WARN Tabor 12K User Manual [en, es, fr]
Warn Industries, Inc.
12900 S.E. Capps Road
Clackamas, OR USA 97015-8903
1-503-722-1200 FAX: 1-503-722-3000
www.warn.com
Customer Service / Service Clients: 1-800-543-9276
International Sales Support / Les Ventes internationales
Soutiennent: 1-503-722-3008
© 2011 Warn Industries, Inc.
WARN®, the WARN logo are registered trademarks of Warn Industries, Inc.
WARN® et le logo WARN sont des marques
déposées de Warn Industries, Inc.
62885A6
WARN WINCH LINE
(Domestic)
BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
LE MANUEL DE BASE DES TECHNIQUES DE
TREUILLAGE
English...........................................................................1
Français.......................................................................21
Español........................................................................41
ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
The Basic Guide to
Winching Techniques
Every winching situation has the potential for personal injury. In order to minimize
that risk, it is important that you read this Basic Guide carefully, familiarize yourself
with the operation of your winch before having to use it, and be constantly safety
oriented. In this Guide, we will set forth many of the basic rules of safe winch
operation. However, because every winching situation is different, your constant
good judgment and consistent focus on safety are of great importance.
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S :
Symbol Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
General Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Winch basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
How the winch works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Winch accessories & enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Before you pull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
Pulling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-17
Rigging techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The final analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
WARN INDUSTRIES OFF-ROAD PRODUCTS
12900 S.E. Capps Road
Clackamas, OR 97015-8903 USA
Customer Service: 1-800-543-WARN
Fax: 1-503-722-3000
www.warn.com
SYMBOL INDEX
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
SYMBOL EXPLANATION
Read the Instruction
Manual
Always Wear Hearing and
Eye Protection
Never Use Winch as a
Hoist
Properly Seat Load in
Throat of Hook
Wind Rope on Bottom of
Drum
Finger/Fairlead Crushing
Hazard
Hand Piercing/Cutting
Hazard
Explosion/Bursting Hazard
Sharp Edge Hazard
SYMBOL EXPLANATION
Always Wear Leather
Gloves
Do Not Move People
Always Use Supplied Hook
Strap
Never Apply Load to Hook
Tip or Latch
Never Wind Rope Over Top
of Drum
Fairlead Pinch Point
Hot Surface Hazard
Fire and Burn Hazard
Moving Parts Hazard
Warnings and Cautions
As you read these instructions, you will see WARNINGS,
CAUTIONS, NOTICES and NOTES. Each message has a specific
purpose. WARNINGS are safety messages that indicate a
potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided could
result in serious injury or death. CAUTIONS are safety messages
that indicate a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury. A CAUTION
may also be used to alert against unsafe practice. CAUTIONS
and WARNINGS identify the hazard, indicate how to avoid the
hazard, and advise of the probable consequence of not avoiding
the hazard. NOTICES are messages to avoid property damage.
NOTES are additional information to help you complete a
procedure. PLEASE WORK SAFELY!
WARNING
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
• Always ensure hook latch is closed and not supporting
load.
• Never apply load to hook tip or latch. Apply load only to
the center of hook.
• Never use a hook whose throat opening has increased, or
whose tip is bent or twisted.
• Always use a hook with a latch.
• Always ensure the operator and bystandnders are aware
of the stability of the vehicle and/or load.
• Always keep wired remote control lead and power cord
clear of the drum, rope, and rigging. Inspect for cracks,
pinches, frayed wires or loose connections. Damaged
components must be replaced before operation.
• Always pass remote lead thru window when used in
vehicle.
WARNING
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
General Safety:
• Always Know Your Winch. Take time to fully read the
Instructions and/or Operations Guide, and/or Basic Guide
to Winching Techniques, in order to understand your
winch and its operations.
• Never exceed winch or winch rope rated capacity. Double
line using a snatch block to reduce winch load.
• Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling winch
rope.
• Never use winch or winch rope for towing. Shock loads
can damage, overload and break rope.
• Never use a winch to secure a load.
• Never operate this winch when under the influence of
drugs, alcohol or medication.
• Never operate this winch if you are under 16 years of age.
