Ramsey Winch HDG-350 (JERR-DAN) - 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 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 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.
WARNINGS
CLUTCH MUST BE TOTALLY ENGAGED BEFORE STARTING THE WINCHING OPERA-
TION.
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.