Drop test pictures

[Frans]

Ken & Gerri talking about the problems with attaching the device to a tree with a large DBH.
The problems come in when the strap is pulling the device at right angles to the drum. On smaller trees the strap pulls the device against the tree.

 

[Frans]

A pic. of the log we used to initially test what happens with ropes under severe loading. In the pic.is Ken Johnson, Myself & Bowie my most excellent faithfull dog.
We dropped the log approx 15' using 5/8" &3/4" line. The devices both walked up the trunk. Failures came at the marl. and also when the rope doubled up on itself on the drum it melted and broke within the wrap. Ken called it thermal breakdown.
Frans

 

[Frans]

Sam Noonan telling me about the nick in a short 1/2" cable core flip line I've been using for several years. I guess I should replace it before I regret it.
Frans

 

[Frans]

The new Hobbs & the GRCS mounted in tandem on the Euc. After the log drop we moved on to the Volvo.
Frans

 

[Frans]

Here is a pic. of the Volvo rigged up and ready to go.
the numbers you see on the side (4300GVWR) are the total vehicle weight capacities. The actual weight of the car is an even 3000 lbs. I wrote the gvwr because the vinyard scale was closed at the time of trailering the car to the drop site
The tractor in the background is a 100 horse CASE we used to pull the car and log up to the yarding block.
The rope used to accept the load is a 2" double braid.
Frans

 

[Frans]

Volvo UP and ready to go! We pulled up the car with rigging a 3/4" cable on blocks so the pull was at the bottom of the tree and parallel to the ground. Then we attached a 'unfusable' link from the tractor to the pull up line and chopped it with an axe to release the load. About 10'-15' of slack in the load line
Frans

 

[Frans]

Gerri B. put all this together on a DVD. The film is put together really well and tottally reveals the entire test. The main point to remember is attaching these devices properly. Fairleading the ropes is essential to keep the rope from walking out on the drums.
During the second test we bolted the GRCS down to the trunk and it accepted all the loads without a problem. In fact we broke a 9/16" choker cable holding up the yarding block.
During the first test, the GRCS base plate lifted up and caaused a sucking/ pulling action on the drum which pulled off the outer drum. I had it repaired at a cost of $160.00.
I should mention that the inner ratcheting mechanism was tottaly unaffected.
The hobbs also in the same test bent at the arbor and the channel iron of the base plate. I dont know what the repair cost would be for that damage.
Both devices blew out the fairleads which caused the rope to walk out on the ends of the drum. Greg Good told me to attach a rope w/fairlead above where the rope enters the top of the GRCS but I ignored him. He also said to use the fixed drum to drop dynamic loads but I wanted to take the weakest part of the GRCS system and test that. When the GRCS was bolted down it took the load with out any problems whatsoever. In fact the device is in use today.
Frans

 

[murphy4trees]

Some one's gotta treat Jerry to a new hard hat... That looks like the one he was wearing in those pics from the 70's...
God Bless,
Daniel

 

[glens]

Hooray for the sensible-sized images!  Other posters please take note.

Thanks, Frans.  Really interesting stuff.

Glen

 

[Nathan Wreyford]

Originally posted by glens
Hooray for the sensible-sized images!  Other posters please take note.

I guess you mean too small to see much detail???

 

[SilverBlue]

Interesting pictures nonetheless, perhaps the best solution is to have the file size listed so that the slower connections know what they are dealing with before opening them.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Frans, are you saying that you remove the rubber pads and run lags inot the trunk? Do you do this on regualr large removals these days?

I will regularly use a fairlead pully/clevis/carbiner over the winch to ensure optimal loading angles.

Are you don taking video footage? I will be doing some larger removals in the next week or so that should render good footage. give me a call if you want some, and what type of operation you would like to see.

 

[Frans]

Larger picture

Here is a picture of the tree with a mobile home in the background.
Foppiano vineyards has these field workers living near these Eucs. The trees are actually the property of the railroad which goes through this paticular vineyard. Foppiano places these really miserable trailers at the base of the Eucs for the shade I guess. As you can see in the picture the Euc. we are using for the test has a very big base but splits into several leaders. One of these leaders split out and landed on a trailer parked just underneath. Story is, it missed a mexican guy sleeping in the trailer by about 12" and tottally flattened the trailer. So Foppiano replaced the trailer, moved it 5'-6' farther out and now another mexican family is living in it. Their are3-4 trailers total underneath the line of trees.
Go figure, gives new meaning to the expression "disposable workers"
Frans

 

[glens]

too-small

What kind of detail are you guys looking for and not seeing in these particular images?

Glen

 

[Nathan Wreyford]

Awesome pics Frans!!!


Glens -

I can see a lot more in the last pic.

Point is in all these threads with pics, the only one derailing them with minutia about file size, etc is you. That should say something right there

 

[glens]

Nathan, I'm not the only one who appreciates snapshot sized snapshots.  You didn't answer my question.

Glen

 

[Nathan Wreyford]

Glens, I know it is hard for you to grasp but this forum is "Commercial Tree Care and Climbing" Not "Minutia for resizing pics so glens can see them" Feel free to start a thread in the OT forum and I will chime in.

 

[glens]

I'm not going to start a new thread.  You brought up the conversation here.  If you want to discuss it elsewhere, fire up a new thread yourself.

I'm at a place this week with very high speed connectivity.  I just fetched the image you see so much more detail in.  I can see more detail too, but I have to scroll it around the screen.  I see nothing in the fine detail which makes it better that way.  In fact, it's detrimental, being larger than the display.

Please answer my question.

If you want to see great detail, obtain the DVD through a different channel than a public forum where people from different parts of the world with different kinds of connections can all fully participate.  If some of the folk want to trade images behind the scenes with their broadband, they should certainly feel free to do so.

Your arguement is like saying because you have a Ferrari that it's proper to operate it 150MPH in a residential setting.

Glen

 

[rumination]

umm...Glen. If you have the settings correct on your computer than it will automatically display the image within the screen limitations no matter the size. Then you can zoom in on the parts you want to see in more detail. Surely you knew this, right?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Glen gets pi$$ed when you call him Shirley.