GRCS Self-Tailer Problem

[chris_girard]

I seem to be having a problem with my GRCS and letting the line run smoothly when lowering pieces.

With my Samson ½” double braid rigging line, I can get 6 wraps on the drum and winch the pieces up usually with no problem, but when we take some wraps off and start lowering the piece, the line gets tangled around the drum and its hard to lower.

Sometimes, even when winching a piece up, the line doesn’t self-tail smoothly and I have to have someone hold the end as the line comes out of the self-tailer. This kind of defeats the purpose of having the GRCS, and makes it more of a Hobbs lowering device.

I think that I remember others having a similar problem. Any suggestions?

 

[Norm_Hall]

Contact Mr. Greg Good. He knows all the tricks.

The 'self tailer' springs do get warn. I've run into the same problem with mine. Replacing the springs solved the problem. Greg can "walk" you through the process.

 

[chris_girard]

Thanks Norm. I'll call Greg today.

 

[treebing]

have definitly found that you have to hold the rope at the right angle in the pig tail. My ground person is much better at it than I.

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

[ QUOTE ]
have definitly found that you have to hold the rope at the right angle in the pig tail...

[/ QUOTE ]

Indeed.

As far as the self-tailer goes. I've never had a problem with it. And I have a lot of usage on mine.

 

[treebing]

The springs are easy to fix but I haven't had any problem really since i switched from ever using more than a 1/2 inch line. The 5/8 line is even to big. the 3/4 will destroy them. in reality a 1/2 line is plenty plenty strong to do any of the lifting I have ever done. And the GRSC is a lifting device only, not a lowering device. Dropping loads through it is bad and can damage the pigtail or lock up while letting it run.

Go over with your ground crew how to "rescue" a jammed piece in the GRCS. Using a friction hitch and a block and tackle arrangement. Getting a heavy piece jammed while lowering is very possible and pretty scary especially if its overhead. I like having the portawrap on the tree at all times as an alternative rigging tie off point.

This definitely requires a worst case scenario training because the natural tendency is to want to start taking wraps off to uncover the bind but then when it does loosen, the ground worker is not ready to catch it and there are also not enough wraps possibly allowing the load to fall uncontrolled.

 

[theXman]

Chris,

I read this a few days ago and thought I'd better get a picture.

I used the Hobbs for many many years and almost everyday before we got the crane.

then I picked up a GRCS pretty cheap.

anyway, we haven't had it too long and haven't had a lot of experience on it.

anyway, when just lowering, we were having a problem having the wraps bind over themselves too, until Ed showed us one day what we were doing wrong, one wrap doesn't seem to matter much, but two or more wraps, you MUST put the rope over the chrome channel near the pinching groove before you go to the pigtail, you must.

Maybe you already know this and do this, I didn't mean to offend, i'm just saying it and admitting that we didn't know and if you're use to the Hobbs and didn't bother to watch any grcs videos, you might not know either.

If this is your problem, it will be solved using this channel before the pigtail.

see picture attached.

 

[chris_girard]

Thanks a lot X for the info. I know that we weren't doing it that way and I thank you for the photo too. I don't remember if I saw it like that in the GRCS video or not. I'll have to watch it again with the groundworkers.

Even better, I'll be at the Expo this week and will be stopping by Greg's booth for a hands-on demo from the man himself.

 

[surfarmer1]

when just lowering with the grcs use the bollard not the harken it will save the harken from undue stress.. also I found the wraps would jump over if the lines were not pull tight around the harken when wrapping ..such as wrap around then pull it tight to remove slack then wrap and repeat. that stopped the problem with me

 

[theXman]

yeah, but i found in the real world, some peices are taken by cranking and then lowering. followed by the next peice just lowered, followed by the next peice cranked then lowered. hence, we do tend to just lower on the same harkin winch drum.

If I'm dropping a big peice, i will ask for the alum drum switched in, like on yesterdays job.

later.

 

[theXman]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks a lot X for the info. I know that we weren't doing it that way and I thank you for the photo too.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh buddy, then you gotta try it the way i showed, never, ever binds up, never. try it tomorrow.

