- Full size Intercooler
- Kenlowe Fan
- Propshaft & Flange
- Hand Winches
- Split charge relay
- Re-building a Caliper
- Noise Killer

Hand Winches (page 3)

The casing of the Brano is the main supporting frame of the winch and is manufactured by hot shaping of quality steel sheet making the unit very strong indeed.

Each size of Brano has two special sets of jaw block mechanisms which grip the steel cable. They are manufactured from quality steel and are heat treated to give long life. It's these jaw sets that take their turn in gripping. holding and pulling the steel cable through. A telescopic operating handle is extended when you have a heavy pull or used closed for a light pull and easy storage.

Both the 800 and 1600 models have revolving hooks fitted for attachment of the unit to a ground anchor or suitable tree using a webbing strop and bow shackle. All the galvanised wire ropes have a suitable sized hook attached and are fitted with safety latches.

The wire ropes are specially manufactured for use with the Brano and are therefore not any old bit of rope! The rope is made to a precise diameter to suit the 'jaws' within the winch. Each rope is made by laying six strands of a variety of different sizes of individual wires over a fibre core. The end of the rope which is guided into the Brano before use has a fused and tapered end. The ropes have a safety factor of 5-1 built in to allow for lifting. You will never ever have problems when pulling!

In normal use off-road, in an assisted recovery, one person operating the Brano should achieve pulling in about 3m (10') per minute. A person standing each side of the Brano to give four hands on the operating handle will halve the energy required and probably move the load much faster.
Every movement of the operating handle, be it part or full swing of the arc either forwards or backwards, will move the wire rope through the Brano. The load is always held wherever the operating handle is. Such is the strength and manner in which the 'jaws' grip the cable whatever the load.

If you feel that the standard 20m (66') wire rope isn't going to be long enough for possible recoverys that you might have to carry out, then carry an extension wire rope of a suitable size and length. I actually carry a special 90' extension so I can really reach a long way. If this rope is too long, I simply halve the length by placing a swingaway snatch block half way along the length of the rope, attaching this pulley to the ground anchor or tree and bring the two 'ends' back to the Brano hook. Or you could put the extension between the Brano wire rope hook and the load. As with all recoveries, no two will ever be the same.

Never attempt to carry out a recovery if it is obvious that the load imposed on the Brano is too great for it. As with any winching situation, think out the recovery first. If you are well and truly stuck in the mire or a bog, with the chassis, diffs and axles well grounded, break suction first by using a high lift jack and placing something appropriate in the holes left under the wheels.
Make sure you have a decent ground anchor onto which you are going to attach the Brano. It may be a set of 'T-Stakes' well driven into firm ground or it could be a couple of vehicles chained together. You could be forced to dig a trench to bury your spare wheel and anchor to the centre of it at right angles to your load.

Operation:

Using the Brano is very simple. Open the 'jaws' of the unit by pulling back the release lever and push the tapered end of the wire rope right through and out the back of the unit. Unclip the release lever so that the 'jaws' bite onto the cable.

Insert the operating handle onto the side lifting lever until the handle fully engages and swing it backwards and forwards to pull the rope through. As the load comes on, make sure the stuck vehicle's handbrake is off (you may laugh!) and perhaps in gear with wheels turning slowly to assist if necessary.

Stand with the side of your body next to the winch so that you push the handle forwards and away from you. At the end of that stroke, you pull the handle back to you. Operating the unit that way will ensure you don't twist your back.

To lower the load backwards, or to simply take the load off the wire rope so as to uncouple, move the operating handle to the lowering lever which protrudes through the top slot in the centre of the unit and 'work' the handle in the same way.

When winching is complete, open the jaws again by pulling back the release lever so as to pull all the wire rope back out through the unit. Finally unclip the release lever so as not to leave a load and hence weaken the 'jaw' springs. As a safety feature, you cannot release the load via the release lever, until the load is taken off.

Laying out the wire prior to recovery (see picture below).

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