Converting Abare style rack to winch and cable vice rope....
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geneinmurphy
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I'm thinking of converting my three level Abare style rack to a cable and winch system vice the present rope and double pulley system. If I do this, can I use the top pulley I already have, or should I convert to a T14 style larger wheel pulley at the top of the pole?? What's the best way to feed the cable through the three tiers from the winch to the top pulley?? I have heard that if I use the normal pulley I use now (vice the T14 style larger pulley on top) that the rack may twist/give problems. Ideas/suggestions????
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Laverne
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Hi Gene.
We have both types of pulleys on our racks. We have kept the racks lightweight. Four have only 8 gourds, the fifth has 16. We don't use cable, we use rope. We had a rope break on that 16 gourd rack this season. However, my husband still believes a rope is good enough as long as we keep their condition closely monitored.
We had a cable on these same winches a few years ago to hoist a big wooden house. Rope or cable works the same way on the winch. Rope or cable will still allow the gourd rack to twist and rotate. On our housing, we allow free movement while raising and lowering; but Mike cut notches at the top of the sleeve the rack rides on and installed threaded rod through a hole drilled through the pole near the top. When in the raised position, the notch aligns with the threaded rod and this holds the rack locked in the same position all the time. Sometimes, I have to try a couple of times to hit the notch - but, it works well enough. We also have holes drilled through the lower part of the pole to hold the racks steady in the lowered position during a storm. He cut five pieces of threaded rod long enough to go through the pole and the same notches on the sleeve. We lower the rack, insert the threaded rod through the hole in the pole above the rack and then raise the rack back up to the rod. Tension from the winch holds it in tight against the rod and in position.
I found a couple of photos that might help - am including them. I don't have any images of the notches. They are hidden from view by the rack arms.
We have both types of pulleys on our racks. We have kept the racks lightweight. Four have only 8 gourds, the fifth has 16. We don't use cable, we use rope. We had a rope break on that 16 gourd rack this season. However, my husband still believes a rope is good enough as long as we keep their condition closely monitored.
We had a cable on these same winches a few years ago to hoist a big wooden house. Rope or cable works the same way on the winch. Rope or cable will still allow the gourd rack to twist and rotate. On our housing, we allow free movement while raising and lowering; but Mike cut notches at the top of the sleeve the rack rides on and installed threaded rod through a hole drilled through the pole near the top. When in the raised position, the notch aligns with the threaded rod and this holds the rack locked in the same position all the time. Sometimes, I have to try a couple of times to hit the notch - but, it works well enough. We also have holes drilled through the lower part of the pole to hold the racks steady in the lowered position during a storm. He cut five pieces of threaded rod long enough to go through the pole and the same notches on the sleeve. We lower the rack, insert the threaded rod through the hole in the pole above the rack and then raise the rack back up to the rod. Tension from the winch holds it in tight against the rod and in position.
I found a couple of photos that might help - am including them. I don't have any images of the notches. They are hidden from view by the rack arms.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne
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Louise Chambers
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Laverne, do you know what type of rope that is in the photo (yellow rope)? If it's the polypropylene rope often used for boat trailer winches, you'll find that nylon or polyester ropes are better choices. Polypropylene (often incorrectly referred to as nylon) has a life of only 2 years used outdoors. It's often used for marine applications because it floats & is usually yellow.
An article in Update 13(4), Martin Pole & House Integrity: For the Safety of You and Your Martins, by Tim Shaheen, gives a good overview of potential accidents and how to avoid them. It includes a brief explanation of a few types of ropes and advises using polyester rope or solid, braided 100% nylon rope, which is not as easy to find as polyester and will stretch a bit as well - leaving polyester the best rope choice, plus its easy to find and not expensive.
Not to hijack this thread, but this is a good time of year to check all equipment for signs of wear, so you'll be ready when next spring's first martin arrives
An article in Update 13(4), Martin Pole & House Integrity: For the Safety of You and Your Martins, by Tim Shaheen, gives a good overview of potential accidents and how to avoid them. It includes a brief explanation of a few types of ropes and advises using polyester rope or solid, braided 100% nylon rope, which is not as easy to find as polyester and will stretch a bit as well - leaving polyester the best rope choice, plus its easy to find and not expensive.
Not to hijack this thread, but this is a good time of year to check all equipment for signs of wear, so you'll be ready when next spring's first martin arrives
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geneinmurphy
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Laverne......my Abare rack gets very heavy with 24 gourds, especially with full nests......and I'm not getting any younger...eheh. That's why I want to convert to a cable/winch system. It'll be more work, but the T14 style winch pulley at the top looks nice and seems to work well with other systems. I'm wondering if I just drill holes where the cable goes through the three tiers if it'll eventually ruin/make the hole bigger. Maybe a small pipe nipple installed for it to pass through may work better.....
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Emil Pampell-Tx
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I drilled 1in holes thru the 3 tiers, sometimes it rubs a bit on one side, but if you get the holes cut in line with the winch & pulley, then it should not rub very much. There is no wear & tear on mine when it rubs a tiny bit. The secret is to line up the holes. It helps to have the holes and the winch and the pulley all the same distance & angle from the pole.
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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geneinmurphy
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2003 12:09 pm
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Emil...sounds like a good idea with the one inch holes. Due to the varying amount of cable on the winch, the lowest hole would receive the greatest amount of fluctuation of movement........
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Laverne
- Posts: 2216
- Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:58 pm
- Location: TX/Alvin
- Martin Colony History: Erected 1st house in 1997. Birds were checking it out before Mike got down from the ladder. Six cavities had a little colony 1st year. Grown to 88 cavities all gourds with near 100% occupancy. Most important factor for success is rain = bugs.
Hi everybody.
Hi Gene. I wasn't trying to convince you to use this "old yellow rope". I was trying to show you how we had the hardware mounted. The end of the cable that is connected to the rack never moves - so, there is no rub or wear. The other end that does move is free of the rack. I know this set-up won't work on all rack designs, but... well... nobody else had responded to your post - so I did (dumb as it was)... I see you got some good advice. Take care...
Hi Louise. Yes, we are aware of the limitations of this "old yellow rope". By-the-way, that picture is of the actual rope that broke. The picture is from when it was brand new. It is crummy rope and "nobody should use it!" Thanks for your pointers, again, on this subject.
Hi Gene. I wasn't trying to convince you to use this "old yellow rope". I was trying to show you how we had the hardware mounted. The end of the cable that is connected to the rack never moves - so, there is no rub or wear. The other end that does move is free of the rack. I know this set-up won't work on all rack designs, but... well... nobody else had responded to your post - so I did (dumb as it was)... I see you got some good advice. Take care...
Hi Louise. Yes, we are aware of the limitations of this "old yellow rope". By-the-way, that picture is of the actual rope that broke. The picture is from when it was brand new. It is crummy rope and "nobody should use it!" Thanks for your pointers, again, on this subject.
Sincerely,
Laverne
Laverne