Motoalliance Midnight Series User manual

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23001 Industrial Blvd, Rogers, MN 55374
866.527.7637
www.motoalliance.com
Installation and Operations Manual for
Midnight Series
ATV/UTV Winch

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Thank you for purchasing a Midnight Series Winch from
MotoAlliance. Midnight Series winches are sold by dealers
around the world and are known for premium performance at
prices people can afford. Please take time to thoroughly read
through the following instructions. If you have any questions,
call our team at 866.527.7637 or visit us at
www.motoalliance.com.
I. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
As operator of this product, the responsibility for safe
operation ultimately lies with you. It is important that you
read and understand all the safety precautions and
operating instructions prior to installing and operating your
winch. Failure to understand that proper operation of this
product can result in serious injury and/or property
damage. Please begin with the following general safety
information.
Load Capacities and Instructions
1. Maximum working load capacity is on the first layer
closest to the drum. Do not overload. Do not
attempt prolonged pulls at heavy loads. Overloads
can damage the winch and/or cable and create
unsafe operating conditions.
2. Do not move the vehicle to assist the winch in
pulling the load. This is considered towing which
can damage the winch in an obvious way and will
void the warranty.
3. Never use the winch for lifting or moving people.
4. The winch is not designed for hoisting
overhead. Each winch is equipped with a
permanent magnet motor and is designed for
intermittent duty winching. Using as a hoist will
void the warranty.
5. Use caution when pulling or lowering a load up and
down a ramp or incline. Keep people, pets, and
property clear of the path of the load.
6. When using a winch to move a load, place the
vehicle transmission in neutral, set the vehicle
parking brake and chock the wheels.
7. Do not use the winch to hold loads in place –for
example, it should not be used to tie down a winch
on a trailer. Please use tie-down straps.
Steel Cable / Synthetic Rope Usage
1. Cables are installed under minimal load at the factory. It
must be respooled onto the drum under minimum
500lb load to take the “flex” out of the line so that the outer
layers will not draw down onto the inner layers and
damage the winch and/or cable. Please see Cable / Rope
and Rubber Line Stopper Installation under the Installation
Instructions section for more information.
2. Cables will unwind quickly the first time the gears are
unengaged. Hold the cable with your thumb as you
disengage using the freespool knob to prevent tangling the
cable on the drum (“bird’s nest”). This condition will
disappear as the cable ages and the flex is taken out of the
line.
3. Cables must be guided when spooling onto the winch.
This may involve stopping the pull and checking the cable
periodically, particularly when pulling at severe angles. If it
is not winding in evenly (if it is piling upon either end), stop

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and tie off the load, re-align the cable, and begin again.
Simply winching in the cable without checking can cause
serious damage.
4. When using the freespool option, there cannot be any
pressure on the cable or the mechanism could ruin.
Unwind the cable slightly with the switch and motor to
create slack in it before disengaging the gears.
5. Always stand clear of the cable when winching in case of
breakage. Inspect the cable frequently. A frayed cable
should be replaced immediately to prevent injury to people
and damage to vehicles.
For Safety:
Use leather gloves when handling the cable
Put a damper blanket or heavy blanket on steel
cables when under load
6. Never put fingers through the clevis hook when winching.
Doing so may cause the loss of a finger.
7. When moving a load, always make sure the cable is taut.
If a nylon sling is used, check the attachment to the load.
General Safety Items
1. Never obscure the warning instruction label.
2. Always operate the winch with an unobstructed view of the
winching operation.
3. Never release the freespool knob when there is a load on
the winch.
4. Disable the winch when not in use so unauthorized people
or children are not able to start the winch. We suggest also
removing the key to prevent such use.
5. Do not operate under the influence of drugs, alcohol or
medication.
6. Do not connect the winch to either 110V AC house current
or 220V, as winch burnout or fatal shock can occur.
7. Always disconnect the battery connections before working
with the winch so that it cannot be accidentally turned on.
II. INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Winch Mounting Information
1. It is recommended to use a mounting kit that has been
engineered for specific make/model ATV/UTVs. Mounting
kits for most models are available at
www.motoalliance.com. Winch mount kits by other
manufacturers may be used provided they follow the
standard four bolt mounting pattern.
2. Midnight Series winches come with a universal mount plate
that may be used as a fairlead mount. It may also be used
to mount the winch on a flat surface. Modifications may
need to be made to the plate for use on different
ATV/UTVs.
3. Most often, winches are mounted with the cable coming
from under the spool. In certain instances, (such as the
Honda Rancher 420) cable will come from the top of the
spool.
4. Detailed mounting instructions are included in VIPER
winch mounting kits.
Electrical Information

