on 5 tons, the lever with the ball on the end engages and disengages the dog clutch that causes the winch to operate or freespool. "in" or "engaged" is when the handle is moved to the driver's side. "Out" or "disengaged" is when the handle is moved to the passenger's side and the safety lock is able to be engaged to hold the handle in this position. The opposing dogs in the clutch have to be aligned to engage the clutch. This is a touchy-feely operation which may involve moving the captstan by hand to achieve this. This is not a friction clutch: force it and you will break something. Also note the drum lock has to be pulled out and secured in that position to operate the winch or move the capstan by hand. Pics attached. Drum clutch pics are WW2 CCKWs, Drum detail is M818, drum clutch control and drum lock visible. You will know clutch is correctly engaged when handle is all the way outboard and the drum doesn't move by hand. As stated before on RVN era trucks the drum clutch is the same but the parts are covered to keep snow and ice out in winter.