Installation Safety:
• Always choose a mounting location that is sufficiently
strong to withstand the maximum pulling capacity of your
winch.
• Always use grade 5 (grade 8.8 metric) or better hardware.
• Never weld mounting bolts.
• Always use factory approved mounting hardware,
components, and accessories.
• Never use bolts that are too long.
• Always complete the winch installation and hook
attachment before installing the wiring.
• Always keep hands clear of winch rope, hook loop, hook
and fairlead opening during installation, operation, and
when spooling in or out.
• Always position fairlead with warning readily visible on
top.
• Always prestretch rope and respool under load before
use. Tightly wound rope reduces chances of “binding”,
which can damage the rope.
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GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
WARNING
WARNING
WARNING
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
Winching Safety:
• Always inspect winch rope, hook, and slings before
operating winch. Frayed, kinked or damaged winch
rope must be replaced immediately. Damaged
components must be replaced before operation. Protect
parts from damage.
• Always remove any element or obstacle that may
interfere with safe operation of the winch.
• Always be certain the anchor you select will withstand
the load and the strap or chain will not slip.
• Always use supplied hook strap whenever spooling
winch rope in or out, during installation and during
operation.
• Always require operators and bystanders to be aware of
vehicle and or load.
• Always be aware of stability of vehicle and load during
winching, keep others away. Alert all bystanders of an
unstable condition.
• Always unspool as much wire rope as possible when
rigging. Double line or pick distant anchor point.
• Always take time to use appropriate rigging techniques
for a winch pull.
• Never touch winch rope or hook while someone else is
at the control switch or during winching operation.
• Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is under
load, winch rope is in tension or drum is moving.
• Never touch winch rope or hook while under tension or
under load.
• Always stand clear of winch rope and load and keep
others away while winching.
• Never use vehicle to pull load on winch rope. Combined
load or shock load can damage, overload and break
rope.
• Never wrap winch rope back onto itself. Use a choker
chain or tree trunk protector on the anchor.
FALLING OR CRUSHING HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
• Always stand clear, keep hands clear, keep others away.
• 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.
• Never use winch as a hoist or to suspend a load.
• Always be certain anchor will withstand load, use
appropriate rigging and take time to rig correctly.
• Never use winch to lift or move persons.
• Never use excessive effort to freespool winch rope.
• Always use proper posture/lifting technique or get lifting
assistance while handling and installing product.
• 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 spool the winch rope onto the drum as indicated
by the drum rotation label.
WARNING
CUT AND BURN HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
To avoid injury to hands and fingers:
• Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling winch
rope.
• Always be aware of possible hot surfaces at winch motor,
drum or rope during or after winch use.
CHEMICAL AND FIRE HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
serious injury or death.
• Always remove jewelry and wear eye protec tion.
• Never route electrical cables across sharp edges.
• Never route electrical cables near parts that get hot.
• Never route electrical cables through or near moving
parts.
• Always place the supplied terminal boots on wires and
terminals as directed by the installation instructions.
• Never lean over battery while making connections.
• Never route electrical cables over battery terminals.
• Never short battery terminals with metal objects.
• Always verify area is clear of fuel lines, fuel tank, brake
lines, electrical wires, etc., when drilling.
• Always consult operator’s manual for proper wiring
details.
• Always insulate and protect all exposed wiring and
electrical terminals.
CUT AND BURN HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
minor or moderate injury.
• Never let winch rope slip through your hands.
CAUTION
MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD
Failure to observe these instructions could lead to
minor or moderate injury.
To avoid injury to hands or fingers:
• Never leave remote control where it can be activated
during free spooling, rigging, or when the winch is not
being used.
• Never leave the winch remote control plugged in when
installing, freespooling, rigging, servicing or when the
winch is not being used.
NOTICE
AVOID WINCH AND EQUIPMENT DAMAGE
• Always avoid side pulls which can pile up wire rope
at one end of the drum. This can damage wire rope or
winch.
• Always ensure the clutch is fully engaged or disengaged.
• Always use care to not damage the vehicle frame when
anchoring to a vehicle during a winching operation.
• Never submerge winch in water.
• Always store the remote control in a protected, clean,
dry area.
