Last week I decided to order the MX2500 Viper Max winch with the blue 3/16" synthetic cable and the 2016 Grizzly mounting plate/kit (11928). I got online and ordered it from Motoalliance with the extra wiring kit which I plan to send back, because it was not necessary.
So I unboxed it, checked all the parts for basic fit and found that the mounting plate hardware kit was not satisfactory. Specifically, they included one M10 flat washer that was too small to fit the supplied M10 hex bolts, and both M10 split lock washers were also too small to fit the M10 hex bolts.
I had to go to my workbench supplies to find something that would work and this frustration is a simply avoided issue that I’ll inform Motoalliance about.
Next, I looked at how to wire my 12v contacts for the winch controller. After reading here on GC, I learned there may be a "dummy" extension of the wiring harness, and I found it! After lifting the battery/electrical cover and removing it, I discovered this connector with an empty and taped up end that I removed (not shown).
I tested both the black wire and the brown/yellow wire and found that it was indeed a keyed DC power source at 12v with my voltmeter. So I took the blank end and found a male wire connector to push into the left side (as shown in the next picture). The brown/yellow wire is the one you want to make contact with.
I crimped a piece of 18 gauge wire into it for contact with the brown/yellow wire, and got good contact with no wire splicing or positaps, which I think is the best overall solution. This connector was then pushed into the blank plastic harness connector.
So, I proceeded to remove the Grizzly brush guard, mount the wiring connector on the mounting plate, put the wiring boots on the wires, and put dielectric grease on all the terminals. Then I connected all 4 wires to the connectors and slid the boots on.
Then with the connector on the Grizzly mount plate, I installed the mount, and then installed the winch and the 2 wires for it from the connector. To get my red and black wires up to the battery terminals, I used a hooked coat hanger to pull the wiring connectors up along the rest of the wiring by the frame and zip-tied them on.
After that, I connected my spade connectors for the switch controller to the green and black contacts in the wiring connector and taped them up. Soldered my thumb switch red wire to my new wire/connector.
I mounted the thumb switch on my left side handlebars and zip tied it to the other wiring running down the steering system.
I then put the winch in disengage mode, unspooled the synthetic cable, undid the "BB", and fed it through the rubber line stopper and the aluminum hawse. Then on my first test, I had good operation in and out.
After that I was able to winch up and down in and out of my truck bed under a very safe and comfortable feeling front end contact.
I have not yet installed my cabled remote mount yet. I’m waiting to see where I really want to put it because it’s a permanent "drill" spot….
It’s a great winch that could be improved in 2 ways:
1. Better documentation
2. Accurate checking of included hardware.
I’d still buy it again. It feels like great quality and has worked 100% on several loading and unloadings.
Cheers
Scribe308
