wire rope sockets, swagec fittings, swivels,
pendants, and securing hardware for wear. Winch
ecnd fittings need only bebc disconnected or
disassembled when experience or visible
indications deem it necessary. The exact time for
replacement of the rope cannot be given because
many variables are involved; however, safety
depends upon the use of good judgment in
evaluating wire rope. The following conditions are
reasons for wire rope replacement:
Running ropesSix or more broken wires
randomly distributed, broken or torn wires in one lay,
or three broken wires in one strand in one lay.
Replace end connections when there are any broken
wires adjacent to the end connection.
Boom pendant ropesMore than two broken
wires in one lay in sections beyond the end connection
or one or more broken wires at an end connection.
Kinks or crushed sectionsSevere kinks or
crushed rope in straight runs where the wire rope core
is forced through the outer strands.
Flatened sectionsFlat sections where the
diameter across the flat section is less than five sixths
of the original diameter.
Wire rope wearMeasure wire rope with wire
rope calipers (fig. 3-5) to check for wear accurately.
Replace wire rope that has wear of one third of the
original diameter of outside individual wires. A
crescent wrench can be used as an expedient means to
measure wire rope.
Wire Rope End Connections
Wire rope end connections must be as specified
by the manufacturer.
If wedge sockets are used,
they develop only 70 percent of the breaking
strength of the wire rope due to the crushing action
of the wedge.
Exercise caution when wedged
socket connections are used to make rated capacity
lifts.
Wedge sockets are particularly subject to
wear, faulty component fit, and damage from
frequent change outs, and are highly vulnerable to
inadvertent wedge release, and disassembly in a
two-blocking situation. Wire rope clips that clamp
both the dead end and live rope must not be used
with a wedge socket (fig. 3-6).
Figure 3-5.Measuring wire rope.
Such connectors are hazardous because they
restrain the wedge from seating properly in the
socket. Wedge sockets must be installed as specified
in the following procedures:
1. Cut and remove any section of wire rope that
was used in a socket and was subject to sharp bending
and crushing before resocketing.
Figure 3-6.Wedge socket.
3-8