Frequently Asked Questions

ELECTRIC WINCHES

Q. My StrongArm® winch has quit working. Where can I have it fixed?

A. Dutton-Lainson offers winch repair services at our factory. There is a flat rate charge of $120.00 for overhaul/repair which includes all parts, labor, and return shipping in the continental U.S. Returns should be addressed as follows:

Dutton-Lainson Company

Attn: Winch Repair Dept.

1601 W. 2nd St.

Hastings, NE 68901

When returning the winch, be sure to enclose in the shipping carton a note with your name, return address, and a daytime telephone number. You will be notified when your winch is ready. Payment can be made by enclosing a check, or we can accept Visa or MasterCard.

Q. My winch is not operating properly or a part has failed. I would like to get it back into service as quickly as possible. What can I do short of sending it to you for repair?

A. We can help you trouble-shoot your problem and assist in shipping any parts you might need. Call 1-800-569-6577. We are available 8-5 Central Time Monday through Friday to help solve your winch problems.

Q. The first time I used my StrongArm® electric winch, it smoked and became very hot. Why would this happen with a new winch?

A. This is actually normal. When running the winch in the power out direction the brake mechanism gets very hot and burns off any oil film left from the assembly operation. As soon as the oil film is gone, the smoke will stop. As long as you observe the maximum run time for your winch, it is not a cause for concern.

Q. How long does an electric winch have to cool off after use?

A. The motor should cool 5 minutes for each 1 minute of run time.

MANUAL WINCHES

Q. How do I know what size winch is needed for my boat?

A. Generally, a 2-to-1 ratio is appropriate (1100 lb winch for a 2200 lb boat), but there are factors to consider. When a well-equipped and maintained roller trailer is used and the ramp setup is such that it allows the boat to float partway onto the trailer, the ratio can be stretched to 3-to-1. On the other hand, if the ramp is steep, a carpeted bunk trailer is used, or conditions require the winch to pull the boat a longer distance, the ratio should be reduced to 1-to-1.

Q. Is it necessary to have a brake winch for vertical lifting, or will a ratchet winch work?

A. A self-locking winch should always be used in any situation that involves vertical lifting. DLB-series or B-series brake winches, or a worm gear winch should be used to avoid the potential of a load free-wheeling out of control.

Q. Does a “B” at the end of the model number (example: DL1800AB) mean it’s a brake winch?

A. No. The “B” suffix means that the winch comes equipped with a hand brake that must be operated manually. It makes it easier to control the winch while releasing a load. It does not lock the load into place like a brake winch does.

Q. What does “gear ratio” mean?

A. How many handle revolutions it takes to turn the spool once. A gear ratio of 4:1 means that it takes four complete turns of the handle to turn the spool 360 degrees.

Q. What does “two-speed” winch mean?

A. Two drive shafts are used on a two-speed winch, to allow a choice between “low” and “high” gears. Lower gear would be used in steep or otherwise difficult situations, while the higher gear would result in faster operation. To change gears, the handle is removed and installed on the other drive shaft (no tools required).

Q. What is a “two-way” ratchet, and why don’t I find any on your website?

A. The term “two-way ratchet” is often misunderstood. All it means is that, prior to using the winch the first time, the user can choose which direction to wind the line onto the reel. Once that’s done, the extra ratchet position serves no purpose. Because of this, we developed and patented a reversible ratchet that is easier to use, but performs the same function. The ratchet pawl is installed with the assumption that cable will wind off the top of the reel (which is true in almost all cases), but it can be easily removed, turned around, and re-installed to allow cable to come off the bottom if needed.

Q. Can a brake winch be used on a boat trailer?

A. Yes. A brake winch is a good choice and adds an extra element of safety that many people like. There are also models available with a feature for quickly pulling line from the winch (DLB805A, DLB1205A and DLB1505A), which speeds the boat retrieval process.

Q. I want to use a brake winch to raise my canoe or bicycle up to the ceiling of my garage and hold it there when I'm not using it. Is this okay?

A. A brake winch or worm gear winch are well suited for this application; however, once in position the load must be secured by additional safety lines.

TONGUE JACKS

Q. My boat trailer jack handle broke and I've only used it a few times. Was it a bad part?

A. The most common cause is when the jack handle is squeezed between the trailer tongue and the bumper of the towing vehicle. Other symptoms of this condition would be a damaged handle bushing and or a missing top cap in addition to the broken handle. It is important to realize that the trailer jack will reduce how tightly one can turn, and care must be taken not to pinch the jack between the tongue and bumper. Sometimes repositioning the jack is helpful in preventing this kind of damage.

COUPLERS

Q. My coupler fits a little too loose (or tight) on my hitch ball. What do I do?

A. There are normal manufacturing variations in ball size, so adjustment may be necessary when changing from one tow vehicle to another. Some wear also occurs over time. D-L couplers are easily adjusted without tools. With the coupler in the open position it can be adjusted by pushing up on the ball clamp and nut locking channel and then turning the nut as needed. Proper adjustment is obtained when the coupler is as tight as possible on the ball and the locking lever can still be opened and closed.

Q. I’m not able to adjust my coupler so that the locking lever will close completely. I’ve adjusted the nut almost all the way out, and it still won’t fit. What can the problem be?

A. The ball clamp may not be properly engaged on the large rivet in the coupler housing. The large tab on the back side of the ball clamp must fit over the top of the rivet in the housing. On 1 7/8" couplers the problem could be caused by the nut locking channel(immediately above the nut) being improperly positioned. It should be installed with the open ends aligned side to side in the coupler. If it is aligned with the open ends front to back, the locking lever may not open and close properly. The instructions that came with the coupler illustrate the proper orientation of the ball clamp and nut locking channel.

FARM ITEMS

Q. What is the difference between the three different fence stretcher models?

A. Model 400 is the standard stretcher, and is the most popular. It releases a stretched wire very quickly.

Model 405 has an additional feature that allows the wire to be released slowly, instead of all at once.

Model 415 goes a step further – it has a third hook, which allows an infinite amount of wire to be stretched. When the ratcheting traveler hook is released to get another “bite,” the extra stationary hook allows the wire to be held tightly in place from both directions.

Q. I know that the purpose of fuel filter elements is to remove microscopic particles, and the micron size rating has something to do with that. What does the rating mean?

A. The smaller the micron rating, the smaller the particles that will be filtered. A 10-micron filter will remove more than a 15-micron filter.

Q. What about the Stainless steel strainers? Which one filters smaller particles?

A. For larger particles where a paper filter won’t work, a mesh strainer can be used. Model 470-16 filters 178 microns, and model 470-15 filters 381 microns.

Q. What is the maximum flow capacity of Goldenrod® filters?

A. Filtering efficiency deteriorates as flow rate increases. We recommend pumping no more than 12-15 gpm through the filter.

Q. What flow rate can I expect from a gravity fed fuel tank?