Many people do not always appreciate the importance of having a manual mechanical winch. Understanding the significance of this tool in most cases occurs only in critical situations, when, for example, it is necessary to rescue a car from a mud trap formed on a dirt road. Moreover, such moments can happen to almost every person, regardless of his type of activity and hobbies.
There is a huge selection of hand winches on the market. And in this variety, it is often very difficult to decide on the best option that has good performance characteristics and an affordable price.
Features of a manual winch
In fact, the entire system is tied to the drum. Special attention is paid to him, because virtually 50% of success in work depends on him. Due to it, the cable is wound and unwound, thus moving the loads horizontally.
- The minimum load that the cable will be able to handle is 150 kg. The maximum is 10 tons.
- It is noteworthy that when purchasing a cable, the maximum permissible load is often not indicated; instead, there is a marking.
- If you don’t have the knowledge to decipher it yourself, you can ask a consultant at the store where the winch was purchased.
Manufacturers declare the loads for which their products are designed. However, it is worth considering that equipment of the same class, but from different manufacturers, may have different load thresholds.
Chinese devices, for example, have a load threshold less than stated, so it is not recommended to use them to their full capacity; they should be loaded no more than 80% of the maximum.
Russian models, as a rule, work exactly with the stated characteristics. It is recommended to purchase the highest quality devices from the Armavir plant; it has existed for a very long time, has proven itself exceptionally well, and is widely recognized by users.
Operational Capabilities
Those who prefer a high-quality hydraulic winch and carry out the installation correctly can count on very rich functionality. The mechanism is directly controlled through levers – as a rule, there are two of them. The main advantage of branded models is the support of several traction modes. For example, in the basic order, the unit performs free unwinding and locking, and the remaining several modes differ in different tension transmissions. A modern hydraulic traction winch supports several speeds, which can also be controlled via a remote control.
Rules for operating a manual winch
It is worth using the above recommendation of a cable load of no more than 80% of the stated maximum as a first rule. This is because at the limit of its load the cable begins to break. It is worth considering that it is virtually not subject to stretching, but in any case, if it breaks, it will spring back in both directions. Therefore, when working with objects or using a winch, workers try to take a position behind some reliable shelter in case the cable breaks.
If a broken cable hits a person, it can cause very serious injuries, and even cause serious injuries that will result in death.
It is preferable to use rope-type cables. This is because their length varies from 1.5 to 10 meters, which makes their use safer in case of rupture.
- In addition to the drum, a gear is included. The transmission can also take the form of a gear drive, or be represented by a screw mechanism. This allows you to reduce the load on the working cable, which increases the safety of using such a system, and also slightly increases the maximum load.
- This entire system is attached to the frame, which, in turn, can have several types of fastenings in order to securely secure the winch.
- In any case, homemade winches will be much more effective than without the use of mechanical force. However, homemade installations are only capable of attracting cargo. Factory devices also have a mode for smoothly lowering the load, if necessary.
- Combined models are in great demand on construction sites. The markings on them may be “2.0/0.8”. This means that the horizontal thrust is a maximum of 2 tons, the vertical thrust is about 800 kg.
The markings are quite easy to decipher; on combined models, the first number is responsible for horizontal thrust, the second for vertical thrust.
Methods for securing a winch for work in horizontal and vertical planes
The safety of the work being carried out depends on the reliable fastening of the winch. As noted above, the mount must correspond to the lifting capacity of the winch. When lifting a load, it is recommended to use ballast devices or anchors to prevent the winch from moving in case of overweight. The use of anchors is more often used for lifting light loads, since there is a risk that the load will fall. The most reliable way is to secure the winch to the building structure or foundation using anchor bolts or install it on piles.
Electric winches must be serviced regularly. Every 3 months the winch needs to be lubricated by pouring grease into the filler hole. You also need to prevent the cable from getting wet and dry and lubricate it regularly. Industrial winches must undergo a complete refurbishment every year.
Types of hand winch
There are a large number of types of winches, both in power and functionality. In addition, specialized models are produced for use in strictly defined conditions to achieve certain goals. Let's consider the design varieties.
Lack of locking lever mechanism
Allows you not to look for a base that will be able to withstand a load comparable to that which the winch will pull. Thus, the structure can be used both horizontally and vertically.
The main element is the lever; it triggers a ratchet-type mechanism that rotates the shaft in only one direction.
The relative disadvantage of such models is the length of the cable. The value is 5-6 m, which will not be enough for some purposes. However, these models, depending on the configuration, can pull up to 10 tons.
Operation of the mechanism from the support
Such models are designed exclusively for horizontal movement of loads. If the load needs to be lifted at 45 degrees, the winch itself must be placed 15 cm above the ground.
- Please note that the greater the angle of the upcoming lift, the higher the winch must be positioned above the ground.
- Thus, if the angle is 65 degrees, the device needs to be raised to a height of 70 cm.
What are they needed for
A winch is a valuable acquisition for any motorist. After all, it is she who will come to the rescue in the most seemingly hopeless situation.
