Polaris Ace RZR 570, RZR 570 EPS (2018 year). Manual - part 19

77

WINCH GUIDE

Winch Operation

11. The ONLY time a winch-equipped vehicle should be moving when 

using the winch is when that vehicle itself is stuck. The winch-
equipped vehicle should NEVER be in motion to “shock” load the 
winch cable in an attempt to move a second stuck vehicle. See the 
Shock Loading section on page 80. For your safety, always follow 
these guidelines when winching a vehicle free:

A.

Release the winch clutch and spool out the necessary length of winch 
cable.

B.

Align the winch cable as close as possible to the winching vehicle’s 
centerline.

C.

Attach the winch cable hook to the anchor point or the stuck vehicle’s 
frame following instructions in this manual.

D.

Re-engage the clutch on the winch.

E.

Slowly winch in the slack in the winch cable.

F.

Select the proper vehicle gear to propel the stuck vehicle in the 
direction of winching.

G.

Shift to the lowest gear available on the stuck vehicle.

H.

Slowly and carefully apply vehicle throttle and winch together to free 
the vehicle.

I.

Stop winching as soon as the stuck vehicle is able to propel itself 
without the help of the winch.

J.

Detach the winch cable hook.

K.

Rewind the winch cable evenly back onto the winch drum following the 
instructions in this manual.

12. Never attempt to winch another stuck vehicle by attaching the 

winch cable to a suspension component, brush guard, bumper or 
cargo rack. Vehicle damage may result. Instead, attach the winch to 
a strong portion of the vehicle frame or hitch.

13. Extensive winching will run down the battery on the winching 

vehicle. Let the winching vehicle’s engine run while operating the 
winch to prevent the battery from running low if winching for long 
periods.

78

WINCH GUIDE

Winch Operation

14. The winch motor may become hot during winch use. If you winch 

for more than 45 seconds, or if the winch stalls during operation, 
stop winching and permit the winch to cool down for 10 minutes 
before using it again.

15. After winching is complete, especially if winching at an angle, it 

may be necessary to re-distribute the winch cable across the winch 
drum. You will need an assistant to perform this task.

A.

Release the clutch on the winch.

B.

Feed out the winch cable that is unevenly bunched up in one area.

C.

Re-engage the winch clutch.

D.

Have an assistant pull the winch cable tightly with about 100 lbs. (45 
kg) of tension using the hook strap.

E.

Slowly winch the cable in while your assistant moves the end of the 
winch cable back and forth horizontally to evenly distribute the winch 
cable on the drum.

F.

Doing this reduces the chances of the winch cable “wedging” itself 
between lower layers of winch cable.

79

WINCH GUIDE

Winch Cable Care

For your safety, always replace POLARIS winch parts (including the 
cable) with genuine POLARIS replacement parts available at an 
authorized dealer.

WARNING! Use of worn or damaged cable could lead to sudden failure and 
SEVERE INJURY.

1. Always inspect your winch before each use. Inspect for worn or 

loose parts including mounting hardware. Never use the winch if 
any part needs repair or replacement.

2. Always inspect your winch cable before each use. Inspect for worn 

or kinked winch cable.

A.

A kinked winch cable made of 
wire rope is shown at right. Even 
after being “straightened out,” 
this cable has already been 
permanently and severely 
damaged. Promptly discontinue 
use of a winch cable in this 
condition. 

B.

A kinked winch cable made of 
wire rope that has been 
“straightened out” is shown at 
right. Even though it may look 
usable, the cable has been 
permanently and severely damaged. It can no longer transmit the load 
that it could prior to kinking. Promptly discontinue use of a winch cable 
in this condition.

C.

A winch cable made of 
synthetic rope should be 
inspected for signs of fraying. 
Replace the cable if fraying is 
observed (shown at right). 
Promptly discontinue use of a 
winch cable in this condition.

D.

Also replace the winch cable if there are fused or melted fibers. Such 
an area of the synthetic rope will be stiff and appear smooth or glazed. 
Promptly discontinue use of a winch cable in this condition.

A

B

C

80

WINCH GUIDE

Shock Loading

WARNING! Your winch cable is very strong but it is NOT designed for dynamic, 
or “shock” loading. Shock loading may tension a winch cable beyond its strength 
and cause the cable to break. The end of a broken winch cable under such high 
loading can cause SEVERE INJURY or DEATH to you and other bystanders.

Winch cables are designed to NOT absorb energy. This is true of both 
wire-rope and synthetic-rope winch cables.

1. Never attempt to “jerk” a load with the winch. For example, never 

take up slack in the winch cable by moving the winching vehicle in 
an attempt to move an object. This is a dangerous practice. It gener-
ates high winch cable loads that may exceed the strength of the 
cable. Even a slowly moving vehicle can create large shock loads in 
a winch cable.

WARNING! SEVERE INJURY or DEATH can result from a broken winch cable.

2. Never quickly turn the winch ON and OFF repeatedly (“jogging”). 

This puts extra load on the winch, winch cable, and generates 
excessive heat from the motor. This is a form of shock loading.

3. Never tow a vehicle or other object with your winch. Towing an 

object with a winch produces shock loading of the cable even when 
towing at slow speeds. Towing from a winch also positions the 
towing force high on the vehicle. This can cause instability of the 
vehicle and possibly lead to an accident.

4. Never use recovery straps with your winch. Recovery straps are 

designed to stretch and can store energy. This stored energy in the 
recovery strap is released if a winch cable fails making the event 
even more hazardous. Similarly, never use elastic “bungie” cords 
for winching.

5. Never use the winch to tie down a vehicle to a trailer or other 

transportation vehicle. This type of use also causes shock loading 
that can cause damage to the winch, winch cable, or vehicles used.

Your winch cable is designed and tested to withstand the loads 
produced by the winch motor when operated from a stationary 
vehicle. Always remember that the winch and winch cable are NOT 
designed for shock loading.