Bad Idea? - Replace steel cable with synthetic rope on come-along/cable puller

Just wondering if anyone has considered this or done it. I'm referring specifically to a 4t hand operated cable puller a.k.a. "come along".

My thinking is that it would reduce the weight of the gear, provide better flexibility and easier to work with, plus reduce the amount of metal loading up and flying around to cause injury and damage when things go wrong.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Considerations? Admonitions? Random information that has nothing to do with my question?

 

If it was a new one, I don’t see why not.

 

Theose handheld come alongs are not very heavy in the first place, not sure there is much to really gain in making them lighter.

 

It would depend on how it was used and only by you!! Being so very careful !

Having used these over the years in my millwright career The crews I worked with the winch rope would never even last a day. in just normal use.

I myself don`t see a practical gain. You would need to carry replacement winch rope for when it gets compromised . No doubt when it is needed the most!

Good luck!

 

My winch(s) have had synthetic rope. Lighter. Same concept. I also use ratchet straps as “come along(s)”.

 

My MorePower come along came with synthetic rope, and has served me well.
https://thearboriststore.com/produc...NESmKgiuFw67ASicO4ZqpxULENRpgJfxoC0IIQAvD_BwE

 

Yes, I had looked at those while shopping for one. They look well built, but for the price and weight I couldn't justify it. Maybe that's where I got the idea from initially.

 

My thinking is now you would move the weakest link to something like a nut or bolt on the come along

 

Point taken.

However, my understanding is that the handle on most of these units is designed to yield when a force over the rating is applied.

And really, if the system is in full tension and nothing is moving except the tree you're pulling from then it's time to back off and rethink the approach.

 

CORRECT!!! Which is why you should never slip a "cheater" tube over the handle to get a longer throw. It binds and inadvertently reinforces the handle which is intentionally designed to fail first. It also gives you more leverage than the unit was rated for when it is at that failure point.

We always called it the Suicide Pipe for that very reason.

 

Any follow up on this? I have a brand new nice come a long in my truck that I would like to do this with. I don't care about the weight, but I do care about the fact that you could get allot more line on it with synthetic rope. I may almost double the pulling length by changing over.

 

You probably know this already, but you can magnify your pulling power by tightening up the comealong and then pushing the cable sideways from the middle. Fizziks, y’all.

 

I didn't try it yet but still think it should work fine. I'd take some time to round over any sharp edges on the come-along's drum though.

I hadn't considered the potential to increase pulling length.

 

One point to consider, dyneema/synthetic winch ropes lose a lot of their strength when they make tight bends, so if the drum portion is fairly small in diameter, it may not be a good idea. Same problem with tying knots in synth line. Even knots with relatively large bend radius : rope diameter can reduce the strength by 50%