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Additional information is available at www.motoalliance.com
under Technical Support. Our MotoAlliance Technician is
available at 866.527.7637. Please note your winch model
diagram/picture in the following section for further instruction.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL WIRING WHEN THE
BATTERY IN CONNECTED!
DISCONNECT VEHICLE GROUND AND POSITIVE
BATTERY LEADS FROM THE BATTERY BEFORE
BEGINNING.
Severe injury from hazardous and flammable materials may be
released or ignited. Wear eye protections and remove all
metal jewelry. Do not lean over battery when making
connections.
1. When attaching wires to the motor or contactor terminals,
hold the inner nut with a wrench while tightening the outer
nut with a second wrench. Do not allow the terminals to
rotate in their housings. Rotation may cause internal wire
damage or part misalignment.
2. CONTACTOR LOCATION:
The contactor separates the winch from its power source
when not in use. It is recommended that the contactor be
mounted close to the battery in a clean, dry location.
Typical locations are in or near the glove compartment or
storage box and on some models, under the seat. Make
sure the location chosen allows sufficient clearance from
all metal components such as frame tubes. Drill mounting
holes once a location is found but do not install as it is
easier to wire the contactor prior to mounting.
3. SWITCH MOUNTING and INSTALLATION:
a. Turn off the machine ignition and disconnect the
negative battery terminal.
b. Attach the handle bar switch to the handle bar
using the included mount.
Note: use a piece of electrical tape to prevent
rotation on the bar.
c. Route the wiring harness back to the
contactor/solenoid avoiding sharp edges and hot
surfaces.
d. Splice the end of the red wire to a key controlled
auxiliary power wire on the ATV/UTV following the
instructions shown below.

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Please Note: The wire should only have power
when the ignition key is turned on.
e. Attach the two bullet connectors to the
corresponding connectors on the winch
contactor/solenoid.
4. BATTERY CONNECTION:
When routing the wires, the appropriate terminals should
be located near the battery, switch, mounting point and
winch. Installation requirements will vary depending on the
winch and vehicle.
Note: If the wires are not long enough to reach the battery,
switch mounting point, and winch, switch the wires or
increase the length of the wiring harness.
Ensure that the wiring harness does not interfere or come
in contact with any hot or moving engines, suspension,
steering, braking or exhaust parts.
Attach the battery wires and the winch wires to the
contactor locations as shown below.
Note: Do not connect the battery at this time.
Connect BLUE post to the winch BLUE post
Connect YELLOW post to the winch YELLOW post
Connect RED post to the battery POSITIVE post
Connect BLACK post to the battery NEGATIVE post
For more installation assistance, please call our toll free
line at 866.527.7637 or visit our technical support page at
www.motoallianc.com.
Cable / Rope and Rubber Line Stopper Installation
The first layer around the winch drum should be put on close
and tight. New cables/ropes must be wound onto the drum of
the winch under a load of at least 500lb. Cables/Ropes are
not wound on the winch under load at the time of production.
1. Completely unspool the steel cable / synthetic rope on
the winch and remove from the winch.

