Broken winch...need advise

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Lscobra

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I was given a mile marker 12000lb winch by a buddy of mine, its an older one with the collar style clutch selector. Anyway the cross bars broke their mounting ears on the drum support opposite the motor, and mile marker no longer sells a replacement. Previous owner spooled too much cable on one side of the drum and they popped. Its mounted to a receiver cradle. Any ideas on how to make this thing usable? Thanks in advance!

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1989GMCSIERRA

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looks like cast aluminum alloy so you can try welding or brazing a big build up of aluminum blob then grinding and reshape the blob into the ear and then drill the hole for the bolt. If you take it apart a metal shop should be able to weld a piece.
Or you can grind the broken ear off and then have someone weld a aluminum tab

I bought that aluminum braze rod from harbor freight and I was able to fill a hole in a old dirt bike that the case got broken and punched a hole in the cover. I’ve used that stuff to patch and fill all sorts of cracks in aluminum stuff. Works pretty well.

worse case you can take the case apart see if you can drill and use Rivnuts to bolt a metal strap over the case
 

Erik the Awful

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I've been avoiding posting because I don't have a repair method in mind for that. I think the biggest concern is how you use your winch. It could be considered a safety concern - especially since it's a big winch. BTW, that broken tab looks insufficient for the rating of the winch.

Brazing will repair it, but it won't be near as strong. Welding it might work, but I'd want to hire a professional who works with aluminum regularly. There's no way I'd consider putting a metal strap over it. To my mind, that winch is for parts only.
 
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