WTF?? SMOKE-melted brake line
10-07-2010, 07:47 PM
#1
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: In the Goldfeilds
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WTF?? SMOKE-melted brake line
I have been installing a new bumper tonight on my JK - XRC Stinger. I have had an XRC8 winch living in the old stock bumper and it began to work intermittently. The last attemp it worked fine. Upon removal of the old bumper/winch I inspected the thermials and found the gound therimal on the winch very rusted out and had a hard time removing the cable. I cleaned all the thermials and reinstalled the winch on the new bumper hoping to have fixed the intermittent operation. I am running a BenchMark KISS dual battery set up and the ignition key was "OFF" so the aux. battery was isolated. I did not start the vehicle, I attemped to operate the winch and nothing happen. Then SMOKE out of the rear of the Jeep. I pulled both positive battery cables right away and disconnected the winch cable. Grabbed the fire extinguisher and a flashlight. Both rear steel braided brake line were F*$King smoking and all the rubber lining was GONE! I did not use the extinguisher.
I waited about five minutes and hooked both batteries back up but not the winch. The vehicle starts fine and there are no warning lamp on. The rear brake line are not both leaking. ??????? I guess I shorted the SH!t out of the Jeep and the closest ground was though the steel brake lines?????? BUT WHY?
This is what I get for ditching a wedding with my girlfriend to work on the JK
I waited about five minutes and hooked both batteries back up but not the winch. The vehicle starts fine and there are no warning lamp on. The rear brake line are not both leaking. ??????? I guess I shorted the SH!t out of the Jeep and the closest ground was though the steel brake lines?????? BUT WHY?
This is what I get for ditching a wedding with my girlfriend to work on the JK
10-07-2010, 07:53 PM
#4
JK Junkie
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Broken Arrow, OK
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
First off 
Second off... I am glad to hear that your Jeep is seemingly fine after that ordeal. That would have made me need to new pair of jeans
That would be some crazy short circuit if its easiest path to ground involved your brake lines. But I thought the same thing too when I saw the pictures.
From the looks of things those did not look like Crown brake lines. You can always look on the bright side of things and use it as a good excuse to upgrade your brake lines
Second off... I am glad to hear that your Jeep is seemingly fine after that ordeal. That would have made me need to new pair of jeans
From the looks of things those did not look like Crown brake lines. You can always look on the bright side of things and use it as a good excuse to upgrade your brake lines
Last edited by u-joint; 10-07-2010 at 08:10 PM.
10-07-2010, 08:11 PM
#6
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: In the Goldfeilds
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hummmm
No they were Crown brake lines - got from Dave at Northridge.....
The winch must not be grounded well enough. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a Smitybuilt XRC8???
Throwing the stock lines back on now - hopefully before the old lady gets back from the wedding.......
The winch must not be grounded well enough. Does anyone have a wiring diagram for a Smitybuilt XRC8???
Throwing the stock lines back on now - hopefully before the old lady gets back from the wedding.......
10-07-2010, 08:12 PM
#7
JK Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: In the Goldfeilds
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trending Topics
10-07-2010, 08:37 PM
#8
JK Enthusiast
Man, I'll be honest, I HATE the Smitty winches. Shitty power cables, shitty solenoids, motors internally short, POS controller plug that can be plugged in backwards..... I could go on and on.
All it takes is for the motor to internally short and/or a stuck solenoid and you risk burning the Jeep to the ground.
It's for this exact reason I started putting the winch fuse kits and replacement power cables together. It doesn't fix all the liabilities of winches, but it's a big step in the right direction.
Winch Fuses: http://www.benchmarkdesigns.com/inde...roducts_id=101
Premium Replacement Power Cables: http://www.benchmarkdesigns.com/inde...roducts_id=100
