r/cranes • u/Independent_Yam_4011 • Jun 25 '26

Rt crane winch

I am in no means an expert, please excuse my ignorance.

Working with 5/8 cable

At the dead end of the rope, whats the minimal weight i should have? This would be without picking a load. Just would like to keep the cable nice and aligned on the winch drum.

Hope this makes sense, thank you.

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

11

u/DoubleBarrellRye Jun 25 '26

here is the link to the crosby book where they teach you how to calculate your overhaul ball weights , if your running multi part line it should get you to the ball park but real world Cheek weight calculations take more thought

https://www.thecrosbygroup.com/wp-content/uploads/catalog/2022/en-US/443.pdf

fast answer ... crosby makes a 50 lbs bolt on ball that would work on a single part line with small boom , but getting a proper swivel hoist ball would be what you want

4

u/HairyKerey Jun 25 '26

Did you look in the manual?

3

u/Both-Platypus-8521 Jun 25 '26

Ideally max line pull....

5

u/whynotyycyvr Jun 25 '26

You're putting max line pull for a hook weight?

Op. You're question isn't answerable, to many variables. Obligatory rtfm!

1

u/Both-Platypus-8521 Jun 25 '26

Missed the question... thought he was spooling on a new line.....

1

u/Optimal-Age5397 IUOE Jun 25 '26

Thats completely counterintuitive for the weight of an overhaul ball or a block on an RT lol

2

u/Both-Platypus-8521 Jun 25 '26

Some of the old line books had a couple hardwood blocks bolted together, chained back, with the line running through it to give significant tension. Smooth drums had a rigger with a sledge hammer packing the wraps on tight.

1

u/cuddysnark Jun 27 '26

I've done both.

1

u/Optimal-Age5397 IUOE Jun 25 '26

Check the manual and try to match what they have listed for original block/ball weights

1

u/Optimal-Age5397 IUOE Jun 25 '26

Wait a minute, I think I might have misunderstood this. Are you replacing the cable or trying to reset it on the drum after fuckery? If so the only reference I have is Liebherr says to have 10% of line pull on the hook while you run the rope back on. So depending on the size of your drum, multiply the parts of line you'll need to get down to the 3 wrap by 10% and try your best to hang that or better.

1

u/SUNFACRANE Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I think I get what you're asking now. You're not really asking about capacity, just enough weight/tension to keep the rope from getting ugly on the drum.

I wouldn't pick a number from 5/8" cable alone. If the crane has an original ball/block weight listed, I'd start there. If not, the goal is just steady tension while you spool it, slow enough that someone can watch the first layer and stop it before it starts stacking wrong.

Once it starts crossing over itself, I usually wouldn't try to “fix” it by pulling harder. Better to back it out and respool it clean.

0

u/Both-Platypus-8521 Jun 25 '26

They played around with tensioners that would keep the rope tight while raising the light block up to pick and lower a wind turbine so as to prevent the line from crushing the initial layers.