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.
!
CAUTION
Never attach a
recovery strap
to the winch
hook to increase
the length of a
pull. Never
attempt to tow a
vehicle or object
with the
recovery strap
attached directly
Recovery Strap Never use a
to the winch
recovery strap in a winching operation.
hook. Never use
Because it is designed to stretch, it
"bungie" straps
stores energy and could react like a
that develop
rubber band should your rigging fail. Use
tremendous and
the recovery strap to "snatch" out a stuck
potentially
vehicle.
dangerous
Shovels & Hand Tools Quite often
during winching activities, you'll find
amounts of
yourself in need of some additional help.
force when
You may want to carry equipment such
stretched.
as a shovel and an axe.
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
G O P R E P A R E D
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Backup Parts Important backup
parts to carry for backcountry travel
should include an extra screw-pin
shackle, snatch block, and remote control
unit. For severe and continued winch
use, consider including an extra rope and
winch hook.
Toolbox Items Items to bring along
include hand wrenches, screwdrivers,
pliers and tools to change rope.
Battery Recommendations A fully
charged conventional ATV battery is
recommended to obtain peak perform-
ance from your winch. Make sure all
electrical connections are clean and tight.
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STRETCHING WIRE ROPE
The life of a wire rope is directly
rope. Never exit the vehicle with a load
related to the use and care it receives.
on the winch wire rope.
Tensioning the wire rope is critical to
ensure a long product life. Tensioning the
to prevent damage to the rope.
wire rope will prevent outer layers of wire
rope from pinching and deforming the
the side of the vehicle and away from the
inner layers. During its first use, a new
winch wire rope. Start the vehicle and
wire rope must be spooled onto its drum
place the transmission in neutral.
under a load of at least 500 lbs. (227
Release the parking brake while applying
kgs). Use the following instructions to
moderate brake pedal pressure. Press
properly stretch the wire rope onto the
power in on the switch. Your assistant
winch drum.
should signal you if the wire rope is
1) Choose a FLAT AND LEVEL
winding correctly by watching it move
location that is large enough to run out
across the fairlead as the wire rope is
the entire length of wire rope.
powered in. After winching in for
2) Turn the clutch lever on the winch
approximately 6 ft, stop winching. Slowly
to the "Free Spool" position. Grab hook
let up off of the brake pedal and then
strap and spool out the wire rope to the
apply the parking brake. This will ensure
last 5 wraps on the drum. Once the wire
that there is no load on the winch rope.
rope is spooled out, turn the clutch lever
Then place the transmission in park or
on the winch to the "Engaged" position.
gear and turn the vehicle off. Exit the
vehicle and inspect the winch to make
3) Attach the hook end of the rope to a
sure that the wire rope is being evenly
suitable anchor point and back the
wound onto the winch drum and not
vehicle away from the anchor point until
sinking into the lower layer. If the wire
there is very little slack in the wire rope.
rope is sinking, power the wire rope out
Before getting out of the vehicle, set the
and repeat this step from the beginning
parking brake, place the vehicle in gear
with more brake pedal pressure.
or park and turn the vehicle off.
4) Power in the winch until all of the
rope is winding onto the winch drum
wire rope slack is wound onto the winch
properly, repeat step 6 until the vehicle is
drum. Wearing gloves, hold tension on
within 3 ft of the winch anchor. Once
the wire rope with one hand; carefully
within 3 ft, slowly let up off of the brake
push the wire rope to the side of the
pedal and then apply the parking brake.
drum the wire rope is attached to so
This will ensure that there is no load on
there are no gaps between each coil on
the winch wire rope. Then place the
the drum. Be sure to check that the wire
transmission in park or in gear and turn
rope is winding off of the bottom of the
the vehicle off. Exit the vehicle.
drum, not the top, or the automatic load
Disconnect the hook from the anchor.
holding brake will not function properly. (If
While holding onto the supplied hook
the wire rope is winding off the top you
strap, hold tension on the winch rope and
have powered the winch "out" instead of
slowly power in the winch by "pulsing"
"in").
the power in on the remote control until
5) The following steps should be done
the hook is at the fairlead. DO NOT
using two people for proper safety. If you
POWER THE HOOK INTO THE
attempt to tension your wire rope alone
FAIRLEAD. This could cause damage to
be sure to always engage the parking
the fairlead.
brake, place the transmission in gear and
turn the vehicle off every time you exit
the vehicle to inspect the winch wire
WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES
G O P R E P A R E D
6) Use care to evenly wrap each layer
7) Instruct your assistant to stand to
!
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
8) When you are convinced the wire
a load.
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89292A0
WARNING