably creep at all.

The advantage to using a servo winch
is...

1. They're inexpensive to purchase/alter.

2. Their reduction gearing is generally lower.

3. They generally require less voltage to produce the same torque.

4. They are generally slower but that depends on the servo's speed and voltage requirements.

5. Some folk are more interested in performance/durability then scale looks.

6. But that's not me.

The RC4WD Warn winch can use more voltage then some of the lesser scale winches sold.

ie: the 3racing winch is down on voltage/performance
when compared to the RC4WD Warn winch ( 12.v + )

I run my Heyok wireless controller directly off my primary 3s LiPo.
And the RC4WD Warn winch runs strongest when fed 11.1v - 12.60v.

To each their own... But I prefer the scale look.
As I don't utilize my winch on a daily basis.
But in reality... don't use my 1:1 winch daily neither.

Regardless of which is utilized...
I would not run the winch's voltage needs thru the RX.
And instead would recommend using a voltage by-pass
feeding only the signal thru the RX
and the voltage demand would be fed directly to the winch
from an independent power source.

Thing to be concerned about is how many amps
the winch may draw when stalled, during a heavy pull (load)
Most RX will not appreciate excessive voltage run thu', nor a high amp draw.





 
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thanks for the huge reply taco, that gave me a lot to think about, due to my rigs not having much room behind the grill, and the fact that they under 10lbs, i might just do the warn unit and the heyok controller, you hit all my concerns in your reply, thanks again.

plus i love the look of a warn on the bumper. lol.
 
Ok so not the best picture but my Servo winch. It works super well, It is a ScalerFab Servo winch with heyok controler. As taco stated it dosn't look scale under the body but with the body on it looks ok. I put a Viking fairlead on the bumper and fed threw it. My main reason for getting the Servo winch is my 5 year old loves to use the winch any chance he can come up with. ok
5700405f3db0682faf74b7eef510b874.jpg
c08bb5c146403ce13019559054214d11.jpg


149 r/c worx team driver
 
In both Eastern Europe and rain forest areas, Tailand, Indonesia etc. where you encounter deep endless mud massive central chassis mounted mechanical PTO winches are really common. I've seen them in action in some of the comps we've done with the 1:1 race truck and they're amazing, they pull so hard and so fast.

For me, just starting out in RC crawling, a servo winch is the scale equivalent to these PTOs and I'm definitely going to build one for my scale truck.
 
If scale looks trumps performance then why have a axle mounted steering servo still? Seems a properly mounted servo winch would be less of a scale eyesore than AMS ;-)

I'm going servo winch on my Ascender. There is already a clean location on the chassis which mounts right next the the steering servo. If I end up wanting the scale servo on bumper look then i'll probably opt to run a dummy bumper winch with the line from the servo winch running through it. Best of both worlds.
 
I see the advantages but I don't think I could fit a servo winch in either of my trucks, maybe the sawback but definitely not my cmx, it's not very big. If I had a sweet built up ascender or similar I would probably go with a servo winch honestly.
 
I see the advantages but I don't think I could fit a servo winch in either of my trucks, maybe the sawback but definitely not my cmx, it's not very big. If I had a sweet built up ascender or similar I would probably go with a servo winch honestly.

If I can fit a servo winch in this, you can fit one in any of your rigs.

 
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