Rope for capstan winch

[TTS North]

Will a kernmantle rigging rope - e.g. sirius bullrope, work with a petrol powered portable capstan winch? Assuming it's the correct diameter - or would it melt it?

 

Cheers.

 

TTS

[muldonach]

Will a kernmantle rigging rope - e.g. sirius bullrope, work with a petrol powered portable capstan winch? Assuming it's the correct diameter - or would it melt it?

 

Cheers.

 

TTS

 

You can use any rope at all with a capstan although the lower the stretch characteristic the better.

 

The only way to generate heat in the system is to surge the line under tension, and if you do that then the heat is generated irrespective of the rope construction.

 

Cheers

mac

[treequip]

Capstans are hard on synthetic ropes especially pollyprop.

 

If you use it with a capstan you run the risk of ending up with a big melted lump on the front of the winch.

[eldon]

You can use any rope at all with a capstan although the lower the stretch characteristic the better.

 

Cheers

mac

 

 

That comment needs treating with caution and reading in its entirety!

 

Yes you can use any rope but the elongation/stretch is something to be taken very very seriously. Imagine an elastic bungy strap being pulled until it snapped against your body! Ouch....

 

yes that is the predicament you could find yourself in if the stretch went past its UTS.

 

How do I know this ..... well years ago I had a Landrover and put a capstan winch on the front. As you I thought I would save a few quid and use a poly propylene rope that I already had. One day pulling a tree out of a bank the rope snapped and promptly disappeared, missing me by inches, through the radiator .............

 

Needless to say I bought the correct rope ....... after spending a few quid on a new radiator

[Steve Bullman]

a worthwhile mention. Tensioned ropes can build up an amazing amount of energy, choose wisely.

[TTS North]

Which specific rope should I be looking at? Can anyone point me to a link? thanks for the help btw.

[muldonach]

Which specific rope should I be looking at? Can anyone point me to a link? thanks for the help btw.

 

::Teufelberger:Fiber Ropes

 

I had a look on the website at the sirius bullrope you mentioned - its stretch characteristics are not stated that I can see but as I understand it for aerial use you guys normally use nylon based ropes with a lot of stretch?

 

These are not ideally suited for winching etc as I originally indicated and as others have amplified. I do not in any way disagree with thier comments but to be frank in my field (marine) we rarely use anything but polyprop. When a 76mm polyprop does go it can be spectacular and life threatening but they do give a bit of warning before they go.

 

I personally would ideally use dyneema cordage in this application but:-

 

1. It is not cheap

2. It very poorly resists abrasion so you MUST look after the outer sheath

 

If you do find yourself using a rope with significant stretch then provide some line of fire protection such as an offset snatch block to direct a whiplash away from you.

 

The main thing really is to use a properly sized bit of cordage which is unlikely to part in the first place, to look after it in use and retire it in good time. and don't surge it ubnder tension!

 

Cheers

mac

[Steve Bullman]

::Teufelberger:Fiber Ropes

 

I had a look on the website at the sirius bullrope you mentioned - its stretch characteristics are not stated that I can see but as I understand it for aerial use you guys normally use nylon based ropes with a lot of stretch?

 

 

Rock climbers use Nylon, arborist ropes are generally polyester

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I know of a lewis winch where the use of poly rope instead of steel wire destroyed the drum... rope reduced in size so loads too much went on and literally packed the drum out and shattered it lengthways with the pressure between the drum ends.