Ramsey Winch HDGY-350R W/4.5 CID MOTOR - Manual (Page 4)

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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 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 clutch is operated by the “T-handle”, located on the end of the winch 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 clutch 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 counter-clockwise 90° and release.
Run the winch in reverse until the clutch handle snaps fully in or until the cable drum stops turning.
At this point make sure the clutch handle 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.
WARNINGS
CLUTCH MUST BE TOTALLY ENGAGED BEFORE STARTING THE WINCHING OPERATION.
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 NECESSARY TO HOLD THE LOAD.
CABLE SETSCREW IS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD LOAD