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2. Thread the cable/rope through the hole on the rubber
line stopper.
3. Attach the cable/rope back to the winch.
4. Attach the clevis hook to a solid anchor point such as a
large tree or another vehicle.
5. Put the ATV/UTV in neutral.
6. Using the handle bar switch, a cabled/tether remote
switch, or a wireless remote, slowly wind the cable
back onto the winch.
7. Ensure that the cable winds tight, even rows onto the
drum. If the cable starts to pile up on one side or
becomes tangled, stop winching and power out the
cable until the tangled rows are off the drum. Respool
in tight, even layers.
8. Stop the winch when the vehicle is about 10 feet away
from the anchor point.
9. Let the tension out of the rope and disconnect the
clevis hook from the anchor.
10. Attach the hand saver strap to the clevis hook.
11. Hold onto the hand saver strap to spool in the rest of
the cable. Do not put your fingers through the winch
hook.
12. Carefully spool in the remaining cable under light
tension by pulling back on the rope while pulsing the
switch. If a rubber line stopper is being used, spool the
cable in until the hook is snug against the stopper.
III. WINCH OPERATION
Freewheel / Freespool Operation
1. Move the freewheel clutch knob to disengage. If there is
load on the drum, the clutch may not move easily. DO
NOT force the clutch knob. Release the tension on the
drum by letting out some of the cable with the “power out”
function.
2. Pull out the desired length of cable and secure to the
anchor point or load. Check to ensure there are at least
five turns of cable remaining on the drum.
3. Re-engage the drum by returning the clutch to the
engaged position. FREEWHEEL MUST BE ENGAGED
before winching. Never attempt to free or engage the knob
while the drum is turning.
Submersion, Heavy Use and Winch Care
1. The winch is an electrical device designed to hold up
under extreme conditions as long as it is cleaned,
inspected and serviced on a regular schedule. The
frequency will depend on operating conditions, frequency
of use and common sense.
2. For very heavy pulls, operate the winch in 30 second
intervals with pauses of at least one minute to avoid
overheating the winch.
3. The freespool knob is not fully sealed and is the most
susceptible to environmental conditions such as mud, sand
and silt. This can be easily removed and cleaned should it
begin to stick.
4. The motor and gears are fully sealed and submersible.
However, mud, sand, silt and water are HIGHLY
CORROSIVE and can degrade the seals and lubrication

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system if the winch is not carefully cleaned and dried after
each use. DO NOT POWER WASH THE WINCH.
5. To protect the winch from corrosion and the elements,
periodically coat exposed metal parts and components with
a light oil. When disassembly and cleaning are performed,
gearing should be re-lubricated with a quality gear grease
and lubricant.
** Failure to perform simple maintenance items can lead to
premature failure and/or repairs. Even though the winch is
under warranty, this warranty can be voided if proper care and
maintenance is not done. For helpful tips, please visit our
technical support area at www.motoalliance.com.
Synthetic Cable Care
1. Use the sliding 5’ abrasion guard on points of tension
during pulls. For example, if the rope needs to go around
a tree, put the guard between the rope and the surface of
the tree.
2. Use the abrasion guard when running over sharp objects
like rocks or trees. Try to avoid these objects as much as
possible.
3. Hawse fairleads are required for use with synthetic ropes.
If the hawse fairlead gets a ding in it that causes a sharp
point, gently sand the hawse smooth again.
IV. WARRANTY INFORMATION
Midnight Series winches have been carefully designed to
provide exceptional performance and durability. If, in the
rare event of a failure of any kind, please observe the
following guidelines for warranty and replacement.
1. Please call us first at 866.527.7637. It is most helpful if
you have your invoice/order number as proof of purchase
as the warranty may not be honored without it.
2. CONTACTOR/SOLENOID PROCESS: If you believe your
contactor is defective, we may ask you to send it in for
evaluation. This is to protect a strong warranty process as
we have discovered many fraudulent claims in the past.
The contactor will be quickly evaluated for care and a new
one sent back if the original is defective. In addition, we
may have you speak to our technician directly as “fixes”
can often be made over the phone.
3. WINCH PROCESS: If you believe your contactor is
defective, we may ask you to send it in for evaluation. We
may also ask you to send in digital pictures of the area in
questions. Your winch will then be quickly evaluated for
care and usage. We may ask you talk to our technician
directly about how the winch was used as well.
4. SYNTHETIC ROPE PROCESS: We will ask you to send
the cable in for evaluation. To maintain warranty, you
must:
a. use the abrasion guard at points of tension like
rocks or trees
b. avoid running it over sharp objects
c. use only a hawse fairlead; use of a roller fairlead
can significantly damage the rope and WILL void
the winch and rope warranty

