off, like line; but when wound in a coil, it must alwaysbe unwound.Wire rope tends to kink during uncoiling orunreeling, especially if it has been in service long. A kinkcan cause a weak spot in the rope that wears out quickerthan the rest of the rope.A good method for unreeling wire rope is to run apipe, or rod, through the center and mount the reel ondrum jacks or other supports so the reel is off the ground,as shown in figure 13-9. In this way, the reel will turnas the rope is unwound, and the rotation of the reel helpskeep the rope straight. During unreeling, pull the ropestraight forward, and avoid hurrying the operation. As asafeguard against kinking, NEVER unreel wire ropefrom 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 thecoil on edge and roll it along the ground like a wheel, orhoop, as also shown in figure 13-9. NEVER lay the coilflat on the floor or ground and uncoil it by pulling on theend, because such practice can kink or twist the rope.KinksOne of the most common forms of damage resultingfrom improper handled wire rope is the development ofa kink. A kink starts with the formation of a loop, asshown in figures 13-10 and 13-11.A loop that has not been pulled tight enough to setthe wires or strands of the rope into a kink can beremoved by turning the rope at either end in the properdirection to restore the lay, as shown in figure 13-12. Ifthis is not done and the loop is pulled tight enough tocause a kink (fig. 13-13), the kink will result inirreparable damage to the rope (fig. 13-14).Figure 13-12.—The correct way to take out a loop in a wirerope.Figure 13-10.—Improper handling.Figure 13-11.—Wire rope loop.Figure 13-13.—Wire rope kink.Figure 13-14.—Kink damage.13-6
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