operation of D6E winch inching lever

The "inching" function just allows you to add brake drag to the operation.
For the forward function move the selector lever to the forward position and the inching lever to the brake on position. The winch brake is now applied and the forward winch clutch is locked up. The winch brake oil pressure gauge will be in the red zone close to the green.
In this mode the torque converter is stalled which you don't want to do for long periods of time, so you want to move the "inching" lever towards the brake off (brake slipping) position to where the tractor torque converter and winch forward clutch assumes control of the load to inch in under power. As the inching lever is moved towards the brake off position the oil pressure gauge should be in the upper green zone.
Works the same for the reverse function.

Thank you OldMagnet. Can you tell me how the inching lever operates? There are two spools in the hyd valve: one to the selector lever; and one to the inching lever. Does the inching lever control/override the flow of hyd fluid to the brake cylinder when the selector is in forward or reverse? if the inching lever is in the BRAKE-ON position, the winch won't move? Maybe I have the inching lever in the wrong position. I will have to run it and determine which position stalls out the torque convertor..?? but if the pump is bad, I won't be able to tell....right? I've looked at the operator's manual, page 18 but the illustration does not match what I have so I can't tell BRAKE-ON / BRAKE-OFF positions.

If the fine inching option is not being used the lever should be locked in the brake off position (lever forward). The fine inching option controls the brake going from drum locked in the brake on position to brake off unlocked drum.
For normal winching you do not use the fine inching function but you still have a similar inching function with the selector lever.
If you have the instruction book start reading on page 16.

Okay! I've gone and broke some parts taking the thing apart. After paying a small fortune for rings, hose and check valves....$50 for one ring....I'll reassemble it, bring it up to temp, and check the lever positions again. Thank you.