Models: SA5015DC, SA7015DC, SA9015DC, SA12015DC
Use this manual if your electric winch has a black cover, it operates on a 12 volt battery, and it has a handheld remote switch as shown.
Note: The model numbers on the winch decal do not include “15”, which indicates that a remote switch has been installed. These winches are identified on the decal as SA5000/SA7000 or SA9000/SA12000.
Find in the list below the problem you are experiencing with your winch, then click the “+” sign near a “Possible Cause” for an explanation of how to fix it.
Symptoms & Solutions
Motor will not run in either direction
Corrective Action:
Make certain that 12 volt power is getting to the winch. If you can hear the relays make a click noise when you push the switch IN and OUT, then power is present and you can proceed to the next trouble shooting step. If not, check the battery and the connection of the wiring harness to the battery. The most common problem is an insufficient ground connection on the negative wiring harness wire. It is possible to measure 12 volts at the winch with a meter, but have a ground connection that will not allow sufficient current to run the motor. Disconnect and clean the ground connection and reassemble. Check to be sure that the red connector on the end of the wiring harness is securely snapped into the mating connector on the winch and that all four wires going to this connection are secure. If these steps do not solve the problem, check for a faulty circuit breaker by temporily removing it from the system. Also check the entire length of the wiring harness for a broken wire. Once you confirm that 12 volt power is getting to the relays inside the winch, then proceed to the next trouble shooting steps.
Motor runs in only one direction
Corrective Action:
If the winch runs in the IN direction only, then replace the relay connected to the black motor wire. If the winch runs in the OUT direction only, replace the relay connected to the red motor wire. Order relay number 206439. Although this is the most common problem, you may wish to test the switch and check the wiring as described in the next steps before ordering a new relay.
Winch motor continues to run when switch is released
Corrective Action:
First, unplug the switch cord from the winch. If this causes the winch to stop, then the switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. Order switch number 304325. If this did not stop the winch and it is stuck running in the IN direction, then replace the relay connected to the red motor wire. If the winch is stuck running in the OUT direction, replace relay connected to the black motor wire. Order relay number 206439.
Winch runs immediately when power cord is attached
Corrective Action:
First, unplug the switch cord from the winch. If this causes the winch to stop, then the switch is faulty and needs to be replaced. Order switch number 304325. If this did not stop the winch and it is stuck running in the IN direction, then replace the relay connected to the red motor wire. If the winch is stuck running in the OUT direction, replace relay connected to the black motor wire. Order relay number 206439.
Winch runs backwards
Corrective Action:
On SA5000/SA7000 models the cable must wind onto the top side of the winch drum and on SA9000/SA12000 models the cable must wind onto the bottom side of the drum. This is critically important and must not be reversed. If you are not sure which model you have, the model number is shown at the bottom of the back decal.
Winch smokes
Corrective Action:
It is not unusual for the winch to smell hot or smoke during the first few uses while powering the winch in the Out direction. The brake device gets extremely hot and sometimes creates smoke for the first few uses. This should not happen when the winch is pulling cable in.
Motor runs hot
Corrective Action:
Limit motor run time to a maximum of four minutes followed by at least 20 to 30 minutes of cooling. Motor run time is critical even when winch is not pulling its full capacity or is letting cable out.
Motor has difficulty pulling load
Corrective Action:
If motor slows down a lot and groans to pull load, winch is probably overloaded. Reduce the amount of load being pulled or use a pulley block and hook to increase the pulling capacity of the winch.
Motor runs but winch fails to pull cable
Corrective Action:
Move clutch lever to engaged gears position.
Circuit breaker trips
Corrective Action:
The circuit breaker is designed to cut power to the winch in the event of a substantial overload. It will automatically reset after a short cooling period. Note that the circuit breaker will not protect the motor from damage due to excessive run time.
Winch will not hold load
Corrective Action:
On SA5000/SA7000 models the cable must wind onto the top side of the winch drum and on SA9000/SA12000 models the cable must wind onto the bottom side of the drum. If the cable is wound the wrong direction, the brake will not work. If you are not sure which model you have, the model number is shown at the bottom of the back decal.
Winch will not freewheel cable out
Corrective Action:
First confirm that clutch is in freewheel position. Then with no load on winch jog power switch to see if clutch will open and allow freewheeling. If this does not work, remove any load from the winch, put the clutch lever in the freewheel position and remove the winch cover. Then gently pry the clutch gear and mating gear apart by inserting a screwdriver between them.
Cable stuck on winch reel
Corrective Action:
Cable may have become wedged between the wraps of lower layers. There is no easy solution to this except to pull on the cable hard enough to pull it free. Avoid this problem by keeping cable neatly and tightly wound on the drum. See cable damage section below.
Cable damage
Corrective Action:
The cable is considered a perishable item and will periodically need to be replaced. Follow these suggestions to maximize cable life: Shorten the cable to the minimum length necessary for your application remembering to keep at least three turns on the drum before starting to pull a load. Excess cable length makes loose, crisscrossing wraps more likely. Make certain that the first layer of cable on the drum is wound neatly and tightly and additional layers will follow in neat, tight wraps. It is essential to keep some tension on the cable during this process. Never start pulling a load with loose cable on the drum. This will almost certainly cause kinks and crushing and wedging cable into lower layers. Allowing loose cable to wind onto drum may also cause it to get caught in gears or other parts causing serious winch damage. It is also important to keep winch reasonably aligned with the load being pulled so that the cable does not severely rub the edges of the cable opening.
Cable breaks
Corrective Action:
See Cable damage section above.
Hook spreads open
Corrective Action:
Make certain that load is fully engaged into the throat of the hook allowing the safety latch to close. Engaging only the point of the hook on the load could cause hook to open up or break.
