New to the GRCS

Jesse

Jesse

Location
Lexington, KY- USA
The company I work for just purchased a GRCS. After using it for a couple of days on a large pine removal I am sold. It makes things so much easier. If anyone reading this is thinking of getting one, do it right now.

Here is a question for those of you with more experience with the GRCS than I. When lifting horizontal limbs upwards (tip tied with a face cut on top of the limb closer to the trunk), how much tension should be put on the limb prior to making the face cut? My feeling is that it should be tensioned enough to support the limb, put the face cut in, begin your back cut while the groundman applies more lift, depending on the situation you would leave more or less hinge. Do I have the right idea? Any tips, tricks, or advice concerning the GRCS would be apprecieated.
 
Did you get the DVD?
I tension the rope then just a bit more prior to making the face then add a little tension as required.
Leave a small hinge and then have it lifted while you are in a safe location.
Sometimes you need to go back and trip the hinge wood.
Get a good angle on it so you can pull it past vertical when you can.
Don't let the fairlead take the shock from the side when lowering large pieces.
Remove the handle when lowering.
 
Here is pic of the pine removal I have been working on this week. 75ft, 32DBH, sprawling over 4 yards. The GRCS made it go much smoother.
 

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Here is another. I didn't get very good pics. I am the climber and I didn't want to turn my camera loose with the ground crew.
 

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Greg is a good guy, very easy going!

When lifting limbs with mine I crank in a decent amount (try to make it so the saw doesnt get bound when cutting the hinge) of preload before cutting the face, cut hinge and the groundies start cranking.


Frans, got any ideas on how to increase the coeffiecent of friction on the surface of the winch? I was using a high mod rope to pull over a back leaning tree, and the capstan went to slipping on the rope. I had 7 wraps I beleive, including the 2 that make it self tailing, 1/2" rope.

Sorry for the poor quality. We pulled its larger partner over with the same high mod line and a 2:1 MA, block set in the tree.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/backleaningtreeoverpumphouse.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/notchinbackleaner.jpg

The lay of the back leaner, didnt get an after shot, but it landed on top of its partner, dead on of course!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/10mmsheepdog/backleanerslay.jpg
 
LJ, how long have you had the unit? Is the capstan chrome or black?
The newer chrome ones are bigger in diameter.
Also, if you have had yours for awhile, the springs may be slightly worn out in the 'jaws'. It is easy to replace them and that will tighten them up and make the rope grab better.
1/2" line slipping tells me that you may have also used larger diam. load lines such as 5/8" which could, in time, make the springs weaker.
Hope this helps.... Greg has replacement springs

Frans
 
I have had mine a while, the serial number is under #050.

Its plausable the springs are weaker, I will check that out.

I dont suppose grip tape would do very well on the surface of the capstan? Surely there is something to be done, mine is slick as owl snot. When I got it it had some type of rough stuff in the center, which has worn off.

The new winches have knurling on them, thats bound to help. I am trying to stick with winching with the 1/2" high mod lines, they sure are nice!

Perhaps I should just give Greg a ring. Perhaps a knurled collar could be epoxied on?
 
LJ,

There are a few things you could do.

1- Have the winch sand blasted again (that's how they do it)
2- Have one hand on the tail of the rope to provide a bit of extra friction. Or use a second person to pull the tail as you crank it.
3- As for the springs, the unti comes with 1/2 of the amount of springs that it could hold. Though, I don't believe this will help as much as the first two ideas.
 
I have his number, thanks Frans.


Mark, I like the first idea the best, I am trying to get away from the second, and I'll take a look at the springs and see if that might help some.


Thanks :)
 
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