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 Ram-Lok® semi-automatic clutch allows rapid unspooling of the cable, from cable
drum, for hooking onto the load.
The Manual “T-Handle” clutch is operated 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 T-handle, rotate it counter-clockwise 90° 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 90° and release.
Run the winch in reverse until the shifter knob snaps fully in or until the cable drum starts
turning. At this point make sure the shifter knob 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.
The Air Shifter clutch is operated as follows:
1. TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH, run the winch in reverse (reel out) direction until the load is off
the cable. Apply 60-125 PSI to inlet port fitting of air cylinder. Run winch in the forward
(reel in) direction to disengage clutch.
2. TO ENGAGE CLUTCH, remove air pressure from air cylinder. Run the winch in reverse
until the cable drum starts turning. 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.
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