Maasdam Rope Pull Modification,,,,

[Altissimus]

.... I own one (with 120' of 3 strand) , hardly ever use it .... in a recue book I have the Yosemite boys part the rope gear and add some washers so the rope guides a little deeper and does not slip ... this allows use of this tool for hoisting in life-saving situations .... has anyone out there done this modification ??? Dave

 

[simplypete]

I have one with the hard lay three strand and use it on occasion. I can not remember it slipping. Don't know if I would want it for life support though. Just that it seems like a second rate piece of equipment. There are better made pullers out there, you just don't see many in the tree industry. Anyone know of the cast alum. bodied pullers? I've used them on ski lifts. Of course they were not the like the continuous rope puller that Maasdam makes.

 

[Altissimus]

.... thats why it never goes out.... I own a 5 ton Tirfor .... when you need something pulled....

 

[Bounce]

I've never heard of this trick either. It seems like adding washers to the rope would not be a good idea though. Generally, it's a bad thing to put sharp metal surfaces against rope.

 

[Altissimus]

Hey Sean ! .... the flat washers are added to increase the width between the rope guides .... they shouldn't touch the 3 strand .... Dave ...

 

[Stumper]

FWIW, I have loaded mine to the point that I had to WORK hard to pull the lever-- without ever experiencing slippage. Hard-lay 3 strand is what the tool is designed for....and mine works properly with that rope. As for safety for life critical usage......screw altering the tool, put a Prusik back-up on the line and make it a non-issue. In my own usage I normally prusik the puller line onto the tag line I am pulling and then take up slack on the tag line as the puller tensions it-Same effect- if the puller slips the load is held.

 

[lumberjack]

Pretty sure, washers or not, you shouldn't use it for life support.

 

[thattreeguy]

ive experienced slippage ,
but thats because its used
and there is the occasional tooth worn on it
i have 2 of them, 1's retired from critical usage
the other is for critical pulls
and we just back it up with a knot in the tail end just below the box,

 

[Altissimus]

.... I'm thinking forget the modification , I never use it anyways ... maybe the Trading Post...

 

[rumination]

FWIW, I have loaded mine to the point that I had to WORK hard to pull the lever-- without ever experiencing slippage. Hard-lay 3 strand is what the tool is designed for....and mine works properly with that rope. As for safety for life critical usage......screw altering the tool, put a Prusik back-up on the line and make it a non-issue. In my own usage I normally prusik the puller line onto the tag line I am pulling and then take up slack on the tag line as the puller tensions it-Same effect- if the puller slips the load is held.

What Justin said. I have one and have found it quite useful. It can slip slightly until the load is heavy enough to cause the rope to seat firmly in the drum. Just keep a hand on the tail end for the first few cranks until the rope seats, which is easily done. I've never had it slip after that.

 

[Bounce]

The only times I've ever seen mine slip was when I had the wrong kind of rope in it. It HAS to be a hard lay 3 strand to avoid slipping.