Fw: [TowerTalk] Tram nightmares

[K7LXC at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/19/03 2:10:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
mark at concertart.com writes:

> > "wrapped in around their hips"   THIS WORSE THAN USING A TRUCK !!

    Well, he said "wrapped" and not tied. Actually that's how you do it. Wrap 
the rope around your hips and bring the dead side in front of you. Hold both 
parts in one or two hands- it's a good brake. I also wrap the dead side around 
the live side a couple of times - it adds some friction to the arrangement so 
not all of the weight is held by your hands. In any case, if you simply let 
go - the rope drops to the ground and you're not in it. 
>  
>  If I may say, this is beginning to sound like a bunch of OSHA employees
>  sitting around for a cold one with some insurance agents and some 
attorneys.
>
    Still better safe than sorry. 
  
>  Steve ('LXC), I know you're very experienced, and you advise against using 
a
>  truck to pull the rope - how do you power the lift?  

    For commercial jobs I used to use a powered capstan winch. For ropes it's 
fabulous and is easy to control the load by tightening or loosening the load 
line. They ain't cheap but very useful. 

    For typical ham jobs, several guys on the haul rope is usually 
sufficient. For full-sized 3L 40's and other big antennas, some sort of winch makes it 
easier. Also a fluid drive lawn tractor works FB. But my preferred method is to 
hire a crane!

    Here's a tip. When the load is at the approximate destination, tie the 
rope off. The load will normally be too low so if you need a couple inches of 
"up", just push on the horizontal haul line between the bottom snatch block and 
where it's tied. It doesn't take much to get a couple of inches at that point 
plus the load is secured while you're doing it and isn't going anywhere. 

Cheers,
Steve    K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for commercial and amateur 
888-833-3104
Cell; 206-890-4188