Thoughts on MA

KevinS

KevinS

Branched out member
Location
ontario
Our company is growing and we have a few green people, younger and few over 160 lbs and boss watches the spending etc.

I’ve always had a 5:1 b&t for ma. But I’ve been looking at the Madsam lately. We run 2 person crews and I’m trying to see pros and cons of each to see what’s best from each view (easy to use, cost, strength, longevity, etc)

Thanks
 
I love my Maasdam, I use it all the time. It’s an inexpensive and very versatile tool for pulling trees over or pretensioning rigging lines. If you have any specific questions about it please let me know, I’m happy to answer them.
 
Only used them once, luckily used two at the time because one massdam gear pawl let go at a critical time whilst felling. Lucky the other held fine.

The one that let go was a little sticky in its movement, but there was no substantial wear visible. Next time I will used a safety tie over the pawl if restraining a tree whilst felling...
 
I really like the ropejack. It's a little more expensive than the masdam but it works with nearly any rigging rope that's 1/2", but works best with double braids. Its light weight , midline attachable, and provides an estimated 5:1 mechanical advantage (if I'm remembering correctly). If its ever not enough pull for a job I just add a midline pulley to create a 3:1 turning the ropejack's pull into a 15:1.
 
I've used a massdam extensively. It is possible to break one, so I agree to use some sort of backup. That being said, I've never had a catastrophic failure. Keep an eye on wear areas. The wheels are replaceable, so replace them. Also make sure when cranking that it fully engages the notches on the wheel. I have had one skip back a little due to poor engagement. I add pulleys as needed for more force, but it does get to be VERY slow. I'm really looking forward to that big job that gives me the excuse to buy a grcs.
 
I’ve read the Madsam can pull about 1000 lbs with a big guy on a 5:1 can also do but with smaller people I’m wondering if if gives more power of the choices
 
I like my maasdam, but use 3:1 and 5:1 more often. Sometimes use the maasdam with the 3 or 5:1 too. Takes alot of rope sometimes.

You guys using 3 strand religiously when using the maasdam? I read that it's recommended but I do fine with 12 strand 1/2" that's already being used in the tree usually.
 
RBJtree said:
I've used a massdam extensively. It is possible to break one, so I agree to use some sort of backup. That being said, I've never had a catastrophic failure. Keep an eye on wear areas. The wheels are replaceable, so replace them. Also make sure when cranking that it fully engages the notches on the wheel. I have had one skip back a little due to poor engagement. I add pulleys as needed for more force, but it does get to be VERY slow. I'm really looking forward to that big job that gives me the excuse to buy a grcs.
Click to expand...
The grcs is a wonderful lowering device with respectable lifting capacity.
It is slower and more irritating to use to pull trees over than the ol rope pull-r.


The masdam is wonderful on virtually every solid braid 1/2" rope. I prefer 16 strand because it stretches less than 12.
I would hesitate to give a green hand one for fear of them getting into trouble (maybe losing a finger while trying to release tension?).
I would not give a prebuilt 5 to 1 to them. They'll mess it up and lose pieces and put it back together wrong. Once they can make one, they can use one.
 
I use a masdam a lot. 3 strand always, and I always back it up with wedges. Never had a problem. I have a 5:1 fiddle block too but I rarely use it, seems like it takes longer.
 
Everyone who works for or with me, including myself, no matter the weight can pull more with the massadan they with a 5 to 1.
 
I always use 3 strand. I have a dedicated 3 strand for the massadan, they suck for everything else. I've had 16 strand slip. It was an older 16 strand, might be better with a newer rope, never tried 12 stand or double braid.
 
chiselbit said:
I use a masdam a lot. 3 strand always, and I always back it up with wedges. Never had a problem. I have a 5:1 fiddle block too but I rarely use it, seems like it takes longer.
Click to expand...

I have used a Maasdam a lot.

Make sure each pawl engages.

Order from Amazon.

