G O P R E P A R E D
™
19
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
G O P R E P A R E D
™
18
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
• Inspect the rope before and after each
winching operation. If the rope has
become kinked or frayed, the rope
needs to be replaced immediately. Be
sure to also inspect the winch hook
and hook pin for signs of wear or
damage. Replace if necessary.
• If your winch is equipped with
synthetic rope, review and understand
the Synthetic Rope Guide. Inspect
rope carefully after each use.
Replace if:
(1) rope bulk anywhere along the
length is reduced by 25% or more by
abrasion, (2) two or more adjacent
strands are cut, (3) flat areas or lumps
are found that are not eliminated by
flexing rope, or (4) excessive fused or
melted fibers are found. Any such
areas will be stiff and the rope will
have a glazed appearance.
• Keep winch, rope, and switch control
free from contaminants. Use a clean
rag or towel to remove any dirt and
debris. If necessary, unwind winch
completely (leaving a minimum of 5
wraps on spooling drum), wipe clean,
and rewind properly before storage.
Using a light oil on the wire rope and
winch hook can keep rust and
corrosion from forming.
• Operating your winch for a long period
of time places an extra burden on your
vehicle’s battery. Be sure to check and
maintain your battery and battery
cables according to manufacturer
guidelines. Also inspect switch control
and all electrical connections to be
certain they are clean and tight fitting.
• Inspect the remote control for
damage, if so equipped. Be sure to
cap the remote socket to prevent dirt
and debris from entering the
connections. Store remote control in a
protected, clean, dry area.
• No lubrication is required for the life of
the winch.
MAINTENANCE
THE FINAL ANALYSIS
The basic guide to proper winching
techniques cannot cover all the possible
situations in which you may need to use
a winch. In the final analysis, the
decisions you make will determine the
final outcome. So think through each
situation and each step of use. Always be
mindful of your own safety and the safety
of others. Pay attention and you’ll have
fun.
Freespooling of rope from the winch
drum may be more difficult at sub-
freezing temperatures. Place clutch
in the freespool position and power
out the rope for 2-3 m (6-10 ft) to
warm the winch.
Lifting and
lowering a
snowplow can
damage rope.
Carefully
inspect rope for
wear, broken
strands and/or
kinks. Replace
rope if any
damage found.
!
CAUTION
When not being used, the winch
should be left with the clutch in the
engaged position. This helps the
internal parts of the winch withstand
the effects of weather and
contamination.
STORAGE
SUB-ZERO OPERATION
Never operate
winch with less
than 5 wraps of
rope around the
drum. Rope could
come loose from
the drum, as the
rope attachment
to the drum is not
designed to hold
a load.
!
WARNING
Various winching situations will require
application of other winching techniques.
These could range from too little distance
to achieve maximum pull using straight
line rigging, simply increasing pulling
power, or maintaining a straight-line
pulling situation. You will have to assess
what technique is correct for your
situation. Think “safety” at all times.
How to change the
pulling direction
All winching
operations should have
a straight line from the
winch to the object
being pulled. This
minimizes the rope
collecting on one
side of the drum
affecting pulling efficiency and damaging
rope. A snatch block, secured to a point
directly in front of the vehicle, will enable
you to change your pulling direction while
still allowing the rope to be at 90º to wind
properly onto the spooling drum.
Increasing pulling power &
duration
In some cases, you may find yourself
needing more pulling power. The use of
snatch blocks increases mechanical
advantage and that increases your
pulling power:
Double line
Because pulling power decreases with
the number of layers of rope on the
winch drum, you can use a snatch block
to double line out more rope. This
decreases the number of layers of rope
on the drum, and increases pulling
power.
Start by feeding out enough rope to
free the winch hook. Attach the hook to
your vehicle’s frame and run the rope
through a snatch block. Do not attach
hook to mounting kit.
Disengage the clutch and, using the
snatch block, pull out enough wire to
reach your anchor point.
Secure to the anchor point with a tree
trunk protector or choker chain. Attach
the clevis/shackle. Attach the shackle to
the two ends of the strap/chain, being
careful not to over tighten (tighten and
back-off 1/2 turn).
Single line
Double line
RIGGING TECHNIQUES
