Sailplane Launch Equipment
      Winch2048,
                      Retriever2000
                                     Turnarounds
                                                    Winch Motors

Check out how the winches are being used!
Please read the Warranty and Disclaimer at the bottom of the page.
Why are your winches so expensive?

The Winch2048 is offered to meet the requirements of the intermediate  through the advanced competition flier.  This winch uses a specialty 12V DC continuous duty, 4 pole  motor, they are brand new and not rebuilt and contain ball bearings on both ends of the motor from the manufacturer and are ready to use without further modification. 

The Winch2048 will meet or exceed the expectations of the most discriminating pilot for fun and competition launching.  It produces twice the horse power as the FLS powered winch and is recommended for advance pilots.
 

The Retriever2000 is an operator assisted retriever vs the "hands off" type due to the belief that someone should be present when using these machines.  If you are familiar with the Rham retriever then you know what this one is like with one major difference.  The Retriever2000 is slowed down by about 70% to reduce injury to the operator and line twisting but will still retrieve about a 1000 feet in about a minute.

The Turnaround is a simple ball bearing supported glass filled nylon pulley designed to be maintenance free for its life.  Robust construction using 6061 aluminum and assembled with stainless steel hardware insure trouble free long life.  Three staking holes are provided for those powerful launches.
 

More detail can be found towards the bottom of the page.

Availability and Ordering Information
I’ve had several inquires on how to tell if an item is in stock and ready for shipment.  The answer is simple, under each item there is a PayPal link and a stock status following.  I update the "stock status" daily.  If the stock status is 0 then I am in the process of assembling the various items.  Please do not send funds unless the stock status is greater than 0 or until you have emailed me for availability.   I've missed several emails lately due to the spam filter so please make sure the word "Winch" is in the subject because they are passed automatically.

General Setup and Maintenance Instructions
Link to general winch setup instructions
Link to maintenance guidelines for the Winch2048

Winch2048 - W9149 powered winch - $1099.00
The W9149 motor is strong producing 4.8HP at approximately 3000RPM and launching by the inexperienced may end in disaster but the accomplished sailplane pilot will appreciate the added horse power and torque produced by the W9149 motor.  Now includes solenoid shorted warning LED's built into the frame of the winch as standard equipment.  Construction details here.  Price includes the winch, drum and foot switch only, battery, line, parachutes and turnaround are not included.   Shipping by UPS ground 4-5 day and is a flat rate of $55.00 anywhere in the lower 48 states, contact me for other destinations. Shipping weight for the Winch2048 is 46 pounds.    Note:  The Ford Long Shaft motors will not fit this frame due to the mounting differences between the FLS and the W9149 motors.

Retriever2000 - Hands On Retriever - $499.00 
The Retriever2000 is a "hands on" retriever meaning an operator must be present to safely use the retriever.  It features a 1.4 HP motor with a 10" belt driven drum and will retrieve about a 1000 feet of line in about a minute, fast enough to keep long lines from forming behind the winch but slow enough to enable the operator to control the retrieve without injury.  Drum is supported by ball bearing pillow blocks and comes with zerk fittings for lubrication if ever needed.  Frame is constructed using the same quality materials and workmanship as the Winch2048 and will provide years of trouble free use.  Motor actuation is by hand held push button switch controlling a solenoid  which is used to supply current to the motor.  It is easy to setup and use, once the plane has released from winch line the retriever operator places the line around the guide spool and pushes the handheld button.  All wiring is captive so it can never be left at home.   Connection to the battery is with jumper cable type clips which are included. Shipping weight for the Retriever2000 is 42 pounds.  Includes the Retriever2000, line guide, 1 spool of #9 braided nylon line and the harness for connecting to the winch line. Shipping by UPS ground 4-5 day and is a flat rate of $45.00 anywhere in the lower 48 states, contact me for other destinations.

Turnaround - $135.00
I have searched for a new more robust pulley for some time and finally found one.  The diameter is 3.5" and is the same but is it .625" wide with the bearing cast into the glass filled nylon shell.  This makes for a stronger unit and much easier to machine and I can reduce the price without sacrificing quality or reliability.  The turnaround has been field tested with the Winch2048 and other winches and has performed very well.  The pulley is recessed into the sides .100” to insure the line will not foul on the sides during use.  Sloped back and front will align the line back into the grove for the next launch.  Sides of the uprights are curved and polished to prevent line abrasion during launch and retrieval.  The turnaround is made of 3/8" 6061 aluminum for long life.  Staking holes are slightly larger than 3/8" so standard "tent stakes" from the local hardware store can be used.  Staking holes are angled in to help hold the turnaround during the most aggressive launches.  Parachute and other rigging will not fit between the pulley and the bottom plate and should be removed before bringing the line in.  Shipping by UPS ground 4-5 day is a flat rate of $15.00 anywhere in the lower 48 states, contact me for other destinations.

