THE FINAL ANALYSIS The basic guide to proper winching techniques cannot cover all the possible situations in which you may need to use a winch. In the final analysis, the decisions you make will determine the final outcome. So think through each situation and each step of use. Always be mindful of your own safety and the safety of others. Pay attention and you’ll have fun. Freespooling of rope from the winch drum may be more difficult at sub- freezing temperatures. Place clutch in the freespool position and power out the rope for 2-3 m (6-10 ft) to warm the winch. When not being used, the winch should be left with the clutch in the engaged position. This helps the internal parts of the winch withstand the effects of weather and contamination. STORAGE SUB-ZERO OPERATION
MAINTENANCE
RIGGING TECHNIQUES
• Inspect the rope before and after each winching operation. If the rope has become kinked or frayed, the rope needs to be replaced immediately. Be sure to also inspect the winch hook and hook pin for signs of wear or damage. Replace if necessary. • If your winch is equipped with synthetic rope, review and understand the Synthetic Rope Guide. Inspect rope carefully after each use. Replace if: (1) rope bulk anywhere along the length is reduced by 25% or more by abrasion, (2) two or more adjacent strands are cut, (3) flat areas or lumps are found that are not eliminated by flexing rope, or (4) excessive fused or melted fibers are found. Any such areas will be stiff and the rope will have a glazed appearance. • Keep winch, rope, and switch control free from contaminants. Use a clean rag or towel to remove any dirt and debris. If necessary, unwind winch completely (leaving a minimum of 5 wraps on spooling drum), wipe clean, and rewind properly before storage. Using a light oil on the wire rope and winch hook can keep rust and corrosion from forming. • Operating your winch for a long period of time places an extra burden on your vehicle’s battery. Be sure to check and
Various winching situations will require application of other winching techniques. These could range from too little distance to achieve maximum pull using straight line rigging, simply increasing pulling power, or maintaining a straight-line pulling situation. You will have to assess what technique is correct for your situation. Think “safety” at all times.
! CAUTION
Lifting and lowering a
snowplow can damage rope. Carefully inspect rope for wear, broken strands and/or kinks. Replace rope if any damage found.
Double line Because pulling power decreases with the number of layers of rope on the winch drum, you can use a snatch block to double line out more rope. This decreases the number of layers of rope on the drum, and increases pulling power. Start by feeding out enough rope to free the winch hook. Attach the hook to your vehicle’s frame and run the rope through a snatch block. Do not attach hook to mounting kit.
How to change the pulling direction All winching operations should have a straight line from the
winch to the object being pulled. This minimizes the rope collecting on one side of the drum
Never operate winch with less than 5 wraps of rope around the drum. Rope could come loose from the drum, as the rope attachment to the drum is not designed to hold a load. ! WARNING
affecting pulling efficiency and damaging rope. A snatch block, secured to a point directly in front of the vehicle, will enable you to change your pulling direction while still allowing the rope to be at 90º to wind properly onto the spooling drum. Increasing pulling power & duration In some cases, you may find yourself needing more pulling power. The use of snatch blocks increases mechanical advantage and that increases your pulling power:
maintain your battery and battery cables according to manufacturer
guidelines. Also inspect switch control and all electrical connections to be certain they are clean and tight fitting. • Inspect the remote control for damage, if so equipped. Be sure to cap the remote socket to prevent dirt and debris from entering the connections. Store remote control in a protected, clean, dry area. • No lubrication is required for the life of the winch.
Disengage the clutch and, using the snatch block, pull out enough wire to reach your anchor point. Secure to the anchor point with a tree trunk protector or choker chain. Attach the clevis/shackle. Attach the shackle to the two ends of the strap/chain, being careful not to over tighten (tighten and back-off 1/2 turn).
Single line
Double line
GO PREPARED ™ 19 WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
GO PREPARED ™ 18 WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
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