5
TECHNIQUES OF OPERATION
The best way to get acquainted with how
your winch operates is to make test runs
before you actually use it. Plan your test in
advance. Remember, you hear your winch,
as well as see it operate. Get to recognize
the sounds of a light steady pull, a heavy
pull, and sounds caused by load jerking or
shifting. Gain confidence in operating your
winch and its use will become second
nature with you. The uneven spooling of
rope, while pulling a load, is not a problem,
unless there is a rope pileup on one end of
drum. If this happens reverse the winch to
relieve the load and move your anchor point
further to the center of the vehicle. After the
job is done you can unspool and rewind for
a neat lay of the rope.
The Dow-Lok
®
clutch provides free spooling
and clutch engagement with the rope drum.
With the clutch disengaged, the rope can be
freespooled off the drum.
For winching in the load, the clutch must be
fully engaged with the drum.
The Dow-Lok
®
clutch is latched into either
the engaged, “IN” position, or the
disengaged “OUT” position, by a pin at the
bottom of the shifter handle which fits into
latching slots.
TO UNLATCH CLUTCH
Run winch in the reverse (reel out) direction
until the load is off the rope. Grasp handle
firmly, while pushing on the top of the
handle with the thumb for leverage, lift until
pin clears latching slots.
TO ENGAGE CLUTCH
Unlatch and pull handle toward “IN” position
as far as it will go. In order to attain full
engagement, internal elements of the clutch
must be aligned. This alignment will take
place when the rope drum or rope drum
shaft turns a maximum of 1/4 revolution.
The clutch will automatically spring into
engagement and pin will drop into “IN” slots
when this alignment takes place.
Do not
attempt to pull a load unless pin is fully
into “IN” slots. Keep clear of spring
loaded handle during automatic
engagement.
TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH
Unlatch and push handle to “OUT” position
and fully insert pin into latching slots. Do not
disengage the clutch under load.
The Dow-Lok
®
air-shifter clutch
provides
free spooling and clutch engagement with
the rope drum. With the clutch disengaged,
the rope can be freespooled off the drum.
For winching in the load the clutch must be
fully engaged with the drum.
TO ENGAGE CLUTCH
There must be a minimum of 0,5 m (1.5 ft)
of slack in the rope before attempting to
engage the clutch. This will allow the drum
to rotate a minimum of 1/4 turn allowing
engagement of the clutch before pulling the
load. With this slack in the rope, exhaust air
pressure from the air shift cylinder. Run the
winch in the “IN” direction until the clutch
starts to turn. Clutch must be fully engaged
before starting the winch operation.
TO DISENGAGE CLUTCH
Run winch in the “OUT” direction until there
is no load on the rope. Apply 4,8-6,2 bar
(70-90 psi) to the air shift cylinder to
disengage the clutch.
Do not disengage
the clutch under load.
The Dow-Lok
®
low-profile shifter clutch
provides free spooling and clutch
engagement with the rope drum. With the
clutch disengaged, the rope can be
freespooled off the drum. For winching in the
load the clutch must be fully engaged with
the drum.
