tying in to the crane ball

[Atlantaclimber]

Could anyone please post some pics of how your tying in to the crane. Crane work is something I'm fairly new at and any help on this subject is greatly appreciated

 

[Altissimus]

Welcome to the house Crane Baller....I believe Jay, Butch and a few others have covered this one ...maybe search old threads...me still never hired the crane

 

[MasterBlaster]

Welcome to the TreeHouse, brother! Gotta first name? Mine is Butch.

I prefer a shackle above the ball, but if I have to, I'll tie into the hook - no problemo. Just be sure to set your line in first.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

Hey Atlantaclimber, Welcome. I don't have pics handy.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I always put a safety through the hook, loop it around once and push it up the neck, so it gets a bite on the steel. Then I have another line from an eye on my saddle that is a back up that has a loop on the end, and put that around the hook as well. Won't ride the hook without a well functioning snap. I like the shackle above the ball way, but never use it. The first part of this vid that I made awhile back shows my method, a crane operator suggested the loop around. Warning, the vid is a repetitive thing that can give you motion sickness.

http://youtu.be/NAO1ZzQpelc

 

[cory]

Interesting vid, Jay. Couple quick questions- the choker looked frayed, was that a concern? And I've never seen crane work done that way where you ride the hook up and down. Would the load of the tree be better on the hook itself rather than on the shackle above the ball?

 

[Atlantaclimber]

Thanks for the welcome all,and thanks for the replies,my name is zack. I've been using two shackles also, I'm not particularly fond of tying into the hook because i feel like the possibility is there for branches to open the hook,I've seen slings snatched right out that i personally put on properly, probably not gonna happen but who knows. Thanks again for the Feed back

 

[woodworkingboy]

I don't exactly recall that choker, Cory, most likely a few strands minor fraying at the splice. Hopefully careful enough about that, a good concern though. Glad you picked up on that method with the sliding choker. It is a method that the main operator that I usually work with came up with. He does mainly tree work by far, and likes to roll with only a sub hook size, and it does simplify things a lot when lowering and pulling up through the crown. Other guys will have you cutting limbs to get the main hook through with a lot of those conifers, and getting into the tree is simpler as well. I will be the first to say that it can be seen as a controversial or unapproved method. Carl gave me a kind of a lecture about it once and I understood his good opinion. It does kick out the wedge socket at a funny angle where the cable joins to the collar, and also puts a slight kink in the cable. On the good side, we have used it successfully for what must be ten years now, and on many very large heavy trees with never a problem. I won't say that having your climb line through a ring on the hook with the cable there too, lowering yourself down on your hitch isn't a better way. We will do that as well. The slider is a more common practice with that operator though. One of those things I guess, perhaps not advisable but experience allows you to trust it. I don't know anybody else that uses it.

Zack, I've had branches get in the hook as well...why just today.... and so far once under the safety that had me worried. Can't be too careful and observant. Stop means immediate stop when communicating with the operator.

Welcome, by the way.

 

[bonner1040]

The crane company we rented from at my last job had BIG "d"s so to speak welded on to the becket. It was the best setup by far that I have seen. They took 1" Stock and bent it into a C shape and just welded it on there. You could stick a hand through. You either ran a rope through that or prusiked on a pinto pulley on some cordage. Ive got a photo somewhere....

 

[bonner1040]

See how this looks...

 

[bonner1040]

AHA!

Found it.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I think a welding on the becket is a fine idea. I suggested it to the operator after seeing an earlier post about it here, maybe your's Nick. . He said impossible, no mods to the becket will ever get through the annual inspection. Guess it is different in your land.

 

[bonner1040]

Tell him to get two beckets. One for the annual inspection, one for use.

 

[woodworkingboy]

He seemed pretty adamant, I thought best to drop it.

 

[bonner1040]

No you are right of course. Leinmeister, or company, has it on all their cranes. Different places, different rules.

 

[Atlantaclimber]

Great pic thank man , i don't think our crane co.is gonna go for that either, especially since we're not even supposed to be riding the ball

 

[FJR]

A clevis above the ball with a friction saver.

 

[cory]

Good info, Jay, thanks.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

<a href="http://s658.photobucket.com/user/southsoundtree/media/carbondale%20tornado%202009/hookrideatgroundlevel-1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu303/southsoundtree/carbondale%20tornado%202009/hookrideatgroundlevel-1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo hookrideatgroundlevel-1.jpg"/></a>

Shackle on cable, pin wired shut, friction saver (I've used ring and ring, and cambium saver).

 

[MasterBlaster]

I remember my caddies. I thought they were the best until I was turned on to angled pads.

 

[sbtree]

I remember my caddies. I thought they were the best until I was turned on to angled pads.

Butch if you don't want them anymore send them north to me! I have 2 sets of spurs with caddies! Love em!

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've already sent them (Burnham, IIRC) on their merry way!

 

[sbtree]

I've already sent them (Burnham, IIRC) on their merry way!

Ha ha awesome! If anymore tree gear shows up or I inherit more in some way, I'll be sleeping in my chip truck! Lol says my wife!

 

[Bermy]

Big shackle above the ball, wire it shut, friction saver...go to work!

Ps this was in Bermuda...I don't think you are allowed to tie into a crane in Oz