Ramsey Winch HD-234 LEVER STYLE - Manual (Page 5)

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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 blan-
ket, 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.
NOTE: The Ramsey level winder is an available accessory for tightly respool-
ing unloaded cable onto the drum.
The winch clutch allows rapid unspooling of the cable, from cable drum, for holding
onto a load. The clutch is operated by the lever located on the clutch housing of winch.
1. TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH, run the winch in the reverse (reel out) direction until load
is off the cable. Grasp lever and push toward the drum to the “OUT” position. The
lever is latched “OUT” by ball and detent in jaw clutch and drum shaft. The cable
may now be pulled from cable drum by hand.
2. TO ENGAGE CLUTCH, pull handle away from the drum to the “IN” position, while
rotating drum, until clutch jaws engage with drum jaws. Clutch must be totally
engaged during winching operations. The lever is latched “IN” by ball and detent in
jaw clutch and drum shaft. The plastic plug in top of clutch housing may be re-
moved for inspection of clutch, to assure total engagement.
WARNINGS
CLUTCH MUST BE TOTALLY ENGAGED BEFORE STARTING THE WINCHING
OPERATION.
DO NOT DISENGAGE CLUTCH UNDER LOAD.
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
NECESSARY TO HOLD THE LOAD. SETSCREW IS NOT DESIGNED TO
HOLD LOAD.