Synthetic winchline and snatch blocks...

[Eventhough]

More of an issue with wire rope than synthetic rope. Synthetic is pliable enough no harm or derate will be imparted to the line.

I have seen less expensive blocks that have a very deep groove that would not be good to pull some synthetic line across. If I recall correctly the Samson literature even states such.

[86tuning]

Thanks for all the input!
Does anyone sell just the U shaped sheaves (I have several V shaped Warn snatch blocks I wuld like to convert)?

find a local machine shop and have them modify the sheave for you? Or take it to your local trades training school and ask them? They'll often do machine work for free/cheap. But the turn around time is forever and a day

[HillbillyfromAL]

FWIW the ARB is U shaped, and I believe so is the Warn and Smittybilt on the cheap side. As for the people worrying about it getting caught if you rig it properly it will stay in the groove. All you need to do is keep tension on it. If the line gets slack in it you need to check it before continuing to winch.

[Hill, Bill E.]

FWIW the ARB is U shaped, and I believe so is the Warn and Smittybilt on the cheap side. As for the people worrying about it getting caught if you rig it properly it will stay in the groove. All you need to do is keep tension on it. If the line gets slack in it you need to check it before continuing to winch.

Which is good advice for either wire or synthetic rope.

I have a Master Pull one I got with the recovery kit, (made for use with synthetic rope) very beefy and well made. Big "U" and tight side clearances.

[Eventhough]

IIRC the more expensive ARB (lightweight) is U shaped and the less expensive is a bit more V shaped but still not too bad. I have a Tractor Supply block floating around the shop and I checked it and it is U shaped. A little V won't be horrible but you don't want a steep V like one made for smaller rope like on an ATV (1/4") and then smush truck line (3/8") into it.

[HillbillyfromAL]

This is the ARB I'm talking about I don't even think the wheel is metal but rather a polymer. I've used it with steel a few times and there were almost no marks at all. Thats with a couple of hard pulls too. Now I'm running synthetic and when I went to see how much I was going to have to polish I was surprised at the lack of marks on it.

[JohnnyS]

I put some 3/8" Amsteel in a Warn snatch block today (rated for 3/8") and it looked pretty tight; it wasn't under any load though....

[Eventhough]

This is the ARB I'm talking about I don't even think the wheel is metal but rather a polymer. I've used it with steel a few times and there were almost no marks at all. Thats with a couple of hard pulls too. Now I'm running synthetic and when I went to see how much I was going to have to polish I was surprised at the lack of marks on it.

That's the nicer (lighter and more expensive) of the two ARB blocks. It has a nice U shaped groove.

[mrchips]

Enjoy that Warn 9.5XP it is a great winch, same model here and i really dig it.