Ramsey Winch H-800 DOW-LOK W/25000 LB RATING - Manual (Page 3)

3
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 spooling and clutch engagement with the cable drum.
With the clutch disengaged, the cable can be freespooled off the drum. For winching 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.
TO ENGAGE CLUTCH
Dow-lok ® : Run winch in the reverse “OUT” direction until the load is off the cable. Grasp
handle firmly and while pushing on the top of the handle with thumb for leverage, lift until pin
clears latching slots.
Pull handle toward “IN” position as far as it will go. Run winch in the “IN” direction until the
clutch springs to engagement and drum begins to turn. Do not attempt to lift a load
unless pin is fully into latching slots. Keep clear of spring-loaded handle during
automatic engagement.
Air Shifter: Run winch in the reverse “OUT” direction until the load is off the cable. Exhaust
air pressure from the air cylinder and run the winch in the “IN” direction until the clutch
springs to engagement and drum begins to turn.
TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH
Dow-lok ® : Run winch in the reverse “OUT” direction until the load is off the cable. Grasp
handle firmly and while pushing on the top of the handle with thumb for leverage, lift until pin
clears latching slots.
Push handle to “OUT” position and fully insert pin into latching slots. Do not disengage the
clutch under load.
Air Shifter: Run winch in the reverse “OUT” direction until the load is off the cable. Run the
winch in the “OUT” direction until there is no load on the cable. Apply 70-90 PSI to the air
cylinder to disengage the clutch. Do not disengage the clutch under load.