If you’ve ever heard someone talking about their 4WD winch say “I only used it once, then a year later I went to use it again and it didn’t work” then you’ve probably met someone who doesn’t maintain their winch at all. I’ve used the same Domin8rX winch for years and years that has pulled my 4WD out of trouble all over Australia. Like anything mechanical, the key to a reliable 12V winch is servicing and keeping it in top condition! So whether you’re new to winches or you have had one for a while without really checking on it, read on to find out the basics to ensure your winch doesn’t let down!


The single biggest killer of any winch isn’t using it in a tough recovery for example a gnarly bog hole or dirty river crossing, It’s letting it sit for months and months – this is because any moisture in a mechanical winch will corrode the internals of the winch, whether it’s the drive shaft, gearbox or electrical parts. Just like your 4WD, you wouldn’t head off on a trip without checking it over and if you want to avoid expensive repair bills you need to keep on top of your 6 month services. The first thing to do to avoid most corrosion issues is really simple – after your trip, spend 5 minutes unspooling and then spooling in your recovery winch. The heat generated will be enough to evaporate any moisture and it gives you a chance to neatly respool your Synthetic winch rope and check for any damage. If there is any obvious damage then a replacement winch rope is a great idea.


If you’ve used your electric winch a few times for a few tough recoveries then you can take it one step further and regrease your gearbox – grease can absorb some moisture which means it’ll slowly lose its effectiveness, so this is an important step that’ll mean your winch is pulling hard the next time you need it. First you’ll need to pull your winch out and get it on the bench – once it’s up there you can start pulling it apart and checking out the overall condition. In order to service both your gearbox and motor you’ll need just a few basic tools. Plus you’ll need some degreaser, new grease and some sealant when it goes back together. The first thing to do is remove the three steel struts that join the motor and gearbox and that makes it really easy to separate the two halves of your electric winch.


If your rope is in good condition we can just set the drum aside so it’s out of the way. Now you bench test the motor really quick to see how it spins up. Ideally you’d use the included wiring and winch solenoid as this makes it really easy to spin the winch in both directions and listen for any noise. Both the Domin8r X and Domin8r Xtreme use series wound motors and you can replace the brushes if need be! If you do hear any noise you can disassemble the motor, check the bearings and replace. Following that fit the motor back together and check the condition of the seals between the housing and the mounting points. Once the motor is reassembled you can start to focus on the gearbox at the other end of the winch. First you’ll need to remove the bolts around the perimeter of the housing, which gives you access to the planetary gearbox.

If you look at the gearbox in your Domin8r Winch and the grease looks old, dirty or has signs of moisture you should replace it. You should never mix different greases, and old grease can retain moisture so if you’re at this this stage you need to use all new grease – but remember doing so is worthwhile as it helps you get more use out of your winch long term. Use a small plastic tub, some degreaser and methylated spirits as well as some clean rags. First remove and let the three planetary gears soak in the degreaser. Then have a look at the gearbox housing too – you should just need to de-grease it. After soaking make sure you get all the old grease off the gears with your rag. Once they’re fully clean you can check for any damage and it’s time to reassemble. Make sure you get a nice coating of fresh grease on everything. You don’t need heaps just enough so that it’s covering every surface and well lubricated. First though, line the gearbox housing with some new grease. It can be a little bit fiddly so rotate the gears to slot them in.

Finally we’ll clean up the gasket – if your Domin8r X winch needs new seals get in touch with Adventure Kings and get a whole new set in a winch servicing kit. Otherwise if your gaskets have any tears you can use a liquid gasket sealer to replace them, just choose one that doesn’t set thick and offers good sealing for alloy surfaces even when they get hot. Finally you can reassemble the rest of your winch by re-fitting the bolts around the gearbox housing and connecting the three struts to reconnect the winch together. With everything back together, double check the bolts are tight and then bench test again to ensure that the winch is still working correctly. All going well your Domin8r Xtreme will be like brand new and ready for more tough recoveries. The thing is, even if you follow basic maintenance and spool your winch in and out every 3 to 4 weeks, you’ll know if you need to perform any services well before you need your winch!

Your winch can save your life and prevent massive damage to your vehicle so if you’re not confident to disassemble and reassemble your winch, then pay a professional to perform the service!