Content Source: 2020 GEM em1400 LSV Owner’s Manual (9931124-EN R01) > Winch Guide Chapter

IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle.Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

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Winch Operation

Read the Winch Safety Precautions in the preceding pages before using your winch.
TIP
Consider practicing the operation and use of your winch before you actually need to use it in the field
WARNING
Improper winch use can result in SEVERE INJURY or DEATH. Always follow all winch instructions and warnings in this manual.
Each winching situation is unique.
  • Take your time to think through the winching you are about to do.
  • Proceed slowly and deliberately.
  • Never hurry or rush during winching.
  • Always pay attention to your surroundings.
  • You may need to change your winching strategy if it is not working.
  • Always remember that your winch is very powerful.
  • There are simply some situations that you and your winch will not be able to deal with. Do not be afraid to ask others to help when this happens
  1. Always inspect the vehicle, winch, winch cable and winch controls for any signs of damage or parts in need of repair or replacement before each use. Pay particular attention to the first 3 ft (1 m) of winch cable if the winch is being used (or has been used) for lifting an accessory plow assembly. Promptly replace any worn or damaged cable.
  2. Never operate a winch or a vehicle in need of repair or service.
  3. Always apply your vehicle’s park brake and/or park mechanism to hold the vehicle in place during winching. Use wheel chocks if needed.
  4. Always use the hook strap when handling the hook
    WARNING
    Never put your fingers into the hook. This could lead to SEVERE INJURY.
    1. Attach the hook itself onto the load or use a tow strap or chain to secure the load to the winch cable.
      TIP
      A “tow strap” is NOT intended to stretch. A “recovery strap” is designed to stretch.
      WARNING

      Never use a recovery strap when winching due to

      the excessive energy that can be released if the winch cable breaks. This can result in SEVERE INJURY or DEATH. See the Shock Loading section on page 42.

    2. Never hook the winch cable back onto itself. This will damage the winch cable and may result in winch cable failure.
      WARNING
      Replace the winch cable at the first sign of damage to prevent SEVERE INJURY or DEATH in the event of failure. For your safety, always replace POLARIS winch parts (including the cable) with genuine POLARIS replacement parts available at your authorized POLARIS dealer.
    3. If possible, keep the winch cable aligned with the centerline of the winching vehicle. This will help the spooling of the winch cable and reduce the load on the fairlead.
    4. If freeing a stuck vehicle by attaching to a tree, use an item such as a tow strap to avoid damaging the tree during winch operation. Sharp cables and chains can damage and even kill trees. Please remember to Tread Lightly® (treadlightly.org).
    5. Before operating the winch, be sure that the safety latch on the winch cable hook is fully seated when the load is attached.
    6. Never operate your winch with a damaged hook or latch. Always replace damaged parts before using the winch.
  5. Never remove the hook strap from the hook.
  6. Release the winch clutch and pull out the winch cable.
  7. Pulling out as much cable as possible maximizes the winch’s pulling capacity. Always be sure that at least five (5) full turns of winch cable are wrapped around the winch drum at all times. The friction provided by this wrapped cable allows the drum to pull on the winch cable and move the load
  8. Read and adhere to the following information for winch damping to ensure safe winch use.
    1. In order to absorb energy that could be released by a winch cable failure, always place a “damper” on the winch cable. A damper can be a heavy jacket, tarp, or other soft, dense object. A damper can absorb much of the energy released if a winch cable breaks when winching. Even a tree limb can help as a damper if no other items are available to you.
    2. Lay the damper on top of the mid-point of the winch cable length that is spooled out.
    3. On a long pull, it may be necessary to stop winching so that the damper can be repositioned to the new mid-point of the winch cable. Always release the tension on the winch cable before repositioning the damper.
    4. Avoid being directly in line with the winch cable whenever possible. Also, never permit others to stand near or in line with the winch cable during winch operation.
  9. Never hook the winch cable back onto itself. This will damage the winch cable and may result in winch cable failure.
  10. Never use straps, chains or other rigging items that are damaged or worn.
  11. The ONLY time a winch-equipped vehicle should be moving when using the winch is when that vehicle itself is stuck. The winch-equipped vehicle should NEVER be in motion to “shock” load the winch cable in an attempt to move a second stuck vehicle. See the Shock Loading section on page 42. For your safety, always follow these guidelines when winching a vehicle free:
    1. Release the winch clutch and spool out the necessary length of winch cable.
    2. Align the winch cable as close as possible to the winching vehicle’s centerline.
    3. Attach the winch cable hook to the anchor point or the stuck vehicle’s frame following instructions in this manual.
    4. Re-engage the clutch on the winch.
    5. Slowly winch in the slack in the winch cable.
    6. Select the proper vehicle gear to propel the stuck vehicle in the direction of winching.
    7. Shift to the lowest gear available on the stuck vehicle.
    8. Slowly and carefully apply vehicle throttle and winch together to free the vehicle.
    9. Stop winching as soon as the stuck vehicle is able to propel itself without the help of the winch.
    10. Detach the winch cable hook.
    11. Rewind the winch cable evenly back onto the winch drum following the instructions in this manual.
  12. Never attempt to winch another stuck vehicle by attaching the winch cable to a suspension component, brush guard, bumper or cargo rack. Vehicle damage may result. Instead, attach the winch to a strong portion of the vehicle frame or hitch.
  13. Extensive winching will run down the battery on the winching vehicle. Let the winching vehicle’s engine run while operating the winch to prevent the battery from running low if winching for long periods.
  14. The winch motor may become hot during winch use. If you winch for more than 45 seconds, or if the winch stalls during operation, stop winching and permit the winch to cool down for 10 minutes before using it again.
  15. After winching is complete, especially if winching at an angle, it may be necessary to re- distribute the winch cable across the winch drum. You will need an assistant to perform this task.
    1. Release the clutch on the winch.
    2. Feed out the winch cable that is unevenly bunched up in one area.
    3. Re-engage the winch clutch.
    4. Have an assistant pull the winch cable tightly with about 100 lb (45 kg) of tension using the hook strap.
    5. Slowly winch the cable in while your assistant moves the end of the winch cable back and forth horizontally to evenly distribute the winch cable on the drum.
    6. Doing this reduces the chances of the winch cable “wedging” itself between lower layers of winch cable.

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