[TowerTalk] Your experience with rope capstan hoists or winches

[Steve Maki]

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 make the scenario a little more clear - picture this: you have 
your monster 40 meter yagi within striking distance of the target spot 
on the mast. The tower climber starts calmly asking for one inch up, or 
1 inch down. Without stopping the drum, you can hold the rope with 2 
fingers and give him that 1" up or down just by moving the rope back and 
forth while it's slipping on the drum. That's how much control you have.

-Steve K8LX

On 9/12/2017 22:45 PM, Steve Maki wrote:

> 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 of manual hold to stop the load from moving while the 
> drum is spinning), and the rope supply is in-line with the drum, you can 
> let go of the rope and the load will slowly descend. No free fall involved.
> 
> Chance now includes a safety device which prevents the rope from coming 
> off the end of the drum even if the rope supply is not in-line and the 
> operator has a heart attack.
> 
> -Steve K8LX
> 
> On 9/12/2017 22:23 PM, Richard (Rick) Karlquist wrote:
>> 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 attention wanders
>> for a second. It seems especially dangerous to be
>> lowering a heavy load when the handler has to pay
>> out the line just fast enough, but not too fast.
>> A foot switch is suggested, but it doesn't work as
>> a dead man safety.  The winch stops but the line
>> still slips if not held back.
>>
>> Seems like an accident waiting to happen, like free
>> climbing a tower.  Can someone with experience explain
>> how these capstans could possibly be safe?
> 
>