What Would Cause Superwinch Terra Winch To Bunch Cable Up

Updated 04/23/2026 | Published 04/12/2026

Question:

I have a Terra 4500 Super Winch which is mounted on a boat lift which I purchased used. I dont know the year of mfg. I got it in 2018. The winch is working but the cable is not winding smoothly on the spool. It bunches to one end and has faded the cable. What do I need to do to get the cable to track smoothly on the spool?

asked by: Paul L

Expert Reply:

Hey Paul, when a Superwinch Terra like what you have is bunching up that usually means there's just not enough tension in the line pulling the cable straight which then allows it to get all bunched up and create a "birds nest". Is there much tension in your line currently?

expert reply by: Jameson C

Paul L.

4/23/2026

There is plenty of tension on the cable and winch. The boat weighs approximately 2500 pounds with the cable running through a series of pulleys to cause the cantilever lift system to raise the boat and cradle for the boat. It raises the system but the cable does not track smoothly. It builds up on one side for a couple of coils and then slips down and coils in the other direction. .

Jameson C.

4/23/2026

@PaulL If you were to run the cable all the way out and with tension respool it could that help? Like is it trying to wrap around a bit of a mess already and therefore it's getting worse?

Paul L.

4/23/2026

I'll give it a try and see if it winds better. It won't be easy to have tension on the cable once the boat is all the way down.

Jameson C.

4/23/2026

@PaulL If you can look at it the way the rope is wound around the spool when it's out as far as you normally use it and it looks like a bit of a mess I would say this is probably the problem and getting it all the way out will help. If it instead looks totally fine at that point then maybe there's something else going on.