Ramsey Winch HD-200 (JERR-DAN) - 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 clutch on the winch is
operated as follows:
1. TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH, run the winch in the reverse (reel out)
direction until the load is off the cable. Lift up knob and pull out, lock in
place. See warning label located by shifter knob. The clutch is now locked
out and the cable may be pulled off by hand.
2. TO ENGAGE CLUTCH, lift up knob then release. See warning label
located by shifter knob. 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.
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