WIRE ROPE

INSTALLATION, OPERATION AND

MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS

The primary factor in wire rope performance is selecting a

A coil should be unwound by rolling along the floor like a

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wire rope with the best combination of properties for the

hoop.  Coils should never be laid flat and the free end

job.  The service life of that rope can be greatly extended

pulled out.

by following a planned program of installation, operation,

maintenance and inspection to avoid the most common

Winding on a Drum

causes of wire rope failure:

KINKING will result in permanent rope deformation and

localized wear.  It is generally caused by allowing a loop to

form in a slack line and then pulling the loop down to a

right permanent set.

OVERLOADING results in accelerated wear, abrasion,

rope crushing and distortion on drums and sheaves, and

could result in complete rope failure.

DRAGGING wire rope over a bank or some other object

results in localized wear, which means shorter life.

IMPROPER SPOOLING results in crushed and distorted

ropes and comes from careless installation and operation

of the rope.

WHIPPING a line, which results in many squared off bro 

Proper practices for transferring rope form reel to drum:

ken wires, comes from jerking or running the line loose.

The reel should be placed as far from the drum as possi 

ble in order avoid putting any turn into the rope.

The following recommendations are general guides for

Rope should be wound from top to top or bottom to bot 

getting the longest life from your wire rope.  West Coast

tom to avoid reverse bends, which tend to make a rope

Wire Rope representatives are available to provide advice

harder to handle.

in specific situations.  Our technology and experience are

Use enough tension to avoid kinking.

as close as your telephone.

There is usually only one way to install rope on a grooved

Unloading, Unreeling and Uncoiling

drum.

Suitable precautions should be taken to prevent dropping

of reels or coils during unloading and moving.  If the reel

should collapse, it may be impossible to remove the rope

without serious damage.

Special care should be taken in unreeling wire rope to

avoid kinking, which can result in permanent damage to

the rope.  The reel should be mounted on jacks or a

On ungrooved drums, the  rule of thumb  guides installa 

turntable so that it will move freely.  It should be unreeled

tion.  The first represents the drum; the index finger the

straight and under enough tension to keep it from starting

wire rope; and the thumb the direction of the proper dead

a loop.

end location.  use the right hand for right lay ropes, left

hand for left lay ropes.  For overwinding, the palm is down;

for underwinding, the palm is up.  Most drum anchors are

set for right lay rope since it is the most common specifica 

tion.

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