Ramsey Winch DC-200 RAM-LOK User Manual

Page 4

TECHNIQUES OF OPERATION

The best way to get acquainted with how your winch operates is to make test runs before you actually use it. Plan your test in
advance. Remember, you hear your winch, as well as see it operate. Get to recognize the sounds of a light steady pull, a heavy
pull, and sounds caused by load jerking or shifting. Gain confidence in operating your winch and its use will become second
nature with you.

The uneven spooling of cable, while pulling a load, is not a problem, unless there is a cable pileup on one end of drum. If this
happens, reverse the winch to relieve the load and move your anchor point further to the center of the vehicle. After the job is
done you can unspool and rewind for a neat lay of the cable

When pulling a load where there is even a remote chance of cable failure, place a blanket, jacket or tarpaulin over the cable
about six feet behind the hook. This will slow the snap back of a broken cable and could prevent serious injury.

Check oil level of winch every six months. Replace oil annually or more often if winch is used frequently. Use 0.75 pint (0.35 L)
of all purpose E.P. 140 oil in the worm gear housing and 0.5 pint (0.23 L) SAE 20 for spur gear box. If the oil is contaminated
with metallic particles, inspect winch for cause of abnormal wear.

Periodically check all electrical connections and mounting bolts. Tighten hardware if necessary.

The minimum ampere-hour rating of vehicle battery should be 70, and used with at least a 40 ampere alternator. An auxiliary
battery is recommended to supply additional battery power.

Inspect the cable frequently. If the cable becomes frayed with broken strands, replace immediately. Cable and hook assembly
may be purchased from a Ramsey distributor.

The RAM-LOK® semi-automatic clutch allows rapid unspooling of the cable, from cable drum, for hooking onto a load. The
clutch is operated by the "T-handle", located on the end of the winch, as follows:

1. TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH, run the winch in the reverse (reel out) direction until the load is off the cable. Pull outward on the

clutch handle, rotate it counter-clockwise 90º and release. The clutch is now locked out and the cable may be pulled off by
hand.

2. TO ENGAGE CLUTCH, pull outward on the handle, rotate it clockwise 90º and release. Run the winch in reverse until the

clutch handle snaps fully in or until the cable drum starts turning. At this point make sure the clutch handle is all the way in.
The plastic plug in top of clutch housing may be removed, for inspection of clutch to assure total engagement. After the
clutch is fully engaged, the winch is ready for winching in the cable.

CABLE INSTALLATION

Unwind cable by rolling it out along the ground to prevent kinking. Securely wrap end of cable, opposite hook, with plastic
or similar tape to prevent fraying.

Insert the end of cable, opposite hook end, into the 7/16" (11 mm) diameter hole in drum barrel. Secure cable to drum
barrel, using setscrew furnished with winch. TIGHTEN SETSCREW SECURELY.

Carefully run winch in the "reel-in" direction. Keeping tension on end of cable, spool all the cable onto the cable drum, tak-
ing care to form neatly wrapped layers.