Elliott Digger Derrick, Operation & Maintenance Manual, Page: 146 / 376

Synthetic Rope Usage EEC-0060 V1.2
Synthetic Rope Usage,
Inspection, and Retirement
Avoid All Abrasive Conditions
All rope will be severely damaged if subjected to rough surfaces or sharp edges.
Chocks, bitts, winches, drums, and other surfaces must be kept in good condition and
free of burrs and rust. Pulleys must be free to rotate, and should be of proper size to
avoid excessive wear.
Winding onto a Winch
1. Level Winding: Using the appropriate amount of tension, wind the rope evenly,
without spaces across the drum of the winch. The next level should wind over the
previous layer of rope, and follow the valleys between turns on the previous level.
This pattern is followed for all layers of the rope, with each layer of turns slightly
offset from the layer below.
2. Cross Winding: When the rope is placed under load it can dive, or push into, the
previously wrapped level below it. To avoid diving, cross winding is
recommended.
When cross winding, start with two layers of level wound rope using the
appropriate back tension.
Winding Rope on the Winch Drum
The first layer (wrap) around the winch drum should be put on closely and tightly.
The initial winding tension (load) should be approximately 50 pounds. This will prevent
subsequent wraps from slipping down between turns when tension is applied.
Dielectric Properties
Based on rope industry practices, dielectric property testing is conducted on
clean, new rope samples, and holds true only under such ideal conditions. Dirt, grease,
foreign matter, and moisture (including humidity) will alter the non-
conductivity/conductivity of any synthetic rope or material. No rope manufacturer can
attest to a rope’s dielectric properties under actual operating conditions.