Warn 8274 question

[jaygoss]

I've always liked the Warn 8274 winch. I see used, locally available 8274's for sale periodically and I've seen some rebuild threads on various 4x4 websites. Used ones can be had for $5-700 it seems. There are new ones available- but they are called 8274-50. My question is- what's the difference between an old 8274 and a new 8274-50 Warn?

[Antichrist]

As best as I can tell externally they just have a somewhat different solenoid housing. No idea about the internals. I have an 8274 I bought new in 1974 that still works fine. Burned up the motor winching 4 vehicles up a steep hill at once in the mid 80's. $165 motor. (don't ask LOL)
I have two others I bought used for $200 and $300 that I'm going to rebuild. Obviously I wouldn't hesitate to buy an old one. The one I bought for $300 (with a heavy duty Ford Warn winch bumper) works fine. I haven't tested the other one.

[Oxcart13]

Concur with Tom, essentially the same winch with updated (more water resistant) solenoids. There's a reason that winch design has been around a long time and they look quite at home on a series truck as yours. Especially with one of Ike's bumpers. Mark

[jaygoss]

Thanks for the responses guys- I'm thinking a used one in need of some TLC might make a nice winter project.

[diesel_jim]

Best modification is to bin the standard 4-solenoid pack and get an Allbright solenoid... totally sealed and much more reliable.

It's just a bolt in swap too, no faffing about needed.

[evilfij]

The only decent warn winch is the one they didn't design. The precursor to the warn 8274 was the bellview. I had the side opening warn 8000 which was the bellview after warn bought it. It used a ford starter motor and did not have powered reverse. The biggest difference between the new and old warn 8274 (other than the solinoids) is that about 8 years ago they went to a 4.6 hp motor from a 2.5 hp motor.

Personally, I have been trying to score a fairey 12k or later superwinch 14k pto driven winch.

Ron

[revor]

The later 8274's have the series wound motors which draw less current and have a lot more speed (more HP like Rons says)

The cool thing is that all 8274's are upward compatable.. If you see one for $500-700 buy it.. Much coveted!!!

I had a Bellview on my Jeep! Rockin winch! I sold it to a guy with a '49 Dodge for enough to buy a new 8274! (in 1992) But they're only good for the museum these days, supported? No. Very cool? Yes!

Move the solinoids inside the engine compartment or get SSR's (or Allbright) to replace them.

[TDI Guy]

I rebuilt a 1975 unit for the series coil truck I did and it looked like new and worked great. Simple to rebuild.

[outfield]

As already mentioned the 8274 was the original version, the 8274-50 is an updated version that came out to help celebrate WARN's 50th anniversary. The -50 is powder coated, includes the 4.6hp motor, a new clutch T-handle and has a revised brake assembly. For our 60th anniversary we came out with the 8274-60, a black version with the 6hp motor, only 250 of these were built.

8274 stands for (8) 8000 lbs, (2) 2 way operation, (74) released in 1974. It's the best winch WARN has ever made. This is a winch that WARN designed too. Warn bought Belview winch company back in the early 1960's. Offered the M8000 and M6000 power-in only winches and eventually changed the name to WARN. Then in the early 70's introduced the WARN 8200, and then the 8274. There was an 8074 on there also, an 8274 without a clutch that was a winch/hoist.

Of course all the parts are still available for the 8274, we have a service repair manual also. I have a 1978 vintage 8274 on my D-90, rebuilt it about 2 years ago.

Steve


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...h_DSC01505.jpg

[woldd90]

Great information Steve. BTW, what did the 8274-60 sell for?

[xrover]

Originally Posted by woldd90

Great information Steve. BTW, what did the 8274-60 sell for?

I think it was > $2000.
I picked up a used one for $400, only thing wrong with it was the freespool clutch was stuck. The line speed is so fast, and with a dual battery, who needs freespool? I can't walk that fast in the bush anyway.
As stated, great winch, easy to work on and repair, solenoid upgrade highly recommended and can be easily moved to a non-wet location. Not only can you upgrade to the newer motor, but you can also upgrade to 2 motors. Lot's of juice required though.
Keep checking craigslist and kijiji and cast a broad swath as they are out used and usually in the 400-500 range which is a bargain for an $1800 winch.

[evilfij]

Good info Steve, but if you put a Warn 8274 next to a Bellview, you will see what I mean when I say warn did not design it and the precursor was the Bellview.

[airbornrover]

Figured i would add my 2cents for what its worth. Ive done some research on this winch since i would like to be prepared when i ever buy one. So here are all the links i have for it. Like to note the Gigglepin mods make me drool.

