Use this manual if you have a DLB350A, DLB350AG, DLB800A, DLB800AG, DLB1200A, DLB1500A, DLB1500AG, DLB2000A, or DLB2500A brake winch.
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.
SAFETY NOTES: All D-L brake winches are built for multipurpose hauling and lifting operations. They are not to be used as hoists for lifting, supporting or transporting people, or for loads over areas where people are present.
Symptoms & Solutions
Winch is brand new. It raises load and makes clicking noise, but when the handle is released, it turns and allows the load to come down.
Corrective Action:
The spring that is intended to go onto the end of the drive shaft may have been placed onto the shaft before the handle was threaded onto the winch. The spring and locknut must be in place on the end of the drive shaft exactly as shown in photo. If spring is not present in this location, it was probably placed on shaft before the handle was installed. This spring and locknut may appear to serve no function, but they provide several important fail-safe features and should not be altered or removed. Remove the locknut from the end of the shaft and remove handle form shaft. If you now find the spring on the shaft it will likely be severely damaged and will need to be replaced. Order spring number 204364. Reassemble parts in the correct order as shown in the photo and the winch should work fine.
Winch is older. It used to work perfectly, but now it raises load and makes clicking noise, but when the handle is released, it turns and allows the load to come down.
Corrective Action:
Examine the ratchet pawl and spring, and the bolt and spacer that hold the pawl in place. This maybe somewhat hard to do with the winch assembled, so some disassembly of the winch may be necessary. Examine the tip of the ratchet pawl and the teeth of the ratchet wheel, neither should show any significant wear. The pawl should have significant spring pressure keeping it engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Confirm that a brake pad is between the washer on the driveshaft and the ratchet wheel and that the pads do not show any obvious damage. If the winch was disassembled for examination, the brake pad should be removed and lightly rubbed with sand paper on both sides to remove any glazing (shiny spots) that may have built-up. If winch was disassembled, reassemble and thread the handle back onto the drive shaft. The pawl should be aligned with the ratchet wheel so that it cannot be forced off to one side of the wheel. Turn the crank handle clockwise and observe the action of the pawl. It should click into each of the ratchet wheel teeth with no binding or hesitation. A broken spring or pawl, a bent ratchet support bolt or the pawl seized onto the ratchet spacer should be obvious if they exist. Obtain and install the necessary repair parts.
Winch raises load, but does not make clicking noise, and when handle is released, it turns and allows the load to come down.
Corrective Action:
When the crank handle is turned clockwise the winch should produce a loud sharp clicking noise. If this clicking noise can not be heard, then investigate the following possible causes. Examine the ratchet pawl and spring, and the bolt and spacer that hold the pawl in place. Removal of the reel will be necessary to make this examination. Examine the tip of the ratchet pawl and the teeth of the ratchet wheel, neither should show any significant wear. The pawl should have significant spring pressure keeping it engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Confirm that the brake pad is between the washer on the driveshaft and the ratchet wheel and that it does not show any obvious damage. If the brake pad is missing or shows signs of damage, pop off the retaining ring on the driveshaft and slide the driveshaft towards the small bushing in the base, this will dis-engage the ratchet pawl from the wheel. Note that on model DLB2500A the retaining ring in the secondary shaft will also have to be removed and this shaft will need to be back out of the way to be able to move the primary shaft. Slide out far enough to be able to remove pressure washer and ratchet wheel from shaft and replace brake pad. If brake pad is not damaged and shows only signs of light wear, remove it and lightly rub it with sandpaper on both sides to remove any glazing (shiny spots) that has built up. Reassemble brake pad, ratchet wheel, and pressure washer back onto the driveshaft. Make certain that the teeth on the ratchet wheel are oriented as shown in the photo. Using your finger, press ratchet pawl down out of the way and slide driveshaft back into large bushing on the base. Ratchet pawl should now be engaged into ratchet wheel teeth properly. Reassemble retaining ring back into groove of the driveshaft making sure it is pressed all the way into the groove and reassemble the reel back into the winch.
Winch raises load with normal effort, but is harder to crank when lowering load.
Corrective Action:
Remove crank handle from winch and apply a small amount of grease to drive shaft thread. Handle needs to thread on and off driveshaft freely for the winch to work properly.
Winch is very difficult to crank while raising and lowering a load.
Corrective Action:
Examine winch frame for any bend or distortion that could cause binding of drive shaft(s) and bearings. The winch needs to be mounted with three bolts. Unfortunately, if the frame of the winch is bent, it generally can not be easily repaired and the winch must be replaced.
Winch raises and holds a load with no difficulty, but when attempting to lower the load the handle unthreads off the shaft and the load does not come down.
Corrective Action:
These winches require a minimum load for the load to move freely during the lowering process. The minimum operating load requirement is 50lbs for models DLB350A, DLB800A, and DLB1200A, 75lbs for models DLB1500A, and 175lbs for model DLB2500A. The winch may still work with somewhat less than this amount of load, but lowering process may tend to be a bit jerky.
Winch will not raise load.
Corrective Action:
1. Gears could be jammed, examine all gear teeth for any obstruction that could be causing the bind.
2. Driveshaft(s) bent causing gears to jam together, replace driveshaft(s).
