Topband: Outdoor rope suggestions

[Bill Wichers]

With the cheaper pulleys the top can bind between the sheave and sides of the pulley. Binding rope will chew up the rope as well as add significant friction. 

The better sailing-type pulleys that have been mentioned frequently have real bearings (as opposed to just the sheave running on a pin) which will also reduce friction. Larger diameter pulleys will also help. It's important to use pulleys that are correct for the size of rope you're using. 

I've been using the harken blocks, which are fancy pulleys. I have one that is up some 90 feet or so with maybe 80-100 pounds of load, in near full sun, and it's been ok for at least about three years now. They run maybe $15-20+ per pulley but they are FAR superior to the hardware store stuff. 

Using a "hard" rope will also help. Any rope that is squishy (like twisted nylon) will deform on the pulley and tend to bind. You're better off with braided rope. I use the Dacron stuff with the black outer covering that everyone seems to stock, and lately I've been using some of the mastrant rope which I think is a lot better but I haven't had any up long enough to say for sure how well it holds up over time. 

-Bill

Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 2, 2014, at 6:31 PM, "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com> wrote:
> 
> Maybe someone can help me here.  The problem
> I am having with pulleys is that they appear
> to add a significant amount of friction.  I
> am not sure if it is in the bearing, or the
> pulley is too small in diameter, or maybe the
> rope diameter doesn't exactly match the
> half round surface of the pulley.  I see that
> rock climbing pulleys are only 2 inches, like
> there is no need for anything larger.  If I
> get one of these super duper pulleys, is my
> friction going to magically go away?  Does the
> type of rope matter in this regard?
> 
> Rick N6RK
> _________________
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