Winch Motors - W9149 Motor - $335.00
The W9149 motor used in the Winch2048 is now available for individual purchase.  These motors are band new and never rebuilt, they contain ball bearings from the manufacture and produce 4.8HP at approximately 3000RPM.  These motors are intended for the new winch build as they will not fit existing FLS frames without modification.  Motor will not be shipped from stock but will be dropped shipped directly from the manufacture to save time and shipping cost, please allow about five days to receive the motor.  Shipping will be by UPS ground for $30.00 for the first motor and $15.00 for each additional motor ordered.

There is a bonus to all this wait, the motors are now chrome plated so your winch will have that built in BLING!

Not a stock item and will be dropped shipped from the manufacture.

W9149 to FLS Adaptor
I have been asked repeatedly to design and make an adaptor to fit the W9149 motor to an existing FLS powered winch frame.  After much thought and talking with many others about the adaptor I came up with two wants from current winch owners.  The first was a simple bolt on adaptor and the second was a more integrated, long term solution. 

Bolt on W9149 to FLS Adaptor - $385.00
This is the simplest  to do and is the less expensive means of getting the W9149 motor to fit an existing FLS frame.  Adaptor is made from 3/8" 6061 aluminum.  The adaptor is first mounted to the motor using the supplied bolts then the assembly is bolted to the existing frame using your existing hardware.  The bolt on adaptor will not be sold separately only with a new motor purchase.  Shipping will be by UPS ground for $30.00 for each motor and adaptor ordered.

NOTE:  Usable shaft length may be reduce by as much as 3/8" using this adaptor.  It is the responsibility of the winch owner to make sure this modification will fit their installation and/or modify their drum for this installation.

Bolt on adaptor is not a stocked item and will require 3-5 days to make and ship.

- $425.00

Options
At this time the only option is battery cable end connectors, either plain wire, crimped round lugs or battery style connectors.  If battery cable ends are not specified then they will be shipped with crimped ring terminals.  Presently the motors will not be painted and are a gunmetal gray hammer,  black, or chrome finish.

Sailplane Graphic
Found a great heads on view of an ASW-28 sailplane for your car or truck rear window, heck for that mater it could be used on the windshield above the mirror.  These are 18" long and about 2" high at the T tail and are white.  Very easy to apply, just remove the backing and smooth onto the glass rubbing it down so it adheres well.  Price is $10.00 shipped USPS. 
Also available is the same graphic but is 36" long.  Price for the 36" graphic is $20.00 shipped USPS.

Solenoid Activation Counter
The only true way of knowing when the solenoids are nearing end of life is to count the number of actuations.  While they may last far beyond the recommend 50,000 activations it is prudent to change them out near the number of activations recommended by the manufacture.  Failure to do so can result in a welded contact with disastrous results.  This is a mechanical non-resetable counter so there cannot be a mistake of resetting before the expected end of life.  Restart will require the number be recorded preferably on the winch or solenoids themselves.   Not available for stand alone purchase.  Price is $15.00 installed on winch.   These counters are in short supply, once they are gone I will not longer offer them.

Winch Handle - $25.00 including shipping
I've had several request for the winch handle as a stand alone product.  Makes carrying any winch easier and safer.  Simple installation with two band clamp round the motor securing the handle to the top of the motor.  Includes hook for the ring on the end of the tow line.  Made of aluminum with steel hook and stainless steel bands to prevent rust.

Ordering, Payment and Shipping Information
For more information or questions email and I will respond usually within one day.  I prefer PayPal as it protects both of us, credit card through PayPal (no account needed)  or you can send a bank check or money order (no personal or company checks please) if you really must, contact me for mailing address.  Shipping by UPS ground 4-5 day for a flat rate of $55.00 for a winch, $45.00 for a retriever and  $15.00 for a turnaround anywhere in the lower 48 states, contact me for other destinations.  Tracking information will be provided as soon as it is available.

Warranty
Due to the nature of the product and its intended use there is no warranty either expressed or implied.  I want you to be happy with your purchase and if a difficulty arises please contact me directly.

Specialty Items
I stock replacement parts for winch purchases only, I do not sell individual components, please contact the vendor below for individual parts.

