Hi Mates ! I've been looking at products to assisting with tower section raising (uo to 55G) and antenna raising (up to 48ft boom). Having never used a rope winch, I researched rope capstan winches &
Hi Wizzer AKA. Charlie I have been using an AB Chance 110V 15 amp T308 3000 lb Capstan winch. IMO I have a Greenlee Wire Tugger to start, but bought ane AB chance Capstan winch. I made a aluminum cha
For any kind of serious ham tower work, a good quality cathead, or capstan hoist, is a Godsend. As Wayne mentioned, the AB Chance catheads are the industry standard. Unless you are pulling loads far
I bought a My-TE FA300/AB electric capstan winch when I raised my 55G tower. Also used it to tram large and heavy antennas, lift rotors, etc. It worked flawlessly and had plenty of power even at the
I have been reading about how nice capstan winches are, but I have no experience with them. They seem very dangerous since the line comes loose and the load falls down in case the line handler's atte
Well they should not be operated while drunk or when texting, that's for sure. Nor by someone with zero training. When you have the proper number of wraps on the drum (when it takes approx 5-10 lbs o
BTW, a foot switch is more than recommended, it's pretty much a necessity, although one could get by with a toggle switch. You need both hands to handle the rope while the load is moving. Just to mak
Hi Rick. I can't speak for other model of Capstan winches, But as for the AB Chance 308117 3000 lb winch. It rate of pull is 12 ft. a min. with 4 to 5 wraps of your pull rope on the drum and your abi
Author: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2017 06:08:40 -0500
Well, if you are concerned the operator will be beamed up by alien extraterrestrials and the tower will come down out of control with no operator "tailing" then consider a self tailing winch as is us
Years of sailing with winches large enough to pull 2+ tons taught me a few lessons about self tailing and hand tailing. Fortunately my or others screw ups resulted only in flailing sails, not the dis
I wondered what would happen if the capstan operator had a sudden health issue. I have seen a tower guy being pulled to the top with a capstan winch. Many of us do not have a ground crew, if we're re
Author: Mike DeChristopher <mfdechristopher@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2017 13:42:26 -0400
Rick (and Charlie, et al), The way I've secured the rope to prevent free fall with a capstan is to use a grigri device on the output end. Leaves enough slack to control up and down inches, but won't
Grant, I can only say that if the sudden load movements and other undesirable occurrences you describe were common happenings in the tower industry using industry standard catheads, they would not be
?? I think I point out that self tailing (sailing) winches are a bad choice. And capstans are a good choice, particularly if they have reversing. Lot's of them in use as you mention. Do the problems
John When I first used a Greenlee Wire tug' er it has no provision to tie the free end off and so you pulled a loop through a tower rung and did a Halfhitch the AB Chance units have either a T handle
Sorry, I read quickly and thought you were talking about capstans in general. I've never been a sailor. Been on a few wild rides though, and appreciated the skill involved. There was one notable acci
Author: Patrick Greenlee <patrick_g@windstream.net>
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2017 07:42:36 -0500
Provision should be made to allow the operator to safely and easily secure the tail. A cleat would suffice. The operator should be familiar with properly securing a line with a cleat. Patrick