Ramsey Winch HD-234 - Manual (Page 5)

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.
NOTE: The Ramsey level winder is an available accessory for tightly
respooling 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” posi-
tion. 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 removed 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 NECES-
SARY TO HOLD THE LOAD. CABLE SETSCREW IS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD
LOAD.
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