Most people that are new and get bashed by moderators just cuss people they don't like out and get deleted from the site as a whole.
Joe, and others, I don't understand why you think he was "bashed by moderators".
I simply asked questions straight out to clarify contradictory statements.
I'm just as interested in finding the cause of the issue, as anyone else. I look at this thread(and many others) like an investigation. We must get the facts straight to get to a correct conclusion. Just because I ask for clarification, does not mean I am bashing.
I really get frustrated when I sense negativity to my posts(such as in this thread). I was not being negative at all. Simply stating facts, and trying to get the facts straight.
Now, as for his winch. I question the rust on the worm gear. I wonder if it has had water in it and froze. This could have caused the housing to crack/expand, weakening it. Obviously the roll pin did not yield, as a shear pin should have. And finally, the linkage may be bent/mis-adjusted, as the OP said.
It is a shame to see this damage knowing the OP said he has a bag of the correct shear pins in the truck, but never checked the installed pin to see that it was correct.
I think several factors caused the complete failure.
Please look at this as objective statements. I am NOT placing any personality into this. Just stating the facts.