pulling rope

[jociha]

I need to buy a new pulling rope and realized i don't know alot about it. there are low force and high force ropes. I need to make a pull in 3.5in rigid, with 4 90's about 200 feet. i am pulling 4-350mcm and a smaller ground. it is to a transformer outdoors so i'm useing a excavater not a tugger. i bet there are some horrer stories out there. i don't want to buy more than i need they are costly so what would it take? john

 

[iwire]

A one time deal?

Using a excavator not a tugger?

I would say the heck with the rope and get a piece of steel cable.

 

[growler]

I would say the heck with the rope and get a piece of steel cable.

Or a long extension cord. :grin: A blast from the past.

 

[iwire]

I guess I should have asked.

Are the 90s steel?

If not you better get a fat rope, pull slow and use plenty of lube.

 

[tryinghard]

1/2" would work fine

 

[hardworkingstiff]

Sunbelt Industrial Rentals has 7/8" Greenlee pulling rope for rent. I don't know if they will rent it w/out the tugger or not though.

I wouldn't use the steel cable. A rope can stretch a little giving the feeder and the puller some wiggle room with slow communication. Use plenty of lube. PULL SLOW! Give the feeder plenty of time to feed the wire. Even though the machine will pull the wire, you will have a better installation if the feeder feeds (instead of just watching the wire go in the conduit). Oh yea, lube lube lube.

How are you attaching the rope to the conductors?

 

[iwire]

I wouldn't use the steel cable.

The power company uses steel cable all the time, I don't see the issue.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

The power company uses steel cable all the time, I don't see the issue.

The boys in New Bern, NC sure did. I watched them cut into a 45 just before the 90 coming out of the ground. Backhoe could not budge the cable. Wire rope had cut into the PVC ell enough that when the conductors got to it, jam.

Now I will add that they exceeded 360 degrees of bends between pull points, and were pulling a MV cable in a 2" PVC conduit (looked a little snug). Also, pulling 4 - 350kcmil conductors (plus a ground) in a 3.5" conduit is not a tight fit.

I like the rope, don't like the cable, and I'm my boss, soooo

 

[iwire]

You have never seen a rope cut a plastic 90?

That is why we use steel 90s in our underground runs.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

You have never seen a rope cut a plastic 90?

Not yet, but I'm only 54, so I still have time. :smile:

I have cut some conduits with that 200 lb. jet line. I don't use that anymore to pull.

The key to most of this is to use lube and feed. Pull slow.

 

[tom baker]

My preference for pulling is mule tape, its prelubed and marked with feet.
But for this short pull, I'd get 1/2 nylon. Polypropylene is not a good choice.
Lube well and have two persons feeding and for pulling, a tugger is best.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

But for this short pull, I'd get 1/2 nylon. Polypropylene is not a good choice.
Lube well and have two persons feeding and for pulling, a tugger is best.

If you are using a tugger, you need a rope that is designed for use with a tugger. Standard ropes are very dynamic( lot of stretch) and can be dangerous to use with a tugger. The ropes that are suitable for the purpose are more static...much less strech under load. The correct rope is also expensive.
Don

 

[infinity]

If you are using a tugger, you need a rope that is designed for use with a tugger. Standard ropes are very dynamic( lot of stretch) and can be dangerous to use with a tugger. The ropes that are suitable for the purpose are more static...much less strech under load. The correct rope is also expensive.
Don

I agree, go with a Greenlee Polyester 3/4" pulling rope. The rope is expensive but will stretch very little and will not, under normal circumstances, ever break.

 

[allenwayne]

I like the mule tape also.I got mine from the local poco that was pulling a new subdivisions under ground.For some reason they would only use it once and throw it away.I collected an unreal amount of footage that day and everyone in the shop now has a roll on the truck.The stuff is great when pulling in pvc.Not really sure of the tensile strength but I do know we pulled with a lull and it held up great.

 

[George Stolz]

I've never used a steel cable. What are the benefits?

Is absolute stiffness (lack of stretch) ideal in pulling? I haven't had a close call with somewhat spongy rope, but I can imagine it.

I've seen true-tape cut a nice groove in MA's, so I can picture a thin rope or cable cutting a nice slot in plastic conduit.

It seems to me as though the fatter the rope, the easier on the hands of the workers. I've also discovered that no matter how cold it is, the thinner the gloves, the easier it is to grip the conductors/ropes.

 

[raider1]

I like the mule tape also.I got mine from the local poco that was pulling a new subdivisions under ground.For some reason they would only use it once and throw it away.I collected an unreal amount of footage that day and everyone in the shop now has a roll on the truck.The stuff is great when pulling in pvc.Not really sure of the tensile strength but I do know we pulled with a lull and it held up great.

I got a 350' lenght of mule tape from the phone company. They also would only use the mule tape once and then throw it away. I conviently waited until they were done and then asked "What are you going to do with that?

Chris

 

[allenwayne]

I got a 350' lenght of mule tape from the phone company. They also would only use the mule tape once and then throw it away. I conviently waited until they were done and then asked "What are you going to do with that?

Chris

I did the same thing (waited till they were done) They were happy that I was taking it away,they didn`t have to find a place to throw it out.

 

[raider1]

They were happy that I was taking it away,they didn`t have to find a place to throw it out.

The phone company said the same thing to me.

Chris