Memphis Net & Twine
Nylon braded winch line.  Drum will handle two 1 pound spools of TWB-21 (200#) through TWB-36 (330#) with ease

Craig Christensen or MrKite
Parachutes made to order

Battery Information
I have been ask to recommend a "good" battery for winch use.  I am in no way a battery expert nor do I claim to know all that much about batteries other than they provide 12V DC for use for a period of time.  One criteria for me was a battery that would not spill acid if tipped over during transportation.

Based on the information below (and the boys from Texas) if I were purchasing a winch battery today it would be the Sears DieHard PM-1 (~$250.00) with the Optima D31 (~$225.00) a close runner up (I currently use an Optima D31 to power my winch).  Cost wise they are in the same ball park and the PM-1 can be purchased locally so shipping is not a concern.  Quite frankly in my opinion Odyssey has priced the PC 2150 (~$387.00) out of this market.

The Optima D31 (D34 if smaller size is important) batteries are a spiral wound glass matt design and use a jelled acid instead of liquid making them spill proof if tipped over during transport.  The D31 battery offers three post styles, the M (both SAE and marine), A (SAE), T (marine). The D31M offers a 18 month free replacement and 18 month pro-rated replacement whereas the D31A and D31T offer an 24 month no charge replacement and pro-rate the remaining 12 months.  When looking for Optima batteries make sure any Optima battery you purchase has the light grey case and not the dark grey.  The light grey are the deep cycle which we want.

I have recently been introduced to a new (to me) battery that could also work very well for our application.  It is made by Odyssey and they offer three sizes of batteries, a G34, G31 and a T6.  The construction is similar to the Optima but their specifications are somewhat better than the Optima but the cost is greater.  They use a square cell instead of the round like the Optima and therefore probably contain more surface area within each cell giving higher specifications than the round cell.  I have checked prices locally and found them to be $65-85 cheaper than the web site but you will have to pay sales tax.  I have not used or even seen one in use for powering a winch only in off road trucks and these guys love them.

Some added news about the Odyssey batteries has come to light thanks to some Texas fliers.  The Sears DiHard PM-1 battery is made for Sears by Odyssey and carries about the same specifications for substantially less money invested.  The PM-1 has both SAE (automotive) and stud terminals making winch hook up even easier.  Unlike most of the other deep cycle batteries it has a three year free replacement warranty, a design life of 12 years and a service life of 400 plus cycles (6-10 years).  Please be aware the Odyssey PC 2150 and the Sears PM-1 weigh in at 75 pounds, the Optima D31 at 60 pounds so bring a friend to help carry these brutes to the field!

Construction details
All winches use the same frame design and are constructed of the same high quality materials and workmanship, only the motor differentiates the winch.  Frame is made from 12ga 3/4" square tubing and is jig aligned and MIG welded.  All welds are ground down for appearance.  Frames are sand blasted and sprayed with automotive primer which is heat cured and painted with rattle can paint so it is very easy to touch up by the owner.  The drum is machined from 6061 aluminum and mounted on a mandrel and final turned and trued to assure a true running drum.  An outboard drum bearing is used to support the motor shaft during hard launches.  All hardware is stainless steel and nylon lock nuts are used throughout the build.  Where nuts are not used blue (non permanent) thread lock is used to lock the threads.

Battery wiring is 1/0 super flex welding cable with crimped copper lugged terminals and connects to the battery via an Anderson SB175 quick disconnect.  Battery ends of cables are terminated by default with copper ring lugs.  For an additional charge battery terminal clamps (automotive type) can be installed on the battery connector cable.  Wiring color may be different depending on what is available.  All junctions between cable and lugs are coated with an anticorrosive gel and are covered with heat shrink to keep moisture from entering the connection and causing corrosion.  Panel mounted ON/OFF switch rated at 200A is mounted high on the winch to allow easy and quick access in case of a problem during launch.  ON/OFF is clearly marked in English.  Dual solenoids wired in series are used to insure power is disconnected when the foot switch is released.  Solenoids are rated at 200A continuous duty.

Control wiring is 10ga stranded copper wire and all connections are soldered.  Positive grounding is provided by connecting the control wiring directly to the battery ground, frame ground is never relied on.  The foot switch is a low  profile metal switch by Linemaster and is rated at 15A, footswitch wring is 10 feet and is14ga copper wire with PVC jacket and is orange for visibility when laying in the grass.  Connection to the winch is with an Anderson SB50 quick disconnect connector.   Foot switch is mounted on a piece of diamond plate aluminum  about 4 x12" and can be staked to the ground.

