Operating instructions, Operating instructions & stretching wire rope – WARN XD9000i User Manual
Page 7
 
WARN INDUSTRIES
9
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Remote Control Switch
Do not leave the remote
plugged into the winch when not in 
use. Leaving the remote plugged 
in, may result in a dangerous 
condition and/or battery drain.
Clutch Operation
When the clutch is engaged,
the gear train is coupled to the 
wire rope drum and power can be 
transferred from the winch motor. 
When the clutch is disengaged it 
is in the freespool position and the 
gear train and wire rope drum are 
uncoupled allowing the drum to 
rotate freely.
The clutch lever, located on
the winch housing opposite the 
motor, controls the clutch position. 
To prevent damage, always fully 
engage or fully disengage the clutch 
lever.
Vertical/Horizontal Remote:
Disengaged:
Engaged:
WARNING
Never engage or 
disengage clutch 
if winch is under 
load, winch rope 
is in tension or 
drum is moving.
Spooling Out
Freespooling is generally the
quickest and easiest way to spool 
out wire rope. Before freespooling 
wire rope out from the winch, 
power out enough rope to remove 
any tension the wire rope might be 
under. Disengage the clutch. Then 
freespool by manually spooling out 
enough wire rope for the winching 
operation. See The Basic Guide 
to Winching Techniques for more 
information.
Always leave at least 5 wraps
of rope on the drum.
Spooling In Under Load
Never exceed winch’s rated
line pull.
Power-in the wire rope evenly
and tightly on the drum. This 
prevents the outer wire wraps 
from sinking into the inner wraps, 
binding, and damaging the wire 
rope.
Avoid shock loads when
spooling, by pulsing the control 
switch to take up wire rope slack. 
Shock loads can momentarily far 
exceed the winch and rope ratings.
Spooling In Under No Load
Spooling with an Assistant: Have 
the assistant hold the hook strap 
putting as much constant tension 
on the wire rope as possible. While 
keeping tension, the assistant 
should walk toward the winch while 
you operate the control switch 
spooling in the wire rope. Release 
the switch when the hook is a 
minimum of 6 ft. (2 m) from the 
fairlead opening.
Spool in the remainder for
storage as directed below.
Spooling Alone: Arrange the wire 
rope to be spooled so it will not 
kink or tangle when spooled. Be 
sure any wire rope on the drum is 
tightly and evenly layered. Spool 
enough wire rope to complete the 
next full layer on the drum. 
Tighten and straighten the layer.
WARNING
Never operate 
winch with less 
than 5 wraps 
of rope around 
the drum. Rope 
could come 
loose from the 
drum, as the 
rope attachment 
to the drum is 
not designed to 
hold a load.
WARNING
Always
take time to 
fully understand 
your winch and 
the winching 
operation by 
reviewing The 
Basic Guide 
to Winching 
Techniques 
included with 
your winch.
NOTICE
Do Not power-
out rope more 
than 30 ft. 
without allowing 
the winch to cool 
for 20 minutes 
before powering 
rope back in. 
Instead, place 
the clutch in 
freespool and 
pull the rope off 
by hand. 
WARN INDUSTRIES
10
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS & STRETCHING WIRE ROPE
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Cont.
Repeat process until the hook is a
minimum of 6 ft. (2 m) from the 
fairlead opening.
Spool in the remainder for
storage as directed below.
Spooling Remainder for Storage
When the hook is within 6 ft. (2 m) 
of the fairlead, disconnect the hook 
from the anchor or load. Hold onto 
the supplied hook strap and hold 
tension on the winch rope. Slowly 
power-in the winch by “pulsing” 
the power-in switch on the remote 
control until the hook is within 
3 ft. (1 m) of the fairlead. Stop 
winching in and attach the hook 
to a suitable anchor point on the 
vehicle. 
DO NOT POWER THE
HOOK INTO THE FAIRLEAD. 
This could cause damage to the 
fairlead. Once the hook is suitably 
attached to the vehicle, power-in 
the remaining slack in the winch 
rope by “pulsing” the power-in 
switch on the remote control until 
there is minimal slack in the winch 
wire rope.
Overloading/Overheating
This winch is rated for
intermittent duty. When the motor 
approaches stall speed, very rapid 
heat buildup occurs which may 
cause motor damage. 
Double-line rigging (see
The Basic Guide to Winching 
Techniques) will reduce the 
amperage draw, and reduce heat 
buildup in the motor. This allows 
longer continual use.
STRETCHING WIRE ROPE
The life of a wire rope is
directly related to the use and care 
it receives. During its fi rst use, a 
new wire rope must be spooled 
onto its drum under a load of at 
least 1000 lbs. (454 kgs). Use the 
following instructions to properly 
stretch the wire rope onto the 
winch drum.
1) Choose a FLAT AND LEVEL 
location that is large enough to run 
out the entire length of wire rope.
2) Turn the clutch lever on the 
winch to the “Free Spool” position. 
Spool out the wire rope to the last 
5 wraps on the drum. Once the 
wire rope is spooled out, turn the 
clutch lever on the winch to the 
“Engaged” position.
3) Attach the hook end of the rope 
to a suitable anchor point and back 
the vehicle away from the anchor 
point until there is very little slack in 
the wire rope. Before getting out of 
the vehicle, set the parking brake, 
place the vehicle in gear or park 
and turn the vehicle off.
4) Connect the remote control to 
the winch. Standing approximately 
8 ft. (2.44 m) away from the 
winch, power-in the winch until 
all of the slack is wound onto 
the winch drum. Disconnect the 
remote control from the winch. 
Hold tension on the wire rope with 
one hand; carefully push the wire 
rope to the side of the drum the 
wire rope is attached to so there 
are no gaps between each coil 
on the drum. Be sure to check 
that the wire rope is winding off 
of the bottom of the drum, not the 
top, or the automatic load holding 
brake will not function properly. 
(If the wire rope is winding off the 
top you have powered the winch 
“out” instead of “in” on the remote 
control). 
WARNING
Always keep 
hands clear 
of winch rope, 
hook loop, hook 
and fairlead 
opening during 
installation, 
operation, and 
when spooling in 
or out.
WARNING
Always use 
supplied hook 
strap whenever 
spooling winch 
rope in or 
out, during 
installation or 
operation to 
avoid injury 
to hands and 
fi ngers.
WARNING
Always wear 
heavy leather 
gloves when 
handling winch 
rope. 
WARNING
Never touch 
winch rope 
or hook while 
someone else 
is at the control 
switch or 
during winching 
operation.