Mile Marker PE4500 ES Installation And Operator's Manual page 7

Winching Tips & Techniques
SELF-RECOVERY
1. Always attempt to get the cable as straight as possible to the direc-
tion of the vehicle. It is acceptable to start a pull at an angle if it is
obvious that the vehicle will turn towards the hook anchoring point.
Turning the steering wheel will assist the process. It is recommended
that the driver is in the vehicle.
2. Make sure hand brake and foot brake are free and that the trans-
mission is in neutral.
3. When the driver's attempt to regain vehicle traction is successful,
he or she should be careful not to overrun the cable and risk the pos-
sibility of it being trapped under the vehicle.
4. DO NOT move your vehicle in reverse to assist the winch. The com-
bination of the winch and vehicle pulling together could overload the
cable and winch itself.
USE OF A PULLEY BLOCK OR SNATCH BLOCK
Vehicle self-recovery using the pulley block attached to the anchor
point for direct pull. In this instance the vehicle becomes the "load"
and the actual pulling power on the vehicle will be double at half
winch rope speed. Never connect wire rope or hook back to winch
mount!
Below: Direct pull on load using the winch vehicles as the anchor with
pulley block attached to the load.
The most important aid to successful winching (after the winch) is
the pulley block, which can be used to increase the pulling power
of the winch of for indirect pulls. Pulley blocks can be used in two
modes. First mode is attached to the load and second is secured to
an anchor point.
Below: Indirect pull necessitated by obstructions or soft
ground. Pulley block attached to load using a suitable anchor
point. Note the angled direction taken by the load and subse-
quent angle of rope feed-back on the winch drum (extreme
example shown). There may be unavoidable circumstances
requiring this mode, though in general it is not recommend-
ed unless applied in stages by moving the anchor point or
vehicle to avoid the sharp angled rewind on the winch drum.
The actual load pulling power and rope speed will depreciate
with any increased angle between the ropes.
The anchor point, when used must be secure, using a tree,
another vehicle or any firm structure to which a pulley block
can be used to your advantage.
USE OF A NYLON SLING AND SHACKLE
•A shackle should always be used when attaching winch
hooks to nylon slings. NOTE: The shackle must pass through
both eyes of the sling. The safe working load of the nylon
sling is based on the use of both eye ends.
Never use the cable or hook to connect directly to the nylon
sling.
USE OF GLOVES
•When handling or rewinding the cable always use gloves
to eliminate the possibility of cuts caused by burrs and bro-
ken strands. Inspect cable and equipment frequently. The
cable should be replaced immediately if any sign of burrs
or broken strands are evident. A frayed cable with broken
strands should be replaced immediately. Always replace the
cable with a Mile Marker recommended replacement part.
Any substitution must be IDENTICAL in strength, quality, lay
and stranding. Never hook the cable back onto itself. Hook-
ing the cable back onto itself creates an unacceptable strain,
breaking individual strands which in turn weakens the en-
tire cable. Use a sling. Avoid continuous pulls from extreme
angles as this causes cable to pile up at one end of the drum.
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