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ELECTRIC WINCH BASICS
ELECTRIC WINCH BASICS
WA RNI NG
Always take time
to fully understand
your winch and the
winching operation
by reviewing this
guide and the
Operator’s Guide
included with your
winch..
Structural components of
a planetary gear winch
1
So, you have your Warn winch and you’re
ready to get out on the trails: climb a few
boulders, splash a little mud, traverse the
occasional stream. Basically, you’re ready
to explore the backcountry and otherwise
have a great time.
Well, if you’re smart enough to go
prepared with the best, you’re probably
smart enough to know that to keep having
a great time, you need to fully understand
your winch and the winching operation.
That’s exactly what this guide intends to
do: provide you with a basic understanding
of your winch and teach you the basics of
proper winching techniques. But before
we get started, we must emphasize that
3
6
9
the informa tion in this guide is general in
nature. Because no two situations are alike,
it would be nearly impossible to review
them all. We can, however, provide you
with the general principles and techniques.
Then it is up to you to take the time to
analyze the situation and apply the proper
technique.
Along with a little common sense, the
guidelines laid out in this book can help
you keep off-roading fun. Just remember
to think through each situation before you
act and TREAD LIGHTLY!
8
2
7
5
1
7
6
5
4
To start, you should familiarize
yourself with your Warn winch and each
of its components: Practice using your
winch before using it on the trail.
1
Motor Typically the winch motor
is powered by the vehicle’s battery.
The motor provides power to the gear
mechanism, which turns the winch drum
and winds the wire rope.
2
Winch Drum The winch drum is the
cylinder onto which the wire rope feeds.
The drum is driven by the motor and
drive train. Its direction can be changed
using the remote control.
Wire Rope The wire rope’s diameter
3
and length are determined by the winch’s
load capacity and design. Wrapped
around the winch drum and fed through
the fairlead, the wire rope is looped at
the end to accept the hook’s clevis pin.
Fairlead When using the winch at
4
an angle, the fairlead (or wire lead) acts
to guide the wire rope onto the spooling
drum. It minimizes damage to the wire
rope while it goes through the winch
mount or bumper.
8
2
3
Inset above: There is a stopper
on the side of the winch body for
this large diameter reel. In fact,
this reel is also the brake.
9
5
Gear Train The reduction gear
6
converts the winch motor power into a
large pulling force. The gear train design
makes it possible for the winch to be
lighter and more compact.
6
Braking System The brake is
automatically applied to the winch drum
when the winch motor is stopped and
there is load on the wire rope. The brake
prevents the winch from paying out line,
which in turn holds the vehicle in place.
Clutch The clutch allows the
7
operator to manually disengage the
spooling drum from the gear train,
enabling the drum to rotate freely
(known as “freespooling”). Engaging the
clutch “locks” the winch drum back onto
the gear train.
Control Box Using electrical power
8
from the vehicle’s battery, the control
box solenoids switch power to the
motor, enabling the operator to change
the direction of the winch drum rotation.
9
Remote Control The remote control
plugs into the winch control box,
allowing the operator to control the
The 8274-50 winch has
a different structure.
This winch uses spur
gears for reduction.
Moreover, it has an
automatic disc type
brake on the body side.
WA RNI NG
Never engage or
disengage clutch
if winch is under
load, winch rope is
in tension or drum is
moving.
winch direction, as well as stand well
clear of the wire rope while operating
the winch.
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WA RN I ND US TR IE S • TH E BA SI C GU IDE TO WI NC HI NG T EC HN IQ UE S
The winch is controlled
by the hand held
remote control to
allow the operator to
stand clear during the
winching process.
HOW THE WINCH WORKS
Winch Mechanics
Now that you’ve familiarized
yourself with your Warn winch and its
components, we can begin reviewing
how it works. The major advantage of
an electric-powered winch is that it
can provide reliable service for intermittent utility and recreational use even
while the vehicle’s engine is stalled
— assuming, of course, that sufficient
battery current is available. Your winch
can operate at high current loads, and,
for this reason, the control box uses a
high current control system to safely
handle the current flow.
