Polaris Sportsman Forest 500 Series Owner's Manual For Maintenance And Safety page 63

Winch Operation
13. Use as much cable as possible when pulling. Additional wraps of
cable on the spool will significantly reduce the pulling power of
your winch. If the winch is still not capable of pulling the load, use
a snatch block.
14. Never pull with less than five wraps of cable on the spool.
15. Inspect the condition of the cable prior to pulling. If the cable is
frayed or damaged, replace it as soon as possible.
16. DO NOT submerge the winch in water.
WINCH GUIDE
61