Small wire tugger for residential use

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JoeNorm

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Location
WA
Hi,
I do strictly residential work and am looking for a wire pulling winch to help take the strain off my body as I pull exclusively by hand so far. I like the looks of the lightweight drill motor driven pullers. Greenlee and Southwire both make one that claims 600lb of constant pull force and 1000lb peak.

These would be great for most smaller circuit pulls but I am wondering if they could cross into bigger territory pulling feeders as well. I rarely pull bigger than 4/0 AL triplex in 2" PVC and try to minimize bends and make them big, gradual sweeps whenever possible. Would these little machines handle a pull like that?......say.....150' max length. Anyone have experience with these?

Thanks
 
JoeNorm said:
Hi,
I do strictly residential work and am looking for a wire pulling winch to help take the strain off my body as I pull exclusively by hand so far.
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Have you considered hiring a helper? If pulling wire is starting to become a strain, it is likely that you will soon find that is is also a strain to do other physical labor. Not saying you should not get some kind of mechanical assistance as well, but there comes a time when the strain on older bodies needs to be dealt with by putting it on younger bodies.

You will never get younger and you do not want to retire barely able to move.
 
petersonra said:
Have you considered hiring a helper? If pulling wire is starting to become a strain, it is likely that you will soon find that is is also a strain to do other physical labor. Not saying you should not get some kind of mechanical assistance as well, but there comes a time when the strain on older bodies needs to be dealt with by putting it on younger bodies.

You will never get younger and you do not want to retire barely able to move.
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On the other hand, retiring in many cases is what brings on the pain and loss of mobility for many aged victims of time.
 
Besoeker3 said:
The Brit again.............
Wire tugger?
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something to pull the wire through the conduit.

people use different things because it is a lot of effort sometimes to pull the wire thru a conduit.

come-along
forklift
pickup truck
apprentices

They even make special equipment to do it.

www.greenlee.com

Cable Puller - Wire tuggers | Greenlee

Whether its a 1,000 lb or 10,000 lb job Greenlee has the best cable & wire pullers & accessories for every professional electrician.
www.greenlee.com www.greenlee.com
 
petersonra said:
Have you considered hiring a helper? If pulling wire is starting to become a strain, it is likely that you will soon find that is is also a strain to do other physical labor. Not saying you should not get some kind of mechanical assistance as well, but there comes a time when the strain on older bodies needs to be dealt with by putting it on younger bodies.

You will never get younger and you do not want to retire barely able to move.
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Haven't found any youngins wanting to Wooorrrk. Is there such a thing? Might actually need a tugger to get them to agree to help in the first place. God forbid if you ask them to help dig a ditch. 2 youngins standing and watching the almost 60 guy in ditch with a pick and shovel is typical.
 
Fred B said:
Haven't found any youngins wanting to Wooorrrk. Is there such a thing? Might actually need a tugger to get them to agree to help in the first place. God forbid if you ask them to help dig a ditch. 2 youngins standing and watching the almost 60 guy in ditch with a pick and shovel is typical.
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If you pay minimum wage these days you get minimum work. Pretty much the way it should be.
 
Fred B said:
But these kids think they should be getting journeyman wages and have no experience or knowledge.
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That is the way things are these days. If you won't pay them someone else will. Why should they work for you for less than they can get somewhere else? You have to make it an attractive proposition for them.

Bring them coffee. Free lunch. Benefits. Back rubs. :)
 
JoeNorm said:
Hi,
I do strictly residential work and am looking for a wire pulling winch to help take the strain off my body as I pull exclusively by hand so far. I like the looks of the lightweight drill motor driven pullers. Greenlee and Southwire both make one that claims 600lb of constant pull force and 1000lb peak.

These would be great for most smaller circuit pulls but I am wondering if they could cross into bigger territory pulling feeders as well. I rarely pull bigger than 4/0 AL triplex in 2" PVC and try to minimize bends and make them big, gradual sweeps whenever possible. Would these little machines handle a pull like that?......say.....150' max length. Anyone have experience with these?

Thanks
Click to expand...
On underground services I typically run 3" or 4" PVC then convert to 2". It makes the pull a lot easier.
 
When pulling by myself I will roll out the entire cable and make "S" curves out of cable to lighten the drag on the ground. I know the weight increases in the conduit but its lubed and slides rather easily.
 
tallgirl said:
Ah. I was thinking something along the lines of using body weight and climbing down the ladder. Means I can stick with the current diet.

Also, I have a 10’ step ladder.
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He is right. The ladder and equipment nazi's would object (me) until they see how well it works for the last 15' of underground or gutters. Loop the mule tape around the top step and collapse the ladder, then pull towards yourself. Or 2 guys. This is of course assuming everyone on the crew, regardless of how you make a head, that it follows the #1 rule. Any guesses on that one? Ill give you a hint.
"It better be stronger than the .... ...." its not always as compact as i can get 'em, but if it holds, ill get it through.
P.s. this aint quite a feeder trick as it is a #8 or #10 trick. I do feeder heads. Sorry kid. When it comes out of the ground, you may learn something from my big cable heads.
#screwyersock.
Point is, ill pull your crappy #8 head but not your cable head...
And feeding is half the battle btw...
 
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