Muir DW 06–15 & DFF 08–15 Drum Winch — Operating & Installation Instructions

Mounting

1. Place the winch with no interference from other ropes or objects, a clear lead for the rode (use a roller if needed) and room below for the cables.
2. The winch can be underfeed or overfeed depending on the motor/gearbox position (see the feed rotation arrows on the drawings).
3. On an angled or curved deck or bulkhead fit a shaped mounting block. Use the winch itself as the template to mark the hole centres, then remove it and drill.
4. Bed base plate and block in sealant. Insulate with a non-conductive gasket on aluminium or steel hulls (also bolts, nuts and washers below deck). Light or foam-sandwich deck: plywood stiffener of at least 16mm (5/8") underneath.
5. Gearbox orientation: any angle using the supplied holes; at 45 degrees to the winch, 3 mounting holes are acceptable. On the DW12/DW15 the motor/gearbox can be mounted in 90° increments.
6. Wind the rope and chain onto the drum using the electric motor.

Rope Lead & Line Care

• Allow a minimum of 1 meter between the last roller and the drum. Inside a chain locker, feed the rope with a roller as wide as the drum.
• Avoid continuous pulls from extreme angles: the rope piles up at one end of the drum and can jam.
• Do not guide the rope onto the drum by hand or foot; use a roller or fairlead.
• In shallow water avoid overloading the drum with rope and chain.
• Muir 3-strand nylon line is treated with fabric softener; soak it in fresh water with fabric softener every 3 months.
• Rope-to-chain splice: seize the rope 400mm (16") from the end, put 20mm (3/4") of heat-shrink sleeve through the last link, pass one strand from one side and two from the other, shrink the sleeve, then back-splice two full tucks, pare down by 1/3, two tucks, pare down another 1/3, two tucks.

DFF Free-Fall Winches

• Mark the anchor end of the rode at 2 and 5 metre (6.5' & 16.5') intervals.
• Deploy: press DOWN for approx 2-3 seconds only (or reverse the winch): the clutch releases and the drum free-wheels. Holding the switch longer may damage the shaft or side plates and voids the warranty.
• Once anchor and chain are on the bottom (not while still falling), press UP to tighten the clutch and take up the slack; then tie the rope off to a cleat or bollard.
• Power down without free fall: loosen the declutcher with the clutch handle and let it drop to the bottom of its slot.
• Manual free fall: the clutch has a right-hand thread – turn the clutch handle anti-clockwise to release, clockwise to tighten.
• Grease the declutching pawl and clutch plunger periodically. Rinse clutch and brake plungers with fresh water after use so salt does not make them stick.
• Fit an isolation switch as well as a circuit breaker, so the rode cannot pay out if the winch is reversed accidentally.

All Drum Winches

• DW: lower with the DOWN switch while reversing the boat, so the chain lays out on the bottom; then tie off or use a snubber.
• Retrieve while motoring towards the anchor; check the rope spreads evenly on the drum and keep it clear of prop and rudder.
• Go gently for the last five (5) metres. If the anchor jams in the bow roller, run DOWN briefly to take the load off the gearbox.
• Stop the motor before changing direction.
• Intermittent use only: at maximum design loads avoid running for more than 5 min. Keep the engine running while winching.
• Never release the free spool clutch under load, never hold load on the winch, never lift people, no shock loads, no overhead hoisting. The rope may break before the winch stalls.
• Use only factory approved switches and accessories; do not machine or weld any part (both void the warranty).