Anyone who has tensioned a wire from a bucket or a pole knows how awkward a hand ratchet can be. The WARN®-Richards Lineman Drill Winch fixes that by running off the battery drill your crew already has on the truck. Chuck it up, pull the trigger, and the winch does the work. It handles 750 lb on a single line, and up to 1,500 lb when you add the rope retention pulley.

How does it work?

The winch has a quick-disconnect that fits a standard 3-jaw drill chuck, and a big release pin that is easy to work with gloves on. The adapter is five-sided on purpose, so a hex socket will not fit. Spin the drill forward to take up line and reverse to let it out. That makes it easy to creep a conductor into position instead of fighting it.

It comes with 40 feet of 5/32 inch synthetic rope, which is light and non-conductive. The free-spool clutch lets you pull rope out by hand to reach your anchor point quickly, then you engage it and let the drill do the tensioning.

What else is worth knowing about it?

• The anchor point swivels and hinges, so the winch lines up with the pull.
• The clutch selector is easy to work with gloves.
• The hand wheel lets you make small adjustments or release tension by hand if you ever need to, even with the drill off.
• The release pin lets you pull the drill off when you are not using it.
• An integrated bottom cover helps keep dirt and debris out of the mechanism.

Which kit should I get?

There are two kits, and the difference is the pulley. Pick the 750 lb kit for everyday tensioning. Pick the 1,500 lb kit if you want the extra pulling power.

If you only need a piece, the rope retention pulley (LDW-RRP), soft shackle (LDW-SS) and carry bag (LDW-BAG) are all available on their own. The bag has a grommet for a bucket hook and a drain hole.

What jobs is it good for?

Crews use it to tension guy wires, lash a broken pole for repair, pull up a pole riser lateral, pull a phase up from the ground, dead end a phase, take slack out of a phase, cut out a hot spot, and work a down phase.

Any safety tips?

• Read the WARN Drill Winch Operator's Manual before your first use.
• Check the winch line and soft rigging every time for cut strands and chafing. If anything is damaged, modified or not working right, take it out of service.
• Make sure the quick-disconnect is fully seated, then run the drill and check for excessive vibration.
• Do not use an impact wrench with it.
• Pull the drill off with the release pin when you are not using the winch.
• If you are using a pulley, never hook back onto the winch.
• The pulley is for synthetic rope only.
• Follow your company's pulling and tensioning safety rules.

Common questions

Will any drill work?
Any standard battery drill with a 3-jaw chuck. Just skip the impact wrench.

What if the battery dies mid-pull?
The hand wheel lets you release tension by hand, so you are never stuck.

Can I run it with gloves on?
Yes. The release pin, clutch and hand wheel are all sized for gloved hands.

Where can I buy one?

UPSC and Powertech represent Richards across New England and New York State. You can order the LDW750-0 or LDW1500-0 from our store. For pricing or help picking a kit, email info@powertech-upsc.com or call (860) 678-8772.