Drum braking is accomplished by a flat brake band on the motor side.  It rides on a 5 1/2" diameter drum attached to the winch drum plate.  Activating arm is machined from a piece of 3/4 x 1 x 6" 6061 aluminum and pivots on nylon bushings.  Brake band is attached to the arm with a stainless steel bracket and anchored in the rear by an adjustable bracket.  Bail is made from 1/4" stainless steel rod and is secured to the front of the arm with a set screw.  Braking is very positive and when line is going out during launch the brake band is raised above the drum to insure there is no drag.  An outboard drum bearing is installed to help evenly distribute the loads during launch.

Easy to adjust brake band clamp is positioned to cause the flat brake band to curve up and away from the brake drum during launch reducing the drag on the drum.  By loosing the two screws the band can be slipped in or out to cause the brake arm to be either higher from the ground or lower, whatever your preference is.  Solenoid shorted warring LED's are incorporated into the frame and positioned in an easy to see place to insure safe operation.

The outboard bearing has been increased in size to allow additional material to be left when the pilot shaft is turned and the recess is bored into the drum retainer.  The bearing used is now a 3/4" inter race and the exterior diameter is 1 1/2" and is rated at 600 pounds of force and up to 22,000 RPM.  The two bearings on the left are the new 3/4" and the one of the right is the 5/8" bearing.

Motors are a specialty motor supplied by a vendor in Kansas City and are brand new and not rebuild.  These motors have an oversized ball bearing in the front housing, the rear ball bearing is smaller but more than adequate for our launching requirements.    Brushes are easily replaced if ever needed and the motor can be rebuilt by any competent automotive electrical rebuild shop. 

Warranty:  This winch/retriever/turnaround has been built and tested with care.  The same care that I would use for my own personal use.  Due the nature of the use to which the winch/retriever/turnaround will be put to there is no warranty either expressed or implied on the winch/retriever/turnaround as a whole or any component used to assemble the winch/retriever/turnaround.

Electrical Component (except motor):  If an electrical component fails (except the motor) during the first 30 days of ownership I will make a replacement available for what the part cost me to purchase. This includes the solenoids, foot switch and cables.  You must return the failed part for analysis, if the part is not returned no replacement will be made available.  Shipping both ways will be the responsibility of the owner.

Motor:  Due to the nature of the use to which the motor will be used there is on warranty on the motor.  If you have a motor failure it can and should be rebuilt by a local rebuild shop.

Frame and Drum:  Frame or drum failures within the first 30 days should be returned to me so I can see the cause of the failure to help improve my process making the winch/retriever/turnaround stronger and safer.  I will either repair or replace the failed item at my desecration.  Failure to return the failed part will result in no repair or replacement.  Shipping both ways will be the responsibility of the owner.

Modifications: Any owner modifications to the winch/retriever/turnaround what so ever will void any of the above warranty immediately.  This includes but not limited to the addition of any solenoid warning device, ball bearings, switches, warning lights, clutches, wiring or any replacement part not authorized by the original builder of the winch/retriever/turnaround (The Shop).

Risks:  All winches/retrievers/turnaround are inherently dangerous due to the high speed rotating drum used to spool the line.  Debris can be picked up and thrown at great speed and injure onlookers or operators.  The speed at which the line is drawn in during a launch and retrieve can cause severe cuts and burns and care should be used when handling the line.  Power should always be turned off or the battery disconnected before performing any operation on the winch/retriever/turnaround or when working in close proximity to the winch/retriever/turnaround.  Loose clothing should not be worn in close proximity to the machines.  Burns and or fire can result if the battery connections or polarity are not observed.  Children should not operate the winch/retriever/turnaround without proper training and a trained adult present.

Any injury or damage caused by a malfunction of the winch/retriever/turnaround is the sole responsibility of the equipment owner.

Winches create a great amount of stress on any aircraft attached to the launch line and care must be taken when launching from the winch.  Too much power on time can and will break airplanes, even well built ones.  It is the responsibility of the winch owner to ensure all users of the winch are made aware of the potential of aircraft damage before being allowed to use the winch.

It is the sole responsibility of the winch/retriever/turnaround owner to ensure they are in good working order and to be ever observant during their use and discontinue use if any discrepancies are noticed or reported.

The manufacture of the winch/retriever/turnaround (The Shop) has made every effort to ensue the winch/retriever/turnaround is in proper working order before shipment and should a failure occur and injury or damage result the owner or user of the winch/retriever/turnaround cannot hold the manufacture (The Shop) libel for any damages or injury to a person or an object.

Finally, these machines are extremely dangerous and are not toys and should be treated like any high speed tool or machine.  Proper maintenance is essential for the safe operation of the machines and the safety of the operators and bystanders.

The Shop
www.theshope.net

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