Vestil WTJ-20 Series, Instruction Manual, Page: 8 / 11

Table of Contents
Rev. 10/30/2020 WTJ-20 MANUAL
Table of Contents Copyright 2020 Vestil Manufacturing Corp. Page 8 of 11
USING THE CRANE
[NOTE: An auxiliary handle is provided with AC-powered winches. It is a means for manually winding/unwinding the
cable and should only be used if the winch does not operate (e.g. loss of power). The handle must not be attached
when the winch operates under its own power.]
1. Connect the power cord to the power supply.
a. AC units: connect to a properly grounded, GFCI-protected, 115V outlet.
b. DC units: make sure battery connections are secure.
2. Apply appropriate rigging to the load.
3. Adjust the length and angle of the boom as your application requires. Consult the appropriate SPECIFICATIONS
table on p. 2 or p. 3 to ensure that the load does not exceed the capacity of the crane in its present configuration.
4. The winch is electronically controlled.
a. DC-powered jibs utilize a constant pressure (“dead man”) pushbutton controller.
b. AC-powered units are controller with a toggle switch located on the winch body.
Press the DOWN button on the handheld controller (DC units), or press the toggle switch in the DOWN direction
(AC units). The winch will operate only while a control button is pressed. Releasing a control button will stop the
winch and the hook will maintain its position. Lower the hook sufficiently that the load rigging can be attached to it.
The load center should be directly below the hook to prevent significant load swing as the load rises. Proper and
improper positioning is diagrammed below:
Improperly positioned loads
5. Tighten the knobs tightly against the mast.
6. Press the UP button/toggle switch to raise the load. Loosen the knobs and rotate the boom slowly and direct the
load to the desired location. Lower the load so that it is entirely supported by the vehicle before moving the vehicle.
NOTE: The winch is designed for intermittent use. Extended use without pause to allow the motor to cool will
damage the motor. Maximum continuous run time is 3 minutes.
7. Put the crane into transport configuration:
a. Retract the boom. See BOOM LENGTH ADJUSTMENTS on p. 9.
b. Remove the pivot pin. Rotate the boom so that it rests against the mast. Strap the boom to the mast to
prevent it from bouncing during transport.
c. Unplug the winch power cord and store it inside the vehicle whenever the jib is not in use.
Side view
Front view
Hook/cable aligned
with centerline of load
(red dashed line)
Hook/cable not aligned
with centerline of load
(red dashed lines)
Side view
Front view