Heavy Sheave Blocks OT

looks to be about 12 sheaves so each sheave takes 1/12 of the load--but each side takes 1/2 of the load
I see you can use over center chain binders instead of ratchet binders?

Keep 'em coming Mike, it's all good stuff. You might have to add a comment on how you passed a guy that used to own a Cat so it's vaguely on-topic : )

Dan, we always used over-center load binders on our logging trucks. Matter of fact, I never laid eyes on a ratcheting binder until I came State-side. Knowing the regulators back in the old country, they've probably restricted usage to only ratcheting ones : ) I never had a problem with over-center binders though, and they're much easier/ quicker to set / unset. Just need to remember to have a piece of 1 1/4 pipe on hand

OS,

You arrived at the right conclusion. The thick cheek weights indeed help the block overcome the resistance of all the bearings, drum brakes and the weight of the cable on the opposite side of the top sheaves. Using free fall on what crane operators refer to as the "old man" vs the single whip line, saves time vs having to power down the block to hook up the load. As you drive around and see big rigs on construction sites, you will often see lengths of ships anchor chain hanging above the whip line in addition to the "headache ball" to help bring the line down quickly.

There, that last statement will give you something to do as you make your way around the country - find the anchor chain! We don't want you to become bored out there!

I personally like your OT offerings.

JanM

Thanks for the good informative reply’s. Lots of good knowledge on this BB 👍👍

No way you guys with ratchet binders can keep up with me and my snap binders :lie:

Only problem I have with the snap is hauling oversize AC units. The chains are short and no give. If you get mean with the cheater it can damage the unit.

Couple more pics. Hauling a turbine from Connecticut to the Las Vegas power plant.
Taking a Chinook from LA to New Orleans for the move Death Days.
This was a challenging haul to take 2 pallet of cooling panels to the Queens NY power plant. Not easy getting around them small streets and tight corners being my first time their.

I won’t have anything exciting going on next coupe months. I’ll be hauling FedEx doubles for the holidays since open deck work slows down in the winter time. FedEx pays good to help them out in there peak season.

[quote="Oil Slick"]This block weights 12,000lbs and the counter weight 16,000.

To bad I don’t think of these key questions while on the job site today. As I’m reading the weight tag on the block I’m thinking it must need to be this heavy to keep it from pulling apart. But later I’m thinking, there is a lot more metal on the sides of the block than the lifting hook. So the sides aren’t that heavy to prevent it from separating while lifting heavy. My conclusion is, must require that much weight to override the friction of the cables going around the sheaves and bearing drag. I’m sure the cable drum has reverse but with the block being heavy it should free fall quickly. I’m not smart enough to calculate this but the cable drum must really be spinning fast with how many sheaves are on the block. That’s if they thread all of them on the job site.

I like sharing this off topic stuff cuz there’s a lot of knowledge and experience on this BB. It’s nice hearing different views.[/quote]

slick.

Why did you not lay it down.?

Kelly

Dan, in areas like NY I’m just fallowing my gps and been way to many place to remember specifics. But I do believe the Power Plant was along the east river.

I have certified dot cable clamps with a rating for the snap binders. Can’t us anything for the binders that doesn’t have a rating.

Kelly, now that you say “why didn’t you lay it down?” Not sure why I didn’t lay it down. Makes good sense and would have been a lot easier to secure. Thank you

OS, Dan:

Since we've wandered off the beaten path, perhaps a story from the past can be offered.

My father was struggling along with everyone else back in the Depression era of the 1930's to make a living and owned a single axle Sterling freight truck. He would make trips between Pittsburgh (no PA Turnpike back then) and various eastern cities. He used to tell the story of a load of glass which was addressed to "Jones Glass Co., NY, NY." He had no street address or even an indication of which of the Boroughs the glass company was located in. I don't remember how exactly he finally located them but he made the delivery somewhere in Brooklyn after trying several other places of business, all with the same name! He always said that was the most trying delivery he ever made but he "got'er done."

So how would your GPS help you with that situation? 😊

JanM

Jan, guess the costumer was lucky your dad stuck with it. A quick smart phone search nowadays and you found it. Then switch to satellite view to find the entrance and away you go. A single axle would be a unicycle truck. I have a 3 axle. One steer two drives. Your dad must of had a two axle.

My iPhone does all my mapping for me. So easy and quick. It recognizes if other iPhones have slowed down or stopped and let’s you know of an alternative route. It always knows about road construction too.

I haven’t been doing this long enough to have many good stories. Only one F up on a snowy night I hit a train truss in Rochester NY hauling a Bowing lathe (these new generation truckers trust smart phone to much LoL) The tall electric box hit the train truss by a 1/2”. Skinned the electrical panel top back. Fortunately Bowing never filled a claim against me. I’m responsible for the first $1,000. I got real lucky it didn’t hit my AC unit. Because my AC unit is 12’ 6” and the train truss is marked 11’4”. Either someone doesn’t know how to ready a tape or they miss mark it on purpose for :crazy: like me. LoL

After this I pay close attention to overhead obstacles. Once in downtown Boston (went to Cheers bar off duty) I came across a low branch that would hit my AC unit on a narrow street. Cars couldn’t squeeze by me so everyone had to back up cuz I wasn’t going forward. Made a few people mad. LoL

Delivered Beyoncé stage equipment to Bills stadium. Beyoncé wanted to ride in my truck but I told her unauthorized passengers weren’t allowed. LoL

Need Juiceman and D4e to jump in. They should have some good stories.