It is important to understand that the
longer the pull, the more heat that is
created, just like a hot plate. Prolonged
winching without cooling the winch
motor will damage the motor. Also, if
the engine is idling during winching,
the battery may drain faster than it is
charging. So pay close attention to your
voltage gauge to make sure you aren’t
draining your battery too low to start
your vehicle.
Control Of Your Winch
The winch is controlled by the
hand held remote control to allow the
operator to stand clear while controlling
the winching process. The remote
control provides control of the forward
or reverse rotation of the spooling drum.
How the Winch Reacts to Load
Warn winches are rated by pulling
capacity. The maximum pulling capacity
occurs on the first layer of wire rope
on the drum. As the layers increase,
the pulling power decreases. It’s the
mathematics of winching. Exceeding
the winch capacity could cause the
winch to fail or the wire rope to break.
Thinking through how you intend to use
your winch now, could save you a big
headache later.
In addition, you’ll also want to
make sure that your winch’s mounting
system and your vehicle’s frame can
accommodate the rated load of your
winch.
So analyze your situation. Use your
judgement to calculate how much
weight you intend to pull. Calculate the
gross weight and multiply by 1.5 and
then do not exceed the rating of your
winch or wire rope.
WINCH ACCESSORIES YOU’LL WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU
Alone, the winch is not much more than
a simple tool. But when used with certain
accessories and enhancements, your
Warn winch can become a versatile and
productive tool. In this section, we’ll
review several of these items. Some are
vital to the safe operation of your winch,
while others offer added versatility and
convenience.
Gloves Wire rope, through use, will
develop “barbs” which can slice skin. It is
extremely important to wear protective
gloves while operating the winch or
handling the wire rope. Avoid loose
fitting clothes or anything that could
become entangled in the wire rope and
other moving parts.
Hook Strap Use to hold the hook
and keep fingers away from the fairlead
as the wire rope is being spooled in.
Winches develop tremendous pulling
forces and can easily remove fingers and
limbs that are placed in pinch points. Put
the hook into the loop and hold the strap
between the thumb and forefingers.
Snatch Block Used properly, the
multi-purpose snatch block allows you to:
(1) increase your winch’s pulling power;
and (2) change your pulling direction
without damaging the wire rope. Proper
use of the snatch block is covered in
“Before You Pull”.
Clevis/D-Shackles The D-Shackle is
a safe means for connecting the looped
ends of cables, straps and snatch blocks.
The shackle’s pin is threaded to allow
easy removal.
Choker Chain Can be used to hook-
up to another vehicle or sharp objects
for an anchor point. Chains, however, will
damage or kill trees.
Tow Hooks Secured properly to your
vehicle’s frame, tow hooks provide an
attachment point for wire hooks, straps,
and chains.
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WA RN I ND US TR IE S • TH E BA SI C GU IDE TO WI NC HI NG T EC HN IQ UE S
WINCH ACCESSORIES YOU’LL WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU
BEFORE YOU PULL
CA UT IO N
Never use a strap for
winching.
Never use a strap
for towing. The strap
can be easily cut or
abraded.
Never use “bungie”
straps that develop
tremendous and
potentially dan ger ous
amounts of force
when stretched.
Tree Trunk Protector Typically made
of tough, high-quality nylon, it provides
the operator an attachment point for the
winch rope to a wide variety of anchor
points and objects, as well as protect
living trees.
Recovery Strap Never use a recovery
strap in a winching operation. Because
it is designed to stretch, it stores energy
and could react like a rubber band
should your rigging fail. Use the recovery
strap to “snatch” out a stuck vehicle.
Heavy Blanket In certain situations
you may decide to throw a heavy
blanket or similar object over the wire
rope. A heavy blanket, such as a quilted
mover’s blanket, can absorb energy
should the wire rope break. Place it
on the wire rope midway between
the winch and the anchor point. Do
this before the wire rope is put under
tension. Do not approach or move the
blanket once tension is applied. Do not
allow it to get pulled into the fairlead.
If necessary to move or remove the
blanket, slack the tension on the wire
rope first.
Shovels & Hand Tools Quite often
during winching activities, you’ll find
yourself in need of some additional help.