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d. be careful to not exceed the breaking strength of
the rope –snatch blocks will double the pulling
power & can potentially cause the rope to break
*if your rope breaks within the first year of use, you
may send it in for warranty evaluation, resplicing and/or
replacement.
5. Further guidelines for warranty:
a. Most powersports companies require you to pay for
shipping both ways. We may ask you to send it in
at your cost, but we will send it back at our cost if
the warranty covers your claim.
b. In warranty claims, we will most often do one of
three things:
i. Send you parts for free of charge
(Contiguous USA …other locations must
pay shipping),
ii. Repair your winch to full working condition
after you send it in
iii. Or on rare occasions, send out a new
replacement. Only one replacement will be
given during the lifetime of the winch.
c. Steel cable and roller fairleads have no warranty
associated with them.
d. Warranty is voided if the winch is used in
applications other than self-recovery.
e. Warranty is voided if general care and maintenance
is not performed.
f. Typical service time is 2-3 weeks from receipt of
returned item by MotoAlliance to receipt of item to
owner.
6. The obligation under this warranty, statutory, or otherwise,
is limited to the replacement or repair of such part as shall
appear to the manufacturer, upon inspection of such part,
to have been defective in material or workmanship. This
warranty does not obligate MotoAlliance to apply it to a
product that has been altered from its original state,
misused, neglected, or improperly installed.
7. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the
following are hereby excluded and disclaimed, and there
are no warranties extended beyond these descriptions:
a. All warranties of fitness for a particular purpose
b. All warranties of merchantability
c. All claims for consequential or incidental damages
Some states do not allow the above exclusions or disclaimers
in consumer transactions and as such this
disclaimer/exclusion may not apply to your particular case.
To the extent such warranties of applicability for a particular
purpose or merchantability are demeaned to apply to this
product, they exist for so long as the express limited warranty
elsewhere set forth is in existence.
8. MotoAlliance reserves the right to improve any product
through changes in design or materials as deserved
without being obligated to incorporate such changes in
products of previous manufacture. We guarantee to keep
parts for your winch style for a period of at least 18 months
after we stop selling that style. The stated warranty does
not cover bills for service, labor or other expenses which
have been incurred by the buyer. The warranty gives you
specific legal rights and you may also have other legal
rights which vary from state to state.

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9. All warranty claims are based on initial invoice date
and not from the time the winch is first installed or used.
VI. TROUBLESHOOTING
Please observe the following troubleshooting tips for
further help in operating your winch:
Symptom
Possible Cause(s)
Corrective Action
Motor will not operate
or runs in one direction
only
1. Switch inoperative
or wired
incorrectly.
2. Broken wires or
bad connection.
3. Damaged motor.
1. Replace Switch.
2. Check for poor
connections.
3. Replace or repair
motor.
Motor runs extremely
hot
1. Long period of
operation.
2. Damaged motor.
1. Allow to cool.
2. Replace or repair
motor.
Motor runs but with
insufficient power or
line speed
1. Weak battery.
2. Battery to winch
wire too long.
3. Poor battery
connection.
4. Poor ground.
5. Damaged motor.
1. Recharge or
replace battery,
check charging
system.
2. Keep winch within
distance allowed
by lead wires.
3. Check battery
terminals for
corrosion. Clean
as required.
4. Check and clean
connections.
5. Replace or repair
motor.
Motor runs but drum
doesn’t turn
1. Clutch not
engaged.
1. Engage Clutch
Winch runs backward
1. Motor wires are
reversed.
2. Switch sires
reversed.
3. Switch installed
incorrectly.
1. Recheck wiring.
2. Recheck wiring.
3. Check switch
installation.
Winch will not hold
load
Excessive load.
Reduce load or double
line.
Contactor only runs
one way, or hums
Connections “stuck” on
inside.
Lightly tap with hammer
to break apart
connections.