Hi, Folks.
Personally, I think I would be a LOTTTT happier with 5/8" or 3/4" rope on a winch onna D4 than using 1/2". But, if you have 1/2" and are prepared to be careful with it, just make sure you have GOOD guard between you and the winch.

Just my 0.02.

the safe capacity of any sling or cable depends on how its made and how your using it. pulling on angles rather than straight lines can de-rate slings chains and cables by surprisingly high amounts.

there is a specific style of cable that is supposed to be used on these winches and especially the cable control winches.
get the right kind of cable in the right size and load rating.

just remember when a winch line breaks under strain it has massive energy and can and will kill.

I noticed the most strain on the cable just as it is being wound onto the drum. I've never seen a cable break but I'm guessing that would be a likely spot or where the cable was attached to the hook, or chain if there is a bend at that location.

It is best to have the amount of cable that you will actually use, plus enough for three or four wraps around the drum when it's all the way out, not what the full drum capacity is. Cable is a consumable and when the the part you have been using becomes too rough to use, you will replace the whole spool.
I think the standard for logging with a D4 around here is 75 feet, too much on the spool quickly becomes a rats nest and a big pain.

I have a number of rams I still use that the chrome is gone. I use them until the leaking is to much. To much is different for ever user. But you can nickel and dime yourself into the poor house trying for perfection. A little mess is different than a constant drip.

The same thing with cable. There are many grades of cable with very different breaking points.

I agree, if it seeps some I wouldn't worry about it, but I think this might be worse because it was dripping fast as the blade was being jacked up. The right side didn't leak but the ram on it had very little chrome too. I'll see what happens when the engine starts.
I bought the wire rope from a government surplus auction many years ago. Bethlehem Wire Rope was all I noticed on the wood roll. The military never buys the cheap stuff in my experience, and I think the military was the original purchaser on this rope.
I've seen some crawler winches with the rats nest Josh was talking about. They had as I remember heavy cable on them. 1/2" line hopefully will be easier to deal with.
If I have enough for 2 winches that would be good. Hopefully I have 150-200', if so I'll divide it.
None of this is too concerning right now. 1st step is getting the dozer where I can work on it. 2nd is getting it running. I think the tracks are good enough for what I need to do with it, but they are very worn. I do remember a top roller with a chunk out of the side of it. I'll take track pictures next time I'm there. There was a grease gun on the machine, so it likely did receive some grease back in the day.

the more cable on a winch lowers the actual cable pull as the wraps are further from the center of rotation cable working load limit is determined by a high factor of safety on the breaking strength as the load increases tremendously on bends ,twists and kinks

Wire Rope - aka - Cable

Might like to look at this information - might be helpful in understanding the uses and limitations.
www.mazzellacompanies.com/learning-cente...ations-construction/
www.unionrope.com/Portals/0/Documents/Te...re-rope-handbook.pdf

I have heard many HORROR stories of broken cables, chokers, etc. Fortunately I have only experinced a couple of failures and no one was hurt.
When they break under tension, they can be lethal.

High line logging was a great example, the days when steam ruled the forests and it was all done with aid of cables.

CTS

The difference between a single line pull on a "bare drum" and a "full drum" on the D4N winch goes from 17,020 lbs SLP to 9,164 lbs SLP - reduction of 7,856 lbs pull.

I use the 125' of 3/4" cable with 1 snatch block for most heavy pulls. The spare cable on top of the canopy is about 75' long - gets me down to near a bare drum for closer pulls with a block. It is miserable to put back on top but it has saved the day a couple of times. It also is used to extend the reach.