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How To Straighten A Bent Ramsey Fairlead?

Discussion in 'Winches' started by ITLKSEZ, Dec 22, 2016.

  1. Dec 22, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    The unit appears to be made of cast steel. The top part of the pass. side was pushed in and it twisted. Any ideas on how to get it back into shape without breaking it?

    Heat?
    C-clamps and shims and hope for the best?

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Also, does anyone know how the side rollers are held in place? The top and bottom rollers are greasable and spin freely, but the side rollers are rusted solid. I don't want to just start beating on it if there's "a way". It would be nice to get this thing apart to clean it if possible.
     
  2. Dec 22, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    There's a couple of roll pins holding the roller shafts in place, on the top running side to side, yours are probably covered by the paint.

    H.
     
  3. Dec 22, 2016
    47v6

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    Throw it out and make a new one. Yours will be better.
     
  4. Dec 22, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Awesome. I'll check that out tonight. Thank you.
     
  5. Dec 22, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    Oops- my bad- they're in the bottom-

    [​IMG]

    H. :oops:
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  6. Dec 22, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Are you sure you want me to do that? The sooner I get this out of the shop, the sooner I get back on the 3A build. :whistle:
     
  7. Dec 22, 2016
    47v6

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    I dont care what you work on as long as you post it up so I can do better work. Gotta have something to aspire to.
     
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  8. Dec 22, 2016
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    To straighten you need to set it on top a thick flat steel plate / angle / anvil or whatever.
    Must be thick enough as it needs to withstand much heat without bending.

    If the Ramsey casting is cast iron then chances of straightening are very slim unless you can simultaneously heat the complete casting to the yellow stage. Do not attempt the white hot molten stage.

    If the Ramsey casting is cast steel you need only heat the effected areas and may gently use a couple "C" clamps when it's bright orange hot.
    That's right bright orange to maybe yellow hot; not red and not white.

    To predetermine cast iron vs cast steel you must perform a spark test.
    Not sure if any spark testing information is available online or not.
     
  9. Dec 22, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Thanks oldtime. I'm familiar with the spark test. I'll check, but I really doubt cast iron would have bent this far without breaking, especially how the thin horizontal top brace is mangled, visible in pic #1.
    The mount was bolted to 2 1/2" x 1/4" angle iron and completely twisted it without breaking the mounting tab off.

    I'll have a run at it tonight if I get the rest of the mount finished.
     
  10. Dec 22, 2016
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    Yes exactly true ...
    The percentage of carbon in the casting is what's really in question here.
    Bottom line is its a gamble.
    I think I'd go for it.
    You can always re-use the rollers on a home made frame if you break the casting.
    It's also likely that the casting can be welded with 55% nickle rod if need be.

    Also if I'm not mistaken the factory angle iron should be 3/8" thick not 1/4".
    I'll check on that later....
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2016
  11. Dec 23, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I hit it with a wire wheel; there are definitely no pins. The underside appears to have a weld around the perimeter of the shaft.

    [​IMG]

    I'm thinking this isn't worth repairing. The amount of time I'd have into cutting these rollers out, making new ones, straightening the frame without it breaking....
    I'll tell him to hang onto it as a last resort, but to keep an eye out for a replacement.

    Thanks for your input guys.
     
  12. Dec 23, 2016
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

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    I might have a couple of fairleads if you are really set on using the original type fairlead.
     
  13. Dec 23, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Thanks Daryl. I'll pass it on, see what he wants to do. This is part of the frame project for my buddy in Redmond.
     
  14. Dec 23, 2016
    oldtime

    oldtime oldtime

    St. Charles,...
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    I looked at a friends Ramsey fairlead factory mounting.
    Your right the stock angle iron is 2" x 2-1/2" and only 1/4" thick
    His angle iron happens to be bent at the mounting holes.
    Luckily his cast fairlead remains straight.

    I had to grind the welds off my Koenig fairlead roller pins in order to do some repairs.
    Grinding away both the top and bottom roller pin welds was the easy part of that repair.
    The side rollers needed attention because they were cable gouged.
    Filled the deeply gouged areas with hard facing rod then hand ground them back to round.
     
  15. Dec 23, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    Thanks for the info. I'll let the determining factor be whether or not I can get these rollers to roll. I'll hit them with heat and a pipe wrench. If i can get them loose, I'll move forward. If not, we'll move on.
     
  16. Dec 23, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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  17. Dec 23, 2016
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    That's the one! But that price! :shock:
     
  18. Dec 23, 2016
    47v6

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    Its not really bad once you think about how much work will go into making one plus straightening the rollers and the cost of gas and material.
     
  19. Dec 23, 2016
    Daryl

    Daryl Sponsor

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  20. Dec 23, 2016
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    That's cheap, some tow supply places sell them for over $400, seems to me I've seen them (different p/n?) over $600 :confused:

    H.
     
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