Warn 8274 rebuild pirate4x4
Bellview Tech, the 8274's daddy - Alaska 4x4 Network
OLD Warn Winches -
Warn 5687 Information
Replacement Winch Motors
12voltguy.com - Home
Warn 8274 custom mods? - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board
Warn 8274 Electrical Tech
Champion 6.5hp Motor Upgrade for Warn 8274 Winch : Devon 4x4
BC4x4.COM
Warn 8274 2 motor adaptor - LR4x4
Piedmont South Carolina parts for winch
Blackjacks 8.7AK - Pirate4x4.Com Bulletin Board
Flamin Fabrications - Twin winch adapter, Winch modification
Gigglepin UK

[outfield]

Scott,

The 8274-60 sold retail for $2999.99 if you ordered one from WARN.

[jaygoss]

GREAT info guys- appreciate your input!

[cgalpin]

Ok, seems on topic to ask my questions here. I just bought one of these and intend to at least dismantle it to give it a good cleaning and determine if it needs any servicing beyond this. But before I go tearing it apart I'd like a better feel for it's current condition now. I haven't got the controller yet so all I have done is turn the drum by hand but observe a fair amount of play in a couple of places and some noise in the gearing.

1. I can wiggle the drum a bit. Not sure how much play I should expect there.. I'd say it has 1/8 to 1/4" of play right now. The nylon bushing on the end cap looks in perfect condition though. Is this fine and once the end cap is bolted in it doesn't move off center much?
2. There is play in the center ring of the brake assembly. Maybe up to an 1/8th" there too. Sounds a bit noisy. Was initially frozen now spins freely
3. I can move the brake assembly in/out from the casing by maybe an 1/8 to 1/4" as well
4. I can wobble the brake pawl a bit although it looks well greased
5. The gears sound noisy when I turn them, likely too low on oil.

What should I expect for these?

I believe it has been sitting for a few years and think it's pretty much out of oil as I tipped it nearly upside down and no oil came out of the filler hole. I assume this could be a factor in the play and noise.

Also, I am unsure if the brake works properly. At first it seemed to be frozen and the little lever would allow it to spool in with the clutch out, but "lock" against the center ring when trying to free spool out whether the clutch was in or out. But after playing with it for a bit, the center ring now spins free and it never does the lever locking. With the clutch in, I can't turn the drum by hand in either direction (will test with motor when I get the controller but I expect it will spool in/out just fine. Is the center ring supposed to spin freely at all times? When/how does the locking mechanism take effect - I assume when you are trying to spool in under power, but expected to be able to simulate this by hand.

It's an older style (have to call warn to figure out year) but seems to be in pretty good shape externally.

http://gallery.lhsw.com/warn_8274

thanks,
charles

[KevinNY]

The brake really won't lock up until it has about 500 pounds of pressure on it. There is a cam surface that makes the brake axle pull in and squeeze the two halves against the center piece, the pads are between the 2 halves and the center piece. These are rather noisy in operation, kind of the series truck of winches.

[JimC]

Shoot an email to SchoenfelderSatWarndotcom - he's a member of the d-90 board and extremely helpful in restoring old Warns. He assisted me with my not-yet-complete XD9000 rebuild.

[jaygoss]

Originally Posted by cgalpin

Ok, seems on topic to ask my questions here. I just bought one of these and intend to at least dismantle it to give it a good cleaning and determine if it needs any servicing beyond this. But before I go tearing it apart I'd like a better feel for it's current condition now. I haven't got the controller yet so all I have done is turn the drum by hand but observe a fair amount of play in a couple of places and some noise in the gearing.

1. I can wiggle the drum a bit. Not sure how much play I should expect there.. I'd say it has 1/8 to 1/4" of play right now. The nylon bushing on the end cap looks in perfect condition though. Is this fine and once the end cap is bolted in it doesn't move off center much?
2. There is play in the center ring of the brake assembly. Maybe up to an 1/8th" there too. Sounds a bit noisy. Was initially frozen now spins freely
3. I can move the brake assembly in/out from the casing by maybe an 1/8 to 1/4" as well
4. I can wobble the brake pawl a bit although it looks well greased
5. The gears sound noisy when I turn them, likely too low on oil.

What should I expect for these?

I believe it has been sitting for a few years and think it's pretty much out of oil as I tipped it nearly upside down and no oil came out of the filler hole. I assume this could be a factor in the play and noise.

Also, I am unsure if the brake works properly. At first it seemed to be frozen and the little lever would allow it to spool in with the clutch out, but "lock" against the center ring when trying to free spool out whether the clutch was in or out. But after playing with it for a bit, the center ring now spins free and it never does the lever locking. With the clutch in, I can't turn the drum by hand in either direction (will test with motor when I get the controller but I expect it will spool in/out just fine. Is the center ring supposed to spin freely at all times? When/how does the locking mechanism take effect - I assume when you are trying to spool in under power, but expected to be able to simulate this by hand.

It's an older style (have to call warn to figure out year) but seems to be in pretty good shape externally.

http://gallery.lhsw.com/warn_8274

thanks,
charles

Don't have answers to your questions, but here's another rebuild thread (in additions to Airborne's list) that may help give you an idea of the inner workings:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/winching-rec...-part-1-a.html

[evilfij]

8274s are super easy to strip down and rebuild. Pull it apart and see if any of the bearings are shot.