Ramsey Winch H-800 DOW-LOK - 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.
The Dow-Lok® clutch provides free spool-
ing and clutch engagement with the cable
drum. With the clutch disengaged, the cable
can be freespooled off the drum. For winch-
ing in the load the clutch must be fully
engaged with the drum.
The Dow-lok® clutch is latched into either
the engaged “IN” position, or the disengaged
“OUT” position by a pin at the bottom of the
shifter handle which fits into latching slots.
1. TO UNLATCH CLUTCH - run winch in
the reverse (reel out) direction until the
load is off the cable. Grasp handle firmly
and while pushing on the top of the han-
dle with the thumb for leverage, lift until
pin clears latching slots.
2. TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH - unlatch and
push handle to “OUT” position and fully
insert pin into latching slots. DO NOT
ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE WITH A LOAD
ON THE WINCH.
3. TO ENGAGE CLUTCH - Unlatch and pull
handle toward “IN” position as far as it
will go. In order to attain full engagement,
internal elements of the clutch should be
aligned. This alignment will take place
when cable drum or cable drum shaft
turns a maximum of 1/4 revolution. The
clutch will automatically spring into
engagement and pin will drop into “IN”
slots when this alignment takes place. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO LIFT A LOAD UNLESS
PIN IS FULLY INTO “IN” SLOTS. KEEP
CLEAR OF SPRING LOADED HANDLE
DURING AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT.
SAFEGUARDS-WARNINGS:
CLUTCH MUST BE TOTALLY ENGAGED
BEFORE STARTING THE WINCHING OPER-
ATION.
DO NOT DISENGAGE CLUTCH UNDER
LOAD.
DO NOT LEAVE CLUTCH ENGAGED WHEN
WINCH IS NOT IN USE.
STAY OUT FROM UNDER AND AWAY
FROM RAISED LOADS.
STAND CLEAR OF CABLE WHILE PULLING.
DO NOT TRY TO GUIDE CABLE.
DO NOT EXCEED MAXIMUM LINE PULL
RATINGS SHOWN IN TABLE.
DO NOT USE WINCH TO LIFT, SUPPORT,
OR OTHERWISE TRANSPORT PEOPLE.
A MINIMUM OF 5 WRAPS OF CABLE
AROUND THE DRUM BARREL IS NECES-
SARY TO HOLD LOAD. CABLE CLAMP IS
NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD LOAD.
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