WARN INDUSTRIES * BASIC GUIDE TO PLOWING
4
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could
lead to minor or moderate injury.
General Safety:
• Always know your winch. Take time to fully read
the Installation Guide and the Basic Guide to
Winching Techniques in order to understand
your winch and its operation.
• Never operate this winch if you are under 16
years of age.
• Never operate this winch when under the
influence of drugs, alcohol or medication.
• Never exceed winch or rope capacity listed on
product data sheet. Double line using a snatch
block to reduce winch load.
Installation Safety:
• Always choose a mounting location that is
sufficiently strong to withstand the maximum
pulling capacity of your winch.
• Always use factory approved mounting
hardware, components, and accessories.
• Always use grade 5 (grade 8.8 metric) or better
mounting hardware.
• Always power winch with only the
recommended electrical system voltage. See
the winch specification sheet for details.
• Never weld mounting bolts.
• Always use care when using longer bolts than
those supplied from factory. Bolts that are too
long can damage winch and/or prevent the
winch from being mounted securely.
• Always mount the winch and attach the hook to
the rope’s end loop before connecting the
electrical wiring.
• Always position fairlead with WARNING label
on top.
• Always spool the rope onto the drum in the
direction specified by the winch warning label on
the winch and/or documentation. This is
required for the automatic brake (if so equipped)
to function properly.
• Always prestretch wire rope and respool under
load before use. Tightly wound wire rope
reduces chances of “binding”, which can
damage the rope.
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT
HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could
lead to minor or moderate injury.
Winching Safety:
• Always inspect, rope, hook, and slings before
operating winch. Frayed, kinked or damaged rope
must be replaced immediately. Damaged
components must be replaced before operation.
Protect parts from damage.
• Never leave remote control plugged into winch
when free spooling, rigging, or when the winch is
not being used.
• Never hook rope back onto itself. This damages
the rope.
• Always use a choker chain, choker rope, or tree
trunk protector on the anchor.
• Always remove any element or obstacle that may
interfere with safe operation of the winch.
• Always take time to use appropriate rigging
techniques for a winch pull.
• Always be certain the anchor you select will
withstand the load and the strap or chain will not
slip.
• Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is
under load, rope is in tension or drum is moving.
• Always select an anchor point as far away as
possible. This will provide the winch with its
greatest pulling power.
• Never touch rope or hook while in tension or
under load.
• Never touch rope or hook while someone else is
at the control switch or during winching operation.
• Always stand clear of rope and load and keep
others away while winching.
• Always be aware of stability of vehicle and load
during winching, keep others away. Alert all
bystanders of any unstable condition.
• Never use winch to secure a load.
• Always keep wired remote control lead clear of
the drum, rope and rigging. Inspect for cracks,
pinches, frayed wires or loose connections.
Replace remote control if damaged.
• Always pass wired remote control through a
window to avoid pinching lead in door, when using
remote inside a vehicle.
• Never leave remote control where it can be
activated during freespooling, rigging, or when the
winch is not being used.
• Always require operator and bystanders to be
aware of vehicle and or load.
