4. SPOOLING THE ROPE
•
We recommend the use of an assistant when spooling the rope.
•
Spooling should be undertaken on a large open and level area.
•
First, lay out the rope in front of the vehicle ensuring there are no twists or kinks.
•
With the winch clutch disengaged, feed the drum terminal through the front of the roller/
hawse fairlead and connect to the drum.
a) If the winch has a 'through the drum' type fixing, undo the Allen head grub
screw and feed the end of the rope through the hole until it is visible on the other
side. Secure the grub screw.
b) If the winch has a 'flange' type fixing then secure the ring terminal at the end of
the rope using the Allen head cap screw, but only tighten finger tight to allow the
fixing to swivel on the screw.
•
Attach the hook end to a suitable anchor point and position the vehicle so there is at
least 3m of slack on the rope. Apply the vehicle hand brake.
•
Holding the rope with gloved hands and at least 5m back from the winch apply as
much pressure as you can by leaning your body weight against the rope and walking
towards the winch whilst using the wired remote to wind in. Ensure that each wrap
lays tightly next to the other until the rope tensions against the anchor point. There
should be at least 6 wraps around the drum.
•
The rope must be wound onto the drum from the bottom of the drum.
•
Using the wired remote and whilst gently applying the vehicle foot brake to maintain
tension, use the winch to pull the vehicle towards the anchor point.
•
During the operation, regularly stop the winch, apply the handbrake to maintain
tension and check the rope is evenly spooling onto the winch.
•
If you have an assistant, they should remain in the vehicle to operate the brake, whilst
you maintain control of the winch from outside the vehicle using the wired remote.
•
When the rope is all but approx. 3m spooled in, using the hand saver to hold the
hook, reverse the winch slightly to allow the hook to be released.
•
Maintaining tension on the rope, pulse the remote to take in the remaining rope and
then anchor the hook onto a suitable mounting point on the vehicle.
Note
•
Important: it is the first 6-8 tight wraps around the drum and NOT the drum terminal
fixing point that allows the wire or synthetic rope to grip onto the drum.
•
The drum fixing is not load-bearing. It is only designed to allow the cable to be wound
on under sufficient load for it to wrap tightly onto the drum.
•
When wire rope is new it is greasy and springy and can easily unwind on the drum if
tension is ever released.
•
If the outer wraps of a wire rope do 'unwind' then you must pull the whole rope out and
re-spool under tension. Failure to observe this will result in failure of the drum fixing.
6
info@winchmax.co.uk
Tel +44(0)1986899264