Warn 8274 Winch?

[Hedgehog]

While my 12,000 lb H-F winch has served me well and I'll never write anything bad about it, I am in a minor way influenced by USA products especially on a CJ. If you've checked the going price on a 8274 you know that this old design iconic beast is pricey. Recently I found an 8274 in decent shape being sold at a very decent price. With that being the case it is very likely that I'll be heading out to pick it up this afternoon.

My question is this. My CJ is not equipped with a duel battery set up and I know that the duel set up is recommended for a vehicle using a winch. With that being said the H-F winch hasn't drawn down my battery during use. With the 8274 being an entirely different type motor and drive system in your experience does it draw more power than other winches?

 

[Torxhead]

Hedge, just keep your eye on the voltmeter when you run that thing. I would suggest with any winch installing a larger hot line and fusible link from the alternator to the battery, or just double up on the one you have to insure a maximum charge rate. An alternator of around 80-100 amps also. The 8724 has 2 #2 wires coming from it which would be a minimal size and run them directly to the battery, a safety switch would help here also. What size battery or batteries you use I think would depend on how much you use it. As I recall, the 8724 uses around 420 amps at full load. The nice thing about that winch is that it does have a fast line speed and will not overheat like a planetary gear winch will. Hopefully a 1000 cca battery will get you out of the deep sand.

 

[tarry99]

Plenty of 8274's out there running with a single battery. Just remember on long heavy pulls to give it a rest.

A high amperage marine type deep cycle battery is always best along with properly sized cables leading directly from the battery to the winch......... including a direct ground path.


Dual isolated batteries are always a good option if you have the room.

 

[Belizean]

Hedge I know the new Warn winches are pretty pricey. My question is the 8274 that much better than the new Warn winches? I always see that everyone talks up the 8274

 

[Hedgehog]

We will most certainly see about the over all performance of the old girl I've got sitting in the garage. My way of thinking about this is, this Winch is still being manufactured and sold at very steep prices (~$1900). More importantly, people are buying them. Now I certainly couldn't or wouldn't lay out that kind of money. This Winch, in apparently over all decent shape came home with me for $550. In my book a very doable price.

One thing is for sure, this is a very different beast from what I'm familiar with. For example, I have absolutely no idea hoe to properly mount it on the CJ. A little research will need to be done here. For instance, on winches I'm familiar with the mounting holes are on the bottom, a very logical location for mounting holes. The 8274 appears to have mounting holes in the front with no logical bottom to sit on. Hmmmmm? A problem to work out.

I am also yet to put power to the winch. That will be a weekend project for sure.

Also, the spool is HUGE, AMC 150 ' of cable has to go somewhere I guess. The game is certainly in it's beginning stages right now. Any advice is very welcome.

 

[mstar]

HH, I used a upright winch mount that was built for a TJ and just cut it down a bit and bolted to frame with reinforcing plates on inside frame rails.
I am currently watching C/L for a mount for a used 8274 .I think most any upright mount could be modified to work. The nice thing is the fairlead mounting is incorporated into the two bottom holes so there is no welding needed on the front bumper. I think I would pay $50 or less for a used mount. I have a 8274 on my TJ that we use for hunting and really like the line speed. mike

 

[Hedgehog]

Been busy reading and looking around.

In the above post I forgot to mention that the 8274 has the fastest line speed of any winch. At least that is what is written, I don't really know if that is still true, no matter what the winch has decent line speed.

mstar - Thank you. The more I look the more I believe I can make a decent looking mount. Just an addition to the mount already on the jeep. Some flat plate, shaped nicely with some side gussets for additional strength and support.

..... of course I need to see if Willys Works has a used plate. This is the sort of project that I really like doing myself though.

Edit: Okay is it duel or dual? I suppose duel would be two guys shooting at each other Hamilton and Burr style.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I have only used a single battery(Optima red-top)in my Jeep with my 8274.
What is more iportant is the size(gauge)power leads from the battery to the winch. I use 1/0 arc-welding cable with copper connectors.
I also have a 65 amp altenator.
I do run the engine at 1K rpm, when using the winch to keep the battery charged.
LG

 

[mstar]

As LG said all factors add up to successful winch operation. My local battery distributer recommended a AGM style battery for use in a high rate of discharge application such as with winch operation.The normal flooded cell battery has a chance of the plates warping with rapid discharge.On the plus side most of us probably are using AGM batteries already.

HH, no doubt you can fab a nice mount with the existing one as a base.
Should be a fun project. mike

 

[HackFabrication]

This Winch, in apparently over all decent shape came home with me for $550. In my book a very doable price.

Without seeing pics, I'd say that is a good price. Maybe even a steal. I picked up a junker a couple of years ago for $450, and it is in the process of a full resto:

The 8274 appears to have mounting holes in the front with no logical bottom to sit on. Hmmmmm? A problem to work out.

Yep. Mounts like this (factory Warn plate):

I am also yet to put power to the winch. That will be a weekend project for sure.

Did you get the remote with it? Run a set of jumper cables to it, and see what ya got.

