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Winch Poll/Guide/Reviews

RcBro

RcBros Hobbies
Vendor
Joined
Nov 26, 2005
Messages
4,650
Location
Oregon
HOLY SMOKES, there are simply way to many servo winches to choose from these days :lmao:

I'm looking to start this new scale build, and know I don't want to slack on the winch, but the information out there currently is alittle mind boggling, so with that I turn to the RCC Guru's for the most commonly used go to setup with reliability and performance in mind.

I don't plan to use this every day, but want it to work when I need it. No winch waundering and 3 position radio switch capable.


Here's what you need to know:
Radio Futaba 4pk of course "thumbsup"
Scaler:
SCX10 Class 2

Budget:

What it takes


Questions I need answered:

1. Brand and Model you prefer and why?
2. Power Source (BEC, HEYOK Controller (which one?), ESC, Battery)

I look forward to seeing what is today's hot setup.
 
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I use the KMS 220 oz K3 freespool winch (I got mine from Blue Monkey RC) and the Heyok soft-start 4 amp controller and absolutely love the combo. Al also just came out with a variable speed winch controller which would be a very nice option as well. I really like the freespool feature on the winch, and the Heyok controller is top-notch with zero creep.
 
Im using the same 220oz winch in my 2.2 Bomber and a 180oz in my 1.9 with the standard 4amp controller, that freespool is the winner for me. Plenty of power and good speed, I only have the 3racing style winch to compare to but these are worlds apart, heaps better all round, just no scale looks.
 
Any of the KMS - I like the free spools but they bring their own issues. Powered with HeyOK all the way.
 
HOLY SMOKES, there are simply way to many servo winches to choose from these days :lmao:

No, not really. The Tzi World winch is all you need to know. They are not as plentiful as other winches, but when you get your hands on one, you will appreciate the beautifully machined housing and once you get it hooked up, you will be amazed at it's ability to drag an Abrams tank through a mud bog.
 
The heyok controllers are awsome and also provide a drag brake for your winch, cant go wrong there. Just make sure the controller matches the voltage you want to run.

Another option for controller is a small esc like a tekin br or castle micro..... both are lipo compatable and have a db.

Take a look at your layout and where the winch will reside. Will a spool winch fit, do you need a laydown like a kms ? That is going to be your starting point.

On a lot of my builds the winch is in the rear with a guide tube or creative placement of rod ends with the line running thru them to route the cable to the front....

Generally you can fit more line on a spool type winch, 17 plus feet is easy with no crazy rats nest spooling. The laydown type hold less line due to the smaller spool.

That should have made it easier right :)

You do realize a tuber is not c2 legal under SORRCA rules right ? Add some frame rais or a truggy type chassis and you will be golden.
 
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I typically buy a used 5990/7990/7954 or something like that. Remove the board and replace with a HeyOk or TZI relay winch controller. Run an aluminum servo winch spool from LockedUp or MadDog RC. Bulletproof design and when run off 3s, very fast and powerful. Adjust speed with the end points on you transmitter.
 
You do realize a tuber is not c2 legal under SORRCA rules right ?

Caged SCX10 is what I should say. Or something like that lol. It's Ty's original taco time. "thumbsup"

And I was told comp crawling is confusing.
 
I use a 5955 with a HeyOk winch controller super fast and strong. The HeyOk has a deans so you can run a separate small lipo. I just cut it and hook to my reg plug.

But hand down Quicksand rule..8)
 
Robert Knox @ KMS didn't like the last batch of 180 servos he purchased and decided to use an entirely different servo brand and vendor.

FYI The **NEW** KMS 180 oz winches will pull more like a 220oz and are by far the best value on the market.

this is classified information and now i may have to kill all of you.

i also cannot confirm or deny that KMS winches and HeyOK controllers can take 4s power without issue.



i agree a TZI winch is hard to get. i've tried to contact them a few times but no answer. KMS will respond to emails in 2-3 hours if online.
 
tzi hands down the most badass purpose built winch. they are awesome...

hitec or tower hobbies digital servos (7950, 5995, etc) pull just as hard as a tzi but arent as pretty. i desolder the board from the servo motor and gut the servo pot, cut the pin on the servo gear, and wire the motor to a heyok 3s winch relay.

i have all the winches named sofar, i gotta tell you the ONE thing that will make any winch work better is a winch relay from heyok or tzi.

i run the 3racing winches directly off 3s with a heyok relay and they work killer until you burn it out, which should be a decent amount of time as long as you arent constantly lifting your truck off the ground with it. chastise me all you want but 3s really wakes up the integy, 3r and rc4wd winches.
 
I don't have a servo winch...

instead... the RC4WD Warn 9.5 on 3S.
works fine... but is lacking...
as most that I know of... are.

Is there any winch out there
that has an auto drum brake ?

I think it rather sucks that the line spools back out
when at idle :x

Possibly servo winches have more torque
and that holds better for dead weight ?

But I doubt I'll change what I have...
unless it comes with an auto drum brake.
or holds 10lbs. of dead weight without spooling back out.
 
I run a KMS 220 oz servo winch and the Heyok relay controller. No spooling out and 10 lbs not a problem. You have no idea what your missing.
 
I don't have a servo winch...

instead... the RC4WD Warn 9.5 on 3S.
works fine... but is lacking...
as most that I know of... are.

Is there any winch out there
that has an auto drum brake ?

I think it rather sucks that the line spools back out
when at idle :x

Possibly servo winches have more torque
and that holds better for dead weight ?

But I doubt I'll change what I have...
unless it comes with an auto drum brake.
or holds 10lbs. of dead weight without spooling back out.
HeyOk winch controllers have a "drum brake" it is a drag brake like in a esc that prevents free spool rolling out or free spool. A ESC can also be used as a controller and if said esc has drag brake it will perform the function you wish for.
 
Not only will the ESC hold it, but you can setup your radio channel to
use power steps ie: 30,60,90% per push of the switch too. Having
Low, Medium, High on your winch can be real handy sometimes... "thumbsup"
 
I have 2 TZI winches and couldn't be happier. They are freakin bad ass. I need to buy a third when I can. I am running the heyOK relay winch controller -

I have actually taken my TZI winch OFF of 3s because it was too damn fast and too damn strong. 2s is PLENTY for me.

L.R.
 
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