proper rope methods

[wjjmlg]

please help. what is the correct way to tie a rope when pulling a tree over. should you tie with a running bowline, or is it ok to have your rope pass over a branch and then tie the rope to the base of the tree. if there are alot of branches it will take alot of time to isolate your bull line just in one spot. sometimes i do both, but i just wanted to know which is the best way.

 

[LTREES]

Depends on the situation. I find it useful to use both methods.
Always have a wedge handy at the back cut in case of an unfortunate turn of events.

LT...

 

[BlackenedTimber]

I use the bag and throwline to position the bull robe around one section of the tree, and cinch it up with a running bowline. Then rig the bull rope into a maasdaam 2-ton hoist, cinch it up with a "come-along" or "Logger's" knot, face the tree, and then start ratcheting the hoist. Get plenty of tension, then make your backcut. Leave a good hinge, or the lil' bastard will jump all over the place from the tension.

I dont like running the bull rope up over a limb and down around the base of the trunk, because depending on the how the bull rope lays over any of the limbs, it can cause the tree to spin as you make your back cut, if the bull rope is loaded (tensioned) off-center from the trunk of the tree that you are felling.

you can tie an eye into the end of your bull rope and subsitute a shackle (clevis) for a running bowline too. Works fine and can be easier to remove if your putting alot of tension on your rope.

 

[John464]

I do both. All depends on what my throwline does. If I can get the ball to rotate to the front side so I can run a bowline up to the top trunk past branches, great. If not I tie it on the back side a few feet up from my notch.

 

[Norwayclimber]

please help. what is the correct way to tie a rope when pulling a tree over. should you tie with a running bowline, or is it ok to have your rope pass over a branch and then tie the rope to the base of the tree. if there are alot of branches it will take alot of time to isolate your bull line just in one spot. sometimes i do both, but i just wanted to know which is the best way.

There isn't a "correct" way, but you will get most power on the pull if the rope is isolated in the top, and a running bowline is tied. When pulling the rope over a branch and tying it to base of the trunk, Newtons 3 law starts to applie. That means, that the force you pull on the rope, the same force (minus fricton) will be pulling directly down the trunk. That again means that the force of the pull wont be along the rope, but somwhere between the rope and trunk. (as tryed to visualize in tree 2, blue arrow)

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think with that loss of angle, you'd kinda get another leg of pull in trade.

So the real question would be if the increase in force with the extra leg, was greater than the loss of angle. Also, if you coud 'spring' the top easier, to store force there, as well as the extra length of elastic line. i think sweating out more purchase of line from backside of tree would help the power and elastic force contributions, but then also bring the direction those were exerted towards closer to your median arrow (the friction at the turn would make the arrow direction less than median i think).

 

[md_tree_dood]

I agree with most when they state either way works, but if I had my choice, I'd use a running bowline. I usually don't use bull rope though. I've pulled over spars over 48" in diameter with half inch line using a 3-1 pulley system or a fiddle block.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I too prefer a tie up tome, as high as practical. I reserve a "fish pole" tie for when it is too difficult to isolate for a running bo'lin.

One drawback of the fish pole is that you loose some pull as the tree goes down.