Custom Zip Line

Jamin_Mayer

Jamin_Mayer

Location
Longmont, CO
So, I asked a question about the forces of a zip line (speed line) not too long ago. I was planning a zip line for a customer.

It was very time consuming getting it "dialed in" for the right speed (for the customer). But, in the end I think it turned out well.

Other than safety measures, my major dilemma was to make it work with children and adults over 200lbs.

Since heavy persons will create more sag in the line, I created an adjustable seat with a locking 3:1 M.A. by using a double ended pulley and a Gri-Gri. And as most of us climbers would know, the Gri-Gri has a lever to allow for the release of the pulled line; hence it is adjustable.

Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RXvrYKPShw
 
Looks like fun. Seems like the cookie you're using for a seat might check, crack, and fail with the grain dumping the rider. Also, does the rope stretch and sag more with repeated use? Thanks for sharing!
 
Start of your new biz. Zipedidoda!


Way to gooooooooo...
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Looks like fun. Seems like the cookie you're using for a seat might check, crack, and fail with the grain dumping the rider. Also, does the rope stretch and sag more with repeated use? Thanks for sharing!

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I agree. I suggested 1" Oak for the customer, but he wanted to use some of the wood from the work we did on his Cottonwoods (for a while). That seat is checking like crazy. I'll give it next spring before it cracks in half (and it's about 2.5" thick).

He's aware of it also.
 
And the rope was elongating a bit. I've used Amsteel in short lengths and I've never seen elongation. So, when I had the thing initially "dialed in", I was surprised/disapointed to see the elongation. But, it was just my ignorance of the rope...

I called Samson and asked a rope tech how much elongation could I expect at 120' of length. He said 2%-6%.

So, there were 2 anchors with a total of 4 spliced ends. Each end of the zip line were spliced also. That's 6 spliced ends in all. So, the rope tech said the settling of those could add to the system needing to be more calibrated.

I took about about 4% elongation out of the system after a couple of weeks of usage (just yesterday). ---The video was captured yesterday also. I used a GRCS and a redirected block, inline with the zipline, to get my pull.

I told the customer that was my last attempt to get it dialed in. If it elongates more than he wants, I suggested he used steel cable (but, I wouldn't install it). It took a lot of time away from my other business & family demands during our peak season.

But, there is something to be said when you see someone smile down the line!
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Looks like you were having more fun than anyone...

Nice job....The smiles are worth the effort..

I do swings on Saturdays so it doesn't get in the way of regular work and my girl goes with me..We have fun with it.
 
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Looks like you were having more fun than anyone...

Nice job....The smiles are worth the effort..

I do swings on Saturdays so it doesn't get in the way of regular work and my girl goes with me..We have fun with it.

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Funny you mention that. I also installed a swing for this customer.
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Looks like fun. I had a zip line for several years streached across our front yard for our kids, but much higher. The seat was a child swing seat with a pull down lap bar to secure the kids. The zip line was anchored high in one tree, with a rigging pulley in the other anchor tree. the zip line ran down from the pulley and was anchored at the base, so that I could adjust the whole zip line and seat for loading. Then I could reach a tow line fastened to the seat bottom and tow them to the high end of the yard. If I ran I could get them near the high end anchor and have them swing from side to side as they traversed back across the yard. It also doubled as a regular swing if we anchored it lower.
 
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