Warrior Winches GLADIATOR 80FTA12, Owner'S Manual

WINCH MANUAL 

WINCHING TECHNIQUES A-Z

8

WINCHING TECHNIQUES A-Z

a. Take time to asses your situation and plan your pull.
b. Put on gloves to protect your hands.
c. Disengage the clutch where possible to allow free-spooling and also 

save battery power.
d. (If supplied) Attach the hand saver hook to the clevis hook.
e. Pull out the wire rope to your desired anchor point safely.
f. Secure the clevis hook to the anchor point: Sling, chain or snatch block.  

Do not attach the hook back onto the wire rope.
g. Engage the clutch.
h. Connect the remote control lead to the winch. 
i. Start your engine to ensure power is being replenished to the vehicle 

battery.
j. Power in the wire rope guiding the wire under tension to draw up the 

slack in the wire.  Once the wire is under tension stand well clear. Never 

stand or step over the wire rope under tension.
k. Double check your anchors and make sure all connections are secure.
l. Inspect the wire rope.  Make sure there are at least 5 wraps of wire rope 

around the winch drum.(usually marked with red)
m. Drape a blanket or sail (Sold separately) over the wire rope 

approximately 5 to 6 feet from the hook.  Open the hood/bonnet for 

added protection.
n. Clear the area.  Make sure all people, spectators are well back and that 

no one is directly in front or behind the vehicle or anchor point.
o. Begin winching.  Be sure that the wire rope is winding evenly and tightly 

around the drum.  If needed, the vehicle that is being winched can be 

slowly driven to add assistance to the winching process.  Avoid shock 

loading; keep the wire rope under tension.
p. The vehicle to be winched should be placed in neutral and the 

emergency brake released.  Only release the brake pedal when under full 

tension.  Avoid shock loading to the winch.  This can damage the winch, 

rope and vehicle.
q. The winch is meant for intermittent use.  Under full load with a single 

line rig do not power in for more than 8 minutes without letting the motor 

cool down for a few minutes and then resume the winching operation.
r. The winching operation is complete once the vehicle is on stable ground 

and or can drive under its own power.
s. Secure the vehicle.  Be sure to set the brakes and place the vehicle in 

park.  
t. Release the tension on the wire rope.  The winch is NOT designed 

as securing device and should NEVER hold a load or secure whilst in 

transport, winch cable MUST be released when equipment or vehicle is 

secure. Not doing so will possibly damage the brake and winch and void 

any warranty.
u. Disconnect the wire rope from the anchor and NEVER leave connected.
v. Rewind the wire rope.  Make sure that any wire already on the drum has 

spooled tightly and neatly.  If not, draw out the wire and re-spool from the 

point where the rope is tight.
w. Keep your hands clear of the winch drum and fairlead as the wire rope is 

being drawn in.
x. Secure the hook and hook strap.

y. Disconnect the remote control lead and store in a clean, dry place.
z. Clean and inspect connections and mounting hardware for next 

winching operation.

MAINTENANCE

1.  Periodically check the tightness of mounting bolts and electrical 

connections.  Remove all dirt or corrosion and always keep clean.

2.  Do not attempt to disassemble the gear box.  Repairs should be 

done by the manufacturer or an authorized repair center.

3.  The gear box has been lubricated using a high temperature lithium 

grease and is sealed at the factory.  No internal lubrication is 

required.

REpLACING THE WIRE ROpE

If the wire rope has become worn or is beginning to show signs of fraying, 

it must be replaced before being used again.  

1.  Turn the clutch to the “CLUTCH OUT” position. 
2.  Extend cable to its full length. Note how the existing cable is 

connected to the drum. 

3.  Remove old cable assembly and attach new one as the old cable 

connected to the drum. Insert the end of the new rope and secure 

the screw M8x10.

4.  Ensure that the new cable wraps in the same rotation direction as 

the old one. The cable should exit the drum from the bottom, under 

the drum. (Underwind).

5.  Turn the clutch to the “CLUTCH IN” position.
6.  Winch cable onto drum, first five wraps being careful not to allow 

kinking, then winch cable must be wound onto the drum under a load 

of at least 10% rated line pull.



WARNING

Only replace the wire rope with the identical replacement part 

recommended by the manufacturer. Steel or synthetic ropes are NOT 

covered by any warranty offer and are sole responsibility of the owner 

or user to maintain and replace if necessary.