[TowerTalk] Hauling hardline into a 4 inch cable duct

[Alan Ibbetson]

I have a 210ft run of 4 in smooth bore plastic cable duct going in a 
straight line 3ft underground from outside my shack to a small shed at 
the base of my tower. There is a brick-built man hole (aka inspection 
chamber?) 3ft x 2ft 6in at each end.

Presently I have LDF2-50A in the duct but it's a tad lossy and I have 
the option of some LDF4-50A or LDF5-50A coax.

I have a draw rope running through the duct and a pulley set into the 
floor of the man hole each end just outside the duct opening but I am 
wondering how easy it is doing to be to pull either of these thicker and 
heavier cables into the duct?

How do you guys at big stations do it? Will 3/8" polypropylene draw rope 
and a strong young man (ie not me!) be able to do the job, or are we 
looking at steel wire rope and a power winch?

Thanks,

Alan G3XAQ