The Hydraulic Worm Gear Winch by RKI Inc, featuring upright mounting and an under wind worm brake rotation, offers optimal performance with its 9:1 worm gear ratio. This unit includes a drum clutch for manual rope pulling, a 3.50 barrel diameter, 8.25 flange diameter, and a 7.87 barrel length, making it ideal for various industry-specific applications.
Worm brakes must be mounted below the oil level to prevent failure, and are necessary for holding suspended loads with proper cable winding. The winch's worm shaft must be kept horizontal and below the drum to ensure adequate lubrication.
For applications requiring intermittent duty, this winch is designed to maintain efficiency and wear resistance under regulated use. Its left-hand worm gear configuration adds to its versatility and functionality.
i got limited space on my rig so can i mount this winch sideways or does it gotta sit a certain way
Answer by: Customer Support on Feb 19, 2026, 8:10 PM
Horizontal placement of the worm shaft below the drum is mandatory for adequate lubrication. Putting it in other positions will starve the gears of oil. You also need to keep the worm brakes below the oil level to prevent complete failure, which is exactly why upright mounting is required.
Question by: Brett S on Mar 3, 2026, 2:23 PM
got a suspended load i need to hold, does this winch have the right brake setup for that
Answer by: Customer Support on Mar 5, 2026, 12:54 PM
For holding a suspended load, a worm brake is the setup you want, and this unit is configured with an underwind worm brake rotation. With brake winches, the cable has to be wound to match the brake setting, and underwind means the cable spools under the drum in the direction of the brake housing.
Question by: Danny F on Mar 9, 2026, 2:01 PM
What does "under wind worm brake rotation" mean for how I gotta spool the cable?
Answer by: Customer Support on Mar 10, 2026, 9:25 PM
It means the cable needs to spool under the drum in the same direction as the brake housing to work right. Get that backwards and the brake won't do you any good.
Question by: Ray P on May 1, 2025, 6:55 PM
got a worm brake on this one, how’s the cable supposed to wind on the drum?
Answer by: Customer Support on May 3, 2025, 5:56 PM
For a winch with a worm brake, the cable has to be wound to match the brake setting or it will not hold a suspended load the way it should. This unit is set up for underwind, meaning the cable spools under the drum in the direction of the brake housing.
Question by: Kurt R on Apr 9, 2025, 11:28 AM
what's the deal with mounting this one upright vs other orientations, does it matter that much?
Answer by: Customer Support on Apr 11, 2025, 7:08 AM
Mounting position is critical with worm gear winches like this one. The worm shaft has to stay horizontal and below the drum. Any other arrangement can leave parts running without enough lubrication, which shortens the life of the unit fast. Upright mounting on this winch is set up to meet that requirement right out of the box, so as long as you follow that orientation you're in good shape.