Never had too little pull.

Back up with wedges.

Never tried a back-up
Prussic. Easy, cheap.

3 strand and braided.
I use 3 strand a lot in general tree work, and have true blue, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8" stable braid, for my GRCS which is real waiting on hard work.

My guess is the Maasdam is about 8:1 based on handle length and sheave radius.
 
SomethingWitty said:
The grcs is a wonderful lowering device with respectable lifting capacity.
It is slower and more irritating to use to pull trees over than the ol rope pull-r.


The masdam is wonderful on virtually every solid braid 1/2" rope. I prefer 16 strand because it stretches less than 12.
I would hesitate to give a green hand one for fear of them getting into trouble (maybe losing a finger while trying to release tension?).
I would not give a prebuilt 5 to 1 to them. They'll mess it up and lose pieces and put it back together wrong. Once they can make one, they can use one.
Click to expand...
I always hand out the 5:1 prebuilt. All they have to do then is keep it straight. I keep it in a rope bag, flake the line in and top with the strung b&t
 
Jehinten said:
I really like the ropejack. It's a little more expensive than the masdam but it works with nearly any rigging rope that's 1/2", but works best with double braids. Its light weight , midline attachable, and provides an estimated 5:1 mechanical advantage (if I'm remembering correctly). If its ever not enough pull for a job I just add a midline pulley to create a 3:1 turning the ropejack's pull into a 15:1.
Click to expand...
I haven't used the ropejack before. You pull decent sized back leaners over without the toothed cams trashing the rope?
 
I always feel that a 5:1 is safer, easier to get a feel for the force applied as its tensioned. Can always have a no progress capture to let it run if shit hits the fan or if it's part of the plan. It can be slapped on any rope, and it's easy to build a larger MA off if it. I've used it quite a few times as a 10:1 and even a 30:1 to pull my f-250 truck outta the mud solo.
 
MikePowers321 said:
I haven't used the ropejack before. You pull decent sized back leaners over without the toothed cams trashing the rope?
Click to expand...

The only rope that I've felt it slip on and cause any damage has been on a 3 strand rope. Due to the construction there was minimal amount of rope surface for the cam to engage on. 12, 16, and 24 strand all work well with no damage. 24 strand seems to do the best with this tool.

I rarely get to fell trees in my area without working them down to 20-30' first, so it doesn't get used to pull over real large trees but the times that I have gotten to use it for this it worked well. I will almost always build in mechanical advantage if I have any concern about its pulling power. I work by myself, so I'm never in a hurry, so it doesn't bother me to pull 3X the rope in a 3:1. If I needed a faster pull I'd use the mini skid or a truck.
 
i believe Maasdam is 10:1, would rather use pulley sets.
>>Maasdam is crank back and forth, pulley jig is continuous direction input.
.
Truck pulling thru 3:1 pulls many things.
Can hand pull 5:1 at 5x for speed then at 8:1 with 2hands to tweak.
Can stack 3:1 x 5:1 also
.
prussiks/minders very helpful. Rest breaks, holds to then impact etc.
 
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I can easily believe 10:1. I didn't want to exaggerate.

A trick to it is to pull it steadily and smoothly.

I ask for a number 'reading' of 1-10 for a one-arm pull. 5 is usually enough to pull trees over. Sometimes 7. Sometimes it a two-hander, but since its being backed up with wedges, the wedges are lifting, too. With enough pounding wedges would lift the world.
 
*useless info* said:
i believe Maasdam is 10:1, would rather use pulley sets.
>>Maasdam is crank back and forth, pulley jig is continuous direction input.
.
Truck pulling thru 3:1 pulls many things.
Can hand pull 5:1 at 5x for speed then at 8:1 with 2hands to tweak.
Can stack 3:1 x 5:1 also
.
prussiks/minders very helpful. Rest breaks, holds to then impact etc.
Click to expand...
That’s another good point, constant applied tension vrs on off on off on off
 
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