You may want to stow equipment such
as a shovel, an axe and a Hi-Lift jack for
additional assistance when needed.
Backup Parts Important backup
parts to carry for backcountry travel
should include an extra screw-pin
shackle, snatch block, and remote
controlp. For severe and continued
winch use, consider including an extra
wire rope and winch hook.
Toolbox Items Items to bring along
include hand wrenches, screwdrivers,
pliers, and tools to change wire rope.
Booster Cables Many roadside
emergencies stem from a dead battery.
To prevent exhausting your electrical
source, you can install a dual battery
system and a battery isolator kit. Also, it’s
wise to include battery booster cables
and the Warn quick-connect cable
system.
Battery Recommendations A fully
charged conventional automotive
battery with a minimum rating of 650
cold cranking amps is recommended
to obtain peak performance from your
winch. Make sure all electrical connections are clean and tight.
Practice using your winch before you
get stuck. A real situation is no time to be
learning how to use your winch. Make sure
new wire rope is stretched before it is first
used.
Stretching Wire Rope
The life of a wire rope is directly related
to the use and care it receives. During its first
use, a new wire rope must be spooled onto
its drum under a load of at least 1000 lbs.
(454 kgs). Use the following instructions to
properly stretch the wire rope onto the winch
drum.
1) Choose a FLAT AND LEVEL location that
is large enough to run out the entire length
of wire rope.
2) Turn the clutch lever on the winch to
the “Free Spool” position. Spool out the wire
rope to the last 5 wraps on the drum. Once
the wire rope is spooled out, turn the clutch
lever on the winch to the “Engaged” position.
3) Attach the hook end of the rope to a
suitable anchor point and back the vehicle
away from the anchor point until there is very
little slack in the wire rope. Before getting
out of the vehicle, set the parking brake,
place the vehicle in gear or park and turn the
vehicle off.
4) Connect the remote control to the
winch. Standing approximately 8 ft away
from the winch, power in the winch until all
of the slack is wound onto the winch drum.
Disconnect the remote control from the
winch. Hold tension on the wire rope with
one hand; carefully push the wire rope to the
side of the drum the wire rope is attached to
so there are no gaps between each coil on
the drum. Be sure to check that the wire rope
is winding off of the bottom of the drum, not
the top, or the automatic load holding brake
will not function properly. (If the wire rope is
winding off the top you have powered the
winch “out” instead of “in” on the remote
control).
5) The following steps should be done
using two people for proper safety. If you
attempt to tension your wire rope alone be
sure to always engage the parking brake,
place the transmission in gear and turn the
vehicle off every time you exit the vehicle to
inspect the winch wire rope. Never exit the
vehicle with a load on the winch wire rope.
Tensioning the wire rope is critical to ensure
a long product life. Tensioning the wire rope
will prevent outer layers of wire rope from
pinching and deforming the inner layers.
6) Use care to evenly wrap each layer to
prevent damage to the rope.
7) Pass the remote control through the
driver’s window for the driver of the vehicle
to operate. Instruct your assistant to stand
to the side of the vehicle and away from the
winch wire rope. Your assistant should signal
you if the wire rope is winding correctly by
watching it move across the fairlead as the
wire rope is powered in. Start the vehicle and
place the transmission in neutral. Release
the parking brake while applying moderate
brake pedal pressure. Press power in on the
remote control switch. After winching in for
approximately 6 ft, stop winching. Slowly let
up off of the brake pedal and then apply the
parking brake. This will ensure that there is
no load on the winch rope. Then place the
transmission in park or gear and turn the
vehicle off. Exit the vehicle and inspect the
winch to make sure that the wire rope is
being evenly wound onto the winch drum
and not sinking into the lower layer. If the
wire rope is sinking, power the wire rope out
and repeat this step from the beginning with
more brake pedal pressure.
8) When you are convinced the wire rope
is winding onto the winch drum properly,
repeat step 6 until the vehicle is within 6 ft of
the winch anchor. Once within 6 ft, slowly let
up off of the brake pedal and then apply the
parking brake. This will ensure that there is
no load on the winch wire rope. Then place
the transmission in park or in gear and turn
the vehicle off. Exit the vehicle. Disconnect
the hook from the anchor. While holding onto
the supplied hook strap, hold tension on the
winch rope and slowly power in the winch by
“pulsing” the power in on the remote control
until the hook is within 3 ft of the fairlead.
