GUIDE TO SAFE WINCHING
The following safety precautions must be observed at all times whilst using the winch.
Keep yourself and others at a safe distance to the side of the wire rope when pulling under
load.
Never step over, stand near or guide a rope under tension.
Always use heavy-duty gloves when handling the wire rope to protect against cuts or
possible burns.
Take care of the wire rope. Check regularly for signs of wear in the form of broken strands
or severe kinks along its length. If there are more than 10 strands broken in any one inch
of the rope's length, then it will be significantly weakened and must therefore be replaced.
Wear and tear can be prevented by regular application of rope dressing available in
aerosol form from your winch supplier. Oil and grease should never be used.
Always ensure that the rope is rewound neatly back onto the drum after use. If the rope is
tensioned whilst unevenly wound, then loose coils can become trapped and badly
damaged.
Do not drive the vehicle to pull a load on the winch wire rope, e.g. as a tow rope. Any
resulting shock load could break the rope or damage the winch.
If the winch is being operated at maximum capacity, drape a heavy blanket or coat over
the wire rope, halfway along its length. The blanket will reduce the speed of a snapped
rope.
When recovering a vehicle, the winch hook should be attached to the towing hitch, if
available, or to a strap or chain around a chassis leg or cross member. NEVER anchor the
winch hook onto bumpers, or shipping/transit anchorage.
Do not allow the load to 'snatch' during a pull, as this can momentarily double, or even
treble the load on the rope.
Try to position either your vehicle or the anchor point to ensure as straight a pull as
possible. Use a snatch block if it is necessary to turn any corners with the rope.
When attaching the hook to the load, always double check that the hook is secure and the
safety catch is fully closed. Remember that if the hook breaks away under tension, serious
injury can result as the hook will travel through the air at speed.
A minimum of five wraps of rope around the drum is necessary to support the rated load.
The rope to drum securing clamp is not designed to hold a load.
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