pull that is 50 to 100 percent greater than straight dozer
pull. The winch is used for uprooting trees and stumps,
hoisting and skidding felled trees, freeing mired
equipment, and supporting amphibious construction
operations.
Some limitations to consider when performing
winch operations are the pulling capacity of the winch
and the size and weight of the dozer. Also, the terrain
may affect maneuverability of the dozer.
WARNING
The breakage of the wire rope is a serious
hazard to both the operator and the helpers.
Wire rope stretches under strain; and if it
breaks, it whips with great force. The danger to
the operator is greatest if the operator and dozer
are in direct line with the wire rope when it is
under strain. When the wire rope is under strain,
everybody in the area should stand clear of
the full length of the paid-out wire rope.
When rewinding the wire rope back onto the
winch drum, ensure riggers hands are clear of
the winch drum by at least 3 feet. Be safety
conscious and ensure the wire rope used is of
the best quality and meets the manufacturers
specifications and is properly inspected before
use. Always wear leather-palmed gloves when
handling the wire rope.
A good practice is to work a winch at less than its
maximum capacity and to avoid anchoring the dozer
unless absolutely necessary. Moderate loads give long
life to the wire rope and winch parts and avoid severe
catching on the drum. If the work is heavy, strain can be
reduced by the use of pulleys and multiple lines. When
pulling from the winch, always be sure to pull straight
off the winch. When wire rope is pulled from an angle,
it slips sideways, possibly causing damage to both the
wire and winch.
OPERATING TECHNIQUES
The dozer blade is hydraulically controlled by a
lever in the operators cab. Before starting, raise and
lower the blade several times to get a feel of the
hydraulic control. Start all jobs, if possible, from
relatively level ground. If necessary, level an area large
enough to provide sufficient working space for the
dozer. This prevents back-and-forth pitching of the
dozer and results in better blade control.
Avoid track spinning whenever possible; this wastes
effort and only converts a relatively smooth working
area into ruts and piles of material that pitch and tilt a
tractor. In cold weather, ruts and piles freeze and cause
additional difficulty the following workday. If it rains,
the ruts hold the water, resulting in wet, muddy material.
Ditches, ridges, rocks, or logs should be crossed
slowly and, impossible, at an angle. his procedure slows
the fall, lessens the danger of upsetting the dozer, and
reduces the jolt of the fall that can be harmful to both
the operator and the dozer.
When dozing, shift the dozer into low gear and feed
the blade into the ground gradually until the desired
depth of the cut is obtained. When you feel an increase
in resistance as the load increases, start raising the blade
in small increments, about one-quarter inch at a time. If
you raise and lower the blade as much as 2 or 3 inches
at a time while operating, the blade cuts an uneven
surface over which the dozer must travel. The uneven
surface will cause the dozer to nose up and down. This
causes the blade to cut still more unevenly, thereby
increasing the up-and-down movement of the dozer.
To carry the load with the blade, you must anticipate
and compensate for the up-and-down movement of the
front of the dozer. When the front of the dozer starts to
nose up, you should move the control lever in the
direction that will lower the blade. When the dozer starts
to nose down, raise the blade high enough to compensate
for the lowering of the front of the dozer. Do not over
control. Raise and lower the blade only enough to
compensate for the raising and lowering of the front of
the tractor. Through experience, you will be able to raise
and lower the blade automatically without giving it
much thought or special attention.
Clearing
Clearing consists of removing brush, trees, and
rubbish from a designated area. Surface boulders and
other material that may be embedded in the ground
should also be removed as well as any material that may
interfere with the construction project.
BRUSH AND TREES. To clear brush and small
trees with a dozer, travel forward at a slow speed with
the blade lowered several inches below grade, as shown
in figure 11-22. When cleared in this manner, make one
pass to knock over small trees and brush, then make
another pass to clear them away.
Medium trees are 4 to 10 inches in diameter. To
push trees of this size, raise the blade as high as possible
11-10