Also, the spool is HUGE, AMC 150 ' of cable has to go somewhere I guess. The game is certainly in it's beginning stages right now. Any advice is very welcome.

Lot's of rebuilt/modification threads on the internet. Get your favorite beverages ready and start surfing. Here's a good one for starts:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/just-another-8274-rebuild-lots-of-pics.241652/

One of the nice things about the 8274 is that all the parts are available from Warn. The only problem is that certain small parts can't be bought without buying the big part. But those can be sourced from places like McMaster Carr, et al.

The 8274 can also be 'hot rodded'. Lot's of upgrades done with the bigger motors. These guys: Service & Upgrade Parts (although across the pond) offer some insane upgrades.

I've got an 8274 on the front of my CJ5 :



I'm using a set of quick disconnect connectors. This allows me to plug in a set of jumper cables (with similar connectors), or whatever needs 12v power. Something to consider.

Post up any questions or PM me. I'll do my best to help ya out if you decide to tear it down:

 

[Hedgehog]

Hack - I'm itchin' to see your pictures, but for some reason they are not coming through.

I've been looking and searching for information and you are right there is a ton of it out there to read. I have no desire to modify the winch at this time, but those guys with double motor systems can sure snatch a vehicle out of the mud in a hurry. Great if you are racing, I'm not so sure about real life though. Going too fast could cause more damage than you want.

$550 was definitely a steal, but since it was from a pawn shop I have no guilt about it. I gave them an opening out-the-door offer and they accepted it. I'm sure they made some money on it. Even the cable looks very good.

Yes, it does have a plug in controller cord & switch. The actual controller box will be relocated to under the hood. I'd like to keep as much air movement as is possible with the height blocking the air flow. A V8 needs some air to keep the over heating gremlins at bay.

I do have one question though. When I took the fairlead block off the side plate holding the spool on came off. After looking it is fairly obvious that the winch is designed to do that. What I want to know is there any lubrication needed on that side. It appears that there isn't a true bearing on that side, just a plastic sleeve type bearing surface. Am I missing something?

I've got a H-F mounting plate on the CJ right now, all nestled in nicely behind a bumper I worked up way back when. A 3/8" plate can fairly easily be added to the top with wing gussets on either side to add anti flex strength. For the slight additional air flow rather than the plate a tab with the added wing gussets might be better. I suppose the plate might add some protection, but if the added protection is needed I imagine that would be one of the last things I'd be worrying about.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Just put some grease on that area is all. I drilled mine for a zerk fitting, and about once a year put a 'shot' of grease in it.
Use ATF to lube the gear case.
FWIW: I can see Hack's pics just fine.........
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Still can't see'em. I heard there's something wonky going on in internet land.


Edit: I can see the pictures now.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

It's those cheap electrons float'n around......
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Darn it what a waste of money. After putting the power to it and hooking up the remote controller and hitting the "Go" button .... first it growled .... then the spool moved 1/4 turn locked up .... then came the smoke ..... then my CJ's battery made a funny noise and died.......

Annnd that part was completely made up. This thing was a very good buy. After putting power to it one thing most certainly jumped out at me. The take up speed is incredible. With this Winch in place the CJ might very well get stuck, but not for long!

You all have made it clear that pictures are manditory, so here they are. The Winch hasn't been washed or cleaned up in any way. This is the way it came from the Pawn Shop.

Don't pay attention to the cable, it hasn't been reset yet:



The spool side. The remote cap came with the winch, but I didn't replace it for the pictures:



The drive side:



The top, you can see the desert pin striping on the control box:



This is where the winch will go. At this point it looks like the bumper won't need to be modified. Also the fairlead is exactly the same, it might be a sin, but the H-F fairlead will likely be used". Of course the winch plate will need to be modified for the 8274 mounting bolts.:



Other than the typical scratches the only wear marks are on the brake drum where the pawl rides.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

What does the date stamp say as to when it was made?
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

The only thing I can find on it is the serial number .... 347868

When I look it up they always mention another number like .... G6 .... , but that number doesn't seem to show anywhere unless its a case stamp that I haven't seen yet.

With the placement of the remote plug it appears to be one of the newer models and that's about all I can tell. If there is a serial number decoder out there I'd like to see it though.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Build date stamp will look something like this.
AB7

That's what was stamp'd on mine
A=January
B=4th
7=1977

You could also call Warn with the serial number, for the info.
1.800.543.9276
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Lumpy - You see that's the thing, I can not find anything stamped anywhere other than the Serial number and the motor information which is largely the same as the serial number. Everywhere I look they mention the AB7 type code the same as you mentioned, but I can not find that code anywhere on the winch. All the data plates seem to be in place.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

OK-here's a PDF of the parts for your serial number range.
http://www.warn.com/truck/ReplacementParts/parts/3/srrpl85-86.pdf
This is dated 4-1-2001(April fools)
8274-50's were first brought out in 1998.
More searching now shows that Warn stopped using the date code like I have, in the 1990's and went to serial numbers.
LG