WARN SNATCH BLOCK - Manual (Page 4)

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WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
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WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
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So, you have your Warn winch and
you’re ready to get out on the trails: climb a few boulders, splash a little mud, traverse the occasional stream. Basically, you’re ready to explore the backcountry and otherwise have a great time.
Well, if you’re smart enough to go
prepared with the best, you’re probably smart enough to know that to keep having a great time, you need to fully understand your winch and the winching operation.
That’s exactly what this guide intends
to do: provide you with a basic under- standing of your winch and teach you the basics of proper winching techniques. But before we get started, we must
emphasize that the information in this guide is general in nature. Because no two situations are alike, it would be nearly impossible to review them all. We can, however, provide you with the general principles and techniques. Then it is up to you to take the time to analyze the situation and apply the proper technique.
Along with a little common sense, the
guidelines laid out in this book can help you keep off-roading fun. Just remember to think through each situation before you act and TREAD LIGHTLY!
Structural components of a planetary gear winch
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Never operate or install a winch without reading or understanding the operator’s manual
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WARNING
To start, you should familiarize
yourself with your Warn winch and each of its components: Practice using your winch before using it on the trail.
Motor
Typically the winch motor is
powered by the vehicle’s battery. The motor provides power to the gear mechanism, which turns the winch drum and winds the wire rope.
Winch Drum
The winch drum is the
cylinder onto which the wire rope feeds. The drum is driven by the motor and drive train. Its direction can be changed using the winch switch.
Wire Rope
The wire rope’s diameter
and length are determined by the winch’s load capacity and design. Wrapped around the winch drum and fed through the fairlead, the wire rope is looped at the end to accept the hook’s clevis pin.
Fairlead
When using the winch at
an angle, the fairlead (or wire lead) acts to guide the wire rope onto the spooling drum. It minimizes damage to the wire rope while it goes through the winch mount or bumper.
Gear Train
The reduction gear
converts the winch motor power into a large pulling force. The gear train design makes it possible for the winch to be lighter and more compact.
Braking System
Braking action is
automatically applied to the winch drum when the winch motor is stopped and there is load on the wire rope. The braking action is applied by the motor or a separate mechanical brake, depending on the winch construction.
Clutch
The clutch allows the
operator to manually disengage the spooling drum from the gear train, enabling the drum to rotate freely (known as “freespooling”). Engaging the clutch “locks” the winch drum back onto the gear train.
Tie Rods
Ties the end housings
together as a structural unit.
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Winch controls come in many forms. All enable the operator to start, stop and change the direction of the winch drum rotation.
Remote Control Switch
Dial Switch
Mini Rocker Switch
Rocker Switch
Never engage or disengage the clutch if winch is under load, wire rope is in tension, or wire rope drum is moving.
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CAUTION
ELECTRIC WINCH BASICS