off, like line; but when wound in a coil, it must always
be unwound.
Wire rope tends to kink during uncoiling or
unreeling, especially if it has been in service long. A kink
can cause a weak spot in the rope that wears out quicker
than the rest of the rope.
A good method for unreeling wire rope is to run a
pipe, or rod, through the center and mount the reel on
drum jacks or other supports so the reel is off the ground,
as shown in figure 13-9. In this way, the reel will turn
as the rope is unwound, and the rotation of the reel helps
keep the rope straight. During unreeling, pull the rope
straight forward, and avoid hurrying the operation. As a
safeguard against kinking, NEVER unreel wire rope
from a reel that is stationary.
Figure 13-9.-Unreeling wire rope (left); uncoiling wire rope
(right).
To uncoil a small coil of wire rope, simply stand the
coil on edge and roll it along the ground like a wheel, or
hoop, as also shown in figure 13-9. NEVER lay the coil
flat on the floor or ground and uncoil it by pulling on the
end, because such practice can kink or twist the rope.
Kinks
One of the most common forms of damage resulting
from improper handled wire rope is the development of
a kink. A kink starts with the formation of a loop, as
shown in figures 13-10 and 13-11.
A loop that has not been pulled tight enough to set
the wires or strands of the rope into a kink can be
removed by turning the rope at either end in the proper
direction to restore the lay, as shown in figure 13-12. If
this is not done and the loop is pulled tight enough to
cause a kink (fig. 13-13), the kink will result in
irreparable damage to the rope (fig. 13-14).
Figure 13-12.—The correct way to take out a loop in a wire
rope.
Figure 13-10.—Improper handling.
Figure 13-11.—Wire rope loop.
Figure 13-13.—Wire rope kink.
Figure 13-14.—Kink damage.
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