I will share my experience from my own life. I went to visit my parents one day. Although they live not far away, getting to them is a real challenge. They have to find out in advance whether it has recently rained near their village. If so, then the trip was canceled and postponed to another date, when the “road,” let’s call it that, dried out. I left when my father gave the green light. Everything would be fine, but the rain caught me right on the road. I think, but I’ll push and have time to get through. But it was not there. Having almost reached my parents, in front of me there was something reminiscent of a road in its outline. Only it consisted of a solid dirty puddle. The devil pulled me to risk driving through. He took a risk on his own. While my parents’ neighbors were waiting for a tow truck in the form of a tractor, more than an hour passed. The car is dirty, the mood is spoiled.
Having already reached his father, he asked, why don’t you buy yourself a winch? Every second of us has it. Thank you, dad, for your timely advice.
I watched a video about them, went shopping, talked to smart people. And then I had the idea to share with you information about these life-saving devices. They can really be useful in emergency situations. I advise everyone to buy it so as not to get into trouble like I did.
Essentially, all types of hand winches can be divided into two categories:
- lever;
- drum
And it’s better to talk about them separately.
Using a hand winch
Most often, such designs are necessary for motorists, especially those who often drive off-road. Lever models are very often used in cars, because they are quite reliable, have adequate traction and are also compact, which allows you to carry them with you on a regular basis.
They can also be used for small construction jobs to lift materials to the desired floor or lower something. They are widely used in country houses and garages.
- Electrical units can also be used, but for their operation they are connected to the engine, which creates additional consumption of resources.
- In addition, electric models are larger, but at the same time more convenient to use.
It is also worth considering that lever installations are much cheaper than those powered by electricity.
Types of cables
There are mainly two types of cables used - metal and synthetic. The option of twisting steel threads may seem preferable, but, oddly enough, it has significant drawbacks. Firstly, you should not place special hopes on metal in terms of strength. Over time, some of its threads break, and at some point it is necessary to replace it. Secondly, a hydraulic winch with a metal cable is unsafe. Those same broken threads can injure the skin of your hands and damage your clothing, and if you miss the moment of critical wear, then a complete rupture of the cable during the pulling process can lead to tragic consequences. Synthetic is also not perfect, but it is less dangerous, less dynamic and lasts longer with proper care. Such a cable should be protected from sunlight, and after use in contact with sand, the fibers should be thoroughly washed.
Photos of the best hand winch models
Lever analogues
If you want to buy yourself a reliable “lifesaver” for an SUV or for a passenger car, which you often have to drive on poor roads or destinations, then I advise you to turn your attention to lever devices. The design is quite simple - it is a steel frame, inside of which the mechanism itself is located.
The work is carried out using a lever mounted on the body. Since great forces are applied to the lever, they can be counted on in extreme situations and in circumstances where drum models are not able to help out.
The traction force can be 2t and reach 5t in some models. And this is if you use a standard lever. And there are manufacturers who make telescopic arms and offer them as a set. There is no need to make homemade devices.
The main component of a lever winch is the ratchet. With its help, the cable is fixed in a tense position. Essentially, this is a wheel with persistent teeth, each of which rests on a latch. In this simple way, the wheel does not turn in the opposite direction and maintains the required cable tension. The entire load falls on the frame. So I advise you to choose only high-quality models with fairly thick metal. If the frame has a thickness of less than 3 mm, such a winch is not worth buying. Even if you buy a used device, be sure to measure the thickness of the frame. But a homemade winch is a device with many contradictions. It's better to buy, that's my advice.
Let's start choosing
Of course, models such as LR-15, MTM 1.6 t or devices produced by Zubr are an excellent choice for the motorist. However, do not rush to conclusions or search for relevant advertisements on Avito.
Believe me, Moscow and St. Petersburg offer a fairly large assortment of used and brand new winches. Have I repeatedly scoured various markets in search of the perfect device for all occasions? And you know what I realized? And the fact is that cases are different, and a universal winch is a purely individual concept.
In other words, you should choose the “helper” for yourself. What is needed for this? From personal experience I will say that you should pay attention to several basic parameters.
- Design. A car winch must be of high quality, reliable and strong. Questionable build quality, rusty bolts or any extraneous play should cause only one reaction - a quick escape from such a store. You don’t want to buy a winch that won’t pull the car out and even injure you, do you? The answer is obvious.
- Belt or cable. The motorist must decide for himself what to use. From the point of view of reliability and practicality, a cable is, of course, better. But it is more difficult to install. The belt is less durable. Although let's be honest, you won't pull your car out of the mud every day, will you? Or will you? Where do you live and what do road services do in your region? Well, it's all a joke. Go ahead.
As you can see, lever units can become the optimal solution that will save you from dirt, roadsides and other unpleasant surprises on the road. I can only wish you good luck on your journey and find yourself as rarely as possible “captured” by our excellent communications between populated areas or beyond.
Have you ever found yourself in such situations, have you had to use a winch, and how rational do you think such a purchase is? Be sure to share your opinion in the comments. We will be very interested in communicating with you and answering your questions.
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The lever winch is a manual type mechanism. Having a limited load capacity, they are nevertheless simple and compact, and therefore are used for small lifting and subsequent horizontal movement of cars, heavy machine equipment, pallets with a variety of construction materials and other operations.
