Familiarize yourself with the winch and each of its components:
1.
Motor:
Typically powered by vehicle’s battery. Provides power to the
gear mechanism which turns the drum to wind the wire rope.
2.
Winch drum:
Driven by the motor and drive train. Drum direction can
be changed by using the remote control.
3.
Wire rope:
Wrapped around the winch drum and fairlead, the wire
rope is looped off at the end to accept the hook’s clevis pin. When the
rope is being reeled in under motor power, it is being “powered in”.
When the wire rope is being reeled out under motor power, it is being
“powered out”. “Powering out” is different than “freespooling out” which
refers to the wire rope being pulled out by hand with the clutch
disengaged.
4.
Fairlead:
Acts as a guide for the wire rope when using the winch at
an angle. Minimizes damage to the wire rope while it goes through the
winch mount or bumper.
5.
Gear train:
Converts winch motor power into pulling force.
6.
Braking system:
Prevents winch from paying out line, which in turn
holds the vehicle in place. The brake is automatically applied to the
winch drum when the motor is stopped and there is load on the rope.
2008 F-250/350/450/550
(f23)
Supplement
USA
(fus)
Driver Controls
5
