While fluid filming my under carriage today I noticed my Zeon winch thats less than a year old has paint chipping off of it. Has anyone else had this issue?

 

Going out on a limb here, but that looks like a stone chip or something of the sort.

 

Its peeling. I can pick it off. Its in a few places.

Also quality powder coat should not chip and peel.

 

For what's it's worth, twice this year on the trail, I watched two brand new warn Zeon winches fail within 30 seconds. And then a more expensive cti in the same amount of time. If all you have is paint chipping, I'd be really happy given the money you spent. I'd high five your buddies if that thing pulled you out without failing, paint issues and all.

 

Haha not very reassuring, what happened to the winches? They are not cheap, but I got a great deal and paid way less then i should have. (Vendor error). I used it once and it performed great. The paint pisses me off because all the salt they use during the winter eats aluminum like crazy. I wonder how the aluminum body will fair.

 

No clue what happened to the winches. All different trips and different people. I'm one person, so obviously biased data. However, I saw exactly three winches fail all of this year, in groups I was wheeling with, and they were all new (one was on its second pull) Warn winches. They definitely weren't being over worked. Pretty easy pulls. Most likely electrical, but for that kind of coin, it shouldn't happen.

 

Cutting costs trying to compete with the imports?

My 14 year old warn hs9500i has been uncovered most of its life and is definitely showing it's age, but it still pulls strong. It has a rust spot bubbling up through the paint on one side, and the drum and some bolts are showing some corrosion as well, but overall it's in great shape. One of these days I really need to get around to pulling it off and cleaning/repainting, but no regrets on the quality.

Sad to see strong products decline like you guys are seeing.