Stop winching in and attach the hook to a
suitable anchor point on the vehicle. DO NOT
POWER THE HOOK INTO THE FAIRLEAD. This
could cause damage to the fairlead. Once
the hook is suitably attached to the vehicle,
power in the remaining slack in the winch
rope by “pulsing” the power in on the remote
until there is minimal slack in the winch wire
rope.
WA RNI NG
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.
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BEFORE YOU PULL
BEFORE YOU PULL
WA RNI NG
Always use
supplied hook strap
whenever spooling
winch rope in or out,
during installation
or operation to
avoid injury to
hands and fingers.
WA RNI NG
Always keep hands
clear of winch rope,
hook loop, hook and
fairlead opening
during installation,
operation, and when
spooling in or out.
Whether you’re recovering another
vehicle or pulling a stump from the
ground, knowing the proper winching
techniques can help keep you and others
around you safe. And perhaps the most
important part of the winching process,
regardless of the situation, is what you
do before you pull.
In this section, we’ll show you the
basic fundamentals for effective winching. However, it is up to you to analyze
the situation and make the decisions
necessary for the proper use of your
winch. Apply your knowledge of your
winch and the basic fundamentals
you’ve practiced and adjust your techniques to your unique situation. Some
keys to remember when using your Warn
winch:
1. Always take your time to assess
your situation and plan your pull
carefully.
2. Always take your time when using a
winch.
3. Use the right equipment for your
situation.
4. Always wear leather gloves and
do not allow the wire rope to slide
through your hands.
5. You and only you should handle the
wire rope and operate the remote
control switch.
6. Think safety at all times.
7. Practice. Practice and practice the
steps.
Single line pull
Rigging for the Pull
The following steps describe how
to recover your vehicle with rigging a
single line pull. Double or multiple line
rigging techniques follow the same basic
steps, but use a snatch block to assist
the process.
Step 1: PUT ON GLOVES.
Step 2: DISENGAGE CLUTCH. To allow
free spooling of the winch drum,
rotate the clutch lever on the winch
to Disengage. Freespooling conserves
battery power.
Step 3: FREE THE WINCH HOOK AND
ATTACH HOOK STRAP. Free the winch
hook from its anchor point. Attach hook
strap to the hook (if not attached).
Step 4: PULL WIRE TO ANCHOR POINT.
Pull out enough wire rope to reach your
anchor point. Be sure to keep a certain
amount of tension in the wire. It can
become twisted and overwrap when
slackened, leading to wire rope damage.
To prevent loosing the end, hold the
winch hook in the hook strap while you
work.
Step 5: SECURE TO THE ANCHOR POINT.
Once you’ve established your anchor
point, secure the tree trunk protector or
choker chain around the object.
Step 6: ATTACH THE CLEVIS/DSHACKLE
AND HOOK STRAP. Attach the shackle to
the two ends of the strap or chain and
through the hook loop, being careful
not to over tighten (tighten and backoff 1/2 turn).
How to choose an anchor point:
A secure anchor is critical to winching
operations. An anchor must be strong
enough to hold while winching. Natural
anchors include trees, stumps, and rocks.
Hook the cable as low as possible. If no
natural anchors are available, when
recovering another vehicle, your vehicle
becomes the anchor point. In this case,
be sure to put the transmission in neutral,
apply the hand brake and block its wheels to
prevent your vehicle from moving.
Ideally, you’ll want an anchor point
that will enable you to pull straight in the
direction the vehicle will move. This allows
the wire rope to wind tightly a nd evenly
onto the spooling drum. An anchor point as
far away as possible will provide the winch
with its greatest pulling power.
Stakes or axles,
driven in at an
angle and tied
together.
Spare tire and rim
buried deep and
the chain secured
through the rim.
Buried log with
chain secured
around the log.
WA RNI NG
Never engage or
disengage clutch
if winch is under
load, winch rope is
in tension or drum is
moving.
