Man it sounds like you and I are in the same boat. I bought a W&S Imperial climber last year with no directions. It was pretty much hit and miss til I got it all figured out.

First I cut the rubber coating off of the cables this allowed me to climb easier. The coating was hanging on bark and twigs so I removed it. Also be sure that your put the cables inside of the tubing. At first I was clamping them to the outside and not the inside. Felt pretty stupid when I got that one figured out. That was an easy one.

Second I let the seat straps out all the way. This allowed me to sit lower in the seat, making the guard more of a shooting rest than a handrail. Then in bow hunting I cinch the seat up almost level, where there is very little rail to interfere with the strings.

Third when you start to climb set the degree of angle of the stands up, so as you climb and the tree gets smaller, the stand will level out. I have climbed some really strange trees and I have made some cable tension adjustments as I have climbed. I wouldnt necessarily recommend this but it works for me. I use a harness I tie the seat to the platform. I will stand on the platform, then take up a notch or two on the cables then sit down and do the same for the platform. Just make sure that the top and bottom are tied some way so if you lose control your not stuck up the stand.

Its pretty much been trial and error for me, I had no directions but I think I have it figured out. Email me if I can help you.