 

[theXman]

true thanks should be given to HÖLLENREICH. He did show us.

Can he be allowed to be on the buzz again please.... ? moderators, it sure seems dead since he's been gone.

I think he really misses the buzz this time.

 

[Daniel]

I got a new acronym... the DRCS...

I'll NEVER set the GRCS up on the same side of the trunk as the overhead anchor point again. Never..

Had a big mishap the other day...

In the planning session, I told one groundie, groundie B, that had experience with the GRCS to go and help out Groundie A, who was going to be running the ropes, cause groundie A, though highly experienced with a porty, didn't have experience with the GRCS.

I JUST KNEW there was going to be a problem.. and I knew exactly what the problem was going to be. That little inner voicec is always right. YOU GOTTA listen when it starts talkin'.

Groundie A, (the inexperienced guy) cranked a piece up, then went to switch out to lowering, requiring taking some wraps off.. I looked down just in time to see him walk up and hesitate right in front of the machine, thinking about it. Time stood still for a second. It was almost one of those slow motion events. Then he started taking wraps off without using the pig tail. I screamed out "STOP". But it was too late... the wraps came off in an instant and 500 lbs. came down fast and hard. might have been 35-40'..

Foretunately, Groundie A was fast and moved out of the way in plenty of time.. he was two or three steps ahead of impact... Piece misse him by at least 5-6'... VERY SURREAL though...

I reprimanded groundie B, who had been instructed to help out. He later told me that he went to help out, but groundie A had called him off, and the reason groundie A got out of the way so fast, was becasue he, groundie B, had been watching too and told groundie A to move as soon as the wraps came off.

Contrary to popular opinion around here, I have zero tolerance for any kind of mishap or even an unplanned event. This was a huge mishap.. Might be 4 or more years since the last one. This could have been a disaster... Even the smallest mishaps are taken very seriously and get addressed immediately with remidial policies and procedures, or other appropriate measures..

SO here's my new policy:
ALWAYS set the GRCS up on the opposite side of the trunk from the overhead anchor point. This introduces half a wrap of friction into the system. A small price to pay for the added safety.

Many other lessons here too. I should have been more clear with both groundie A & B about why I was asking one to help out and exactly what can happen if you take off wraps without using the pitail..

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

[ QUOTE ]
...SO here's my new policy:
ALWAYS set the GRCS up on the opposite side of the trunk from the overhead anchor point. This introduces half a wrap of friction into the system. A small price to pay for the added safety...

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think anyone will have a problem with your post Daniel. It is a good policy. I think I'll do the same for that very reason. Thanks for being vulnerable with that post.

 

[Tr33Climb3r]

[ QUOTE ]


SO here's my new policy:
ALWAYS set the GRCS up on the opposite side of the trunk from the overhead anchor point. This introduces half a wrap of friction into the system. A small price to pay for the added safety.



[/ QUOTE ]

so you were blocking down a stem? I would think if you were to use at least two blocks in the tree they would be on opposite sides of the tree right? So the landing zone would be on the opposite side of the tree right?

 

[Daniel]

At least ofset 1/4 the way, allowing groundie to stand another 1/4 around the tree, putting him on the backside from the block.

 

[MattyD]

Bad situation for sure Daniel. Must have been very awakening.Scary. Glad your all Okay

Good to be on opposite side from peices being rigged down for sure. I know not always possible in many landscapes but we always try to get out of the "rigging" as much as possible. See attachment.

Gets the guys away from under the peices being lowered. Expecially on dead trees

 

[tomthetreeman]

I keep the GRCS away for the simple reason that I don't want it to get hit by a falling piece of wood, brush whatever... Sometimes I have the need to let things fly for one reason or another, and if the $2500 device is in the way it kinda cramps my style. I like Matt's idea for sure.

-Tom

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

This is a great idea. We have been using it whenever we use our GRCS. It also gives the rope man a little better angle many times to see whats going on. The only thing that I do different is, no block over the top. I go in the side fair lead. the pictures is pulling over a spar but its the same theory.

 

[Daniel]

Found this pic from 2004 when I was looking for pics for the new website