CAUT ION
Never leave remote
control where it
can be activated
during free spooling,
rigging, or when the
winch is not being
used.
WA RNI NG
Never wrap winch
rope back onto itself.
Use a choker chain or
tree trunk protector
on the anchor.
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WA RN I ND US TR IE S • TH E BA SI C GU IDE TO WI NC HI NG T EC HN IQ UE S
WA RNI NG
Never use winch as
a hoist or to suspend
a load.
WA RNI NG
Never use winch
or winch rope for
towing.
Shock loads can
damage, overload
and break rope.
WA RNI NG
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.
N O T I C E
Always avoid
continuous side pulls
which can pile up
wire rope at one end
of the drum. This
pile up of wire can
damage wire rope or
winch.
Step 7: LOCK THE CLUTCH. Lock the
winch drum by rotating the clutch lever
on the winch to Engage.
Step 8: CONNECT THE REMOTE
CONTROL. Be careful not to let the
remote control cord dangle in front of
the winch. If you choose to control the
winch from inside your vehicle, always
pass the remote through a window to
avoid pinching the cord in the door.
Always disconnect the remote control
when not in use.
Step 9: PUT WIRE ROPE UNDER TENSION.
Using the winch switch, slowly wind the
wire rope until no slack remains. Once the
wire rope is under tension, stand well
clear, and never step over it.
Step 10: CHECK YOUR ANCHOR. Make
sure all connections are secured and
free of debris before continuing with the
winching procedure.
PULLING
As you probably have already noticed,
there are many things to do and consider
before you actually begin pulling. Think
through what you’re doing and you can
keep yourself and those around you out
of harm’s way.
Operating your winch properly is so
important, in fact, you should practice
these techniques before having to face
the distractions and stresses of a real
winching situation.
Step 11: CHECK WIRE ROPE. The wire
rope should be neatly wound around the
spooling drum. Improper winding can
cause damage to the wire rope.
Step 12: LAY SOMETHING OVER THE
WIRE ROPE, if you decide it is necessary,
midway between the winch and the
anchor point to absorb energy should
the wire rope snap loose. Tree limbs,
heavy jackets, chain, back pack and the
like may be used for this purpose.
Establish “no people”
zones:
Step 13: MAKE YOUR INTENTIONS CLEAR.
Be sure that everyone in the immediate
vicinity surrounding the winching
operation is completely aware of your
intentions before you pull.
Declare where the spectators should
not stand — never behind or in front of
the vehicle and never near the wire rope
or snatch block. Your situation may have
other “no people” zones.
Step 14: BEGIN WINCHING. With the
winching vehicle’s engine on and light
tension already on the wire rope, begin
winching slowly and steadily. Be sure
that the wire rope is winding evenly
and tightly around the spooling drum.
For additional assistance, the winched
vehicle can be slowly driven while being
pulled by the winch.
Step 15: FOR VEHICLE RECOVERY,
continue pulling until the vehicle is on
stable ground. If you are able to drive
the vehicle, the winching operation is
complete.
PULLING
Step 16: SECURE VEHICLE. Once recovery
of the vehicle is complete, be sure to
secure the vehicle’s brakes and put the
Transmission in “park” (automatic) or
“low” gear for (manual) transmissions.
Release tension in the wire rope.
What to look for under load
The wire rope must always spool
onto the drum as indicated by the drum
rotation decal on the winch.
As you power in, make sure the wire
rope winds evenly and tightly on the
drum. This prevents the outer wire wraps
from drawing into the inner wraps,
binding and damaging the wire rope.
Avoid shock loads by using the control
switch intermittently to take up wire rope
slack. Shock loads can momentarily far
exceed the winch and wire rope ratings.
During side pulls the wire rope tends
to stack up at one end of the drum. This
stack can become large enough to cause
serious damage to the winch. So, line up
pulls as straight ahead as possible and
stop winching if the wire rope comes
close to the tie rods or mounting plate.
To fix an uneven stack, spool out that
section of the rope and reposition it to
the opposite end of the drum which will
free up space for continued winching.
N O T I C E
Avoid over heating
the winch motor. For
extended winch ing,
stop at reasonable
intervals to allow the
winch motor to cool
down.
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