Help - M125 Wrecker Boom Winch Level Wind not on the level - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

houdel · 03-10-2008, 00:17

I have a problem with the boom winch on my M125/M816 wrecker not winding level. When starting with a bare drum the cable will skip several grooves at a time between wraps until it gets to near the center of the drum, then it winds correctly. I can solve the problem with a slight sideway push on the cable with a wood stick from the operator's location. but that hardly seems like a workable long term solution.

I did notice the rollers are just barely or not contacting the cable on the drum at all. Is this right? Should I "tweak" the tips of the roller mounting brackets to apply more pressure to the cable? Any other thoughts?

gimpyrobb · 03-10-2008, 00:48

Do you have any load on the cable while winding? I would think there should be contact by the rollers. I never looked to see if mine made contact or not. Is there an adjustment on the roller or its guide? What size is the cable? Could someone put on a smaller than intended size?

acetomatoco · 03-10-2008, 07:34

The rollers should be pushing against the cable at all times and you need keep a few winds on the drum for friction under load. I remember an incident at the inpact area on Camp Edwards where I bird's nested the boom cable on a M543A2. It was a torch job and a horrible mess on a contractor's truck loaned to our museum. But in the end, we got it back to them good as new. Do not ever unwind that cable with a least the weight of the pulley block on it or you too could suffer the same fate.

rizzo · 03-10-2008, 08:56

yes looks like you need some weight. I see in one pic the cable is bent and looks like that is why it is skipping. you can pull the bolt on the far end of the roller mounts and stick some washers underneath for more roller pressure.

joec · 03-10-2008, 16:23

Do you still have the same block on the end? 2 pulley on then thats the problem. Put the single part block on and problem is over. I thought i put this on here before on a different post...HMMM..!

Just my...

..!!

timntrucks · 03-10-2008, 22:25

that cable looks bigger than mine on m816? just a thought

m16ty · 03-10-2008, 23:15

I know nothing about a 816 wrecker ( never been on one) but I have run my fair share of cranes in my life. You need to have a fair amount of weight on the hook for it to wind correctly. If you are useing a block with a 2-part line you need to make sure the sheave is rolling freely.
If you ever get slack in the load line you need to check the drum. Nine times out of ten the drum will be fouled up although the roller will help some (most cranes don't have the roller).

joec · 03-10-2008, 23:23

Correct Backlash happens not fun. Then you wind up having to restring or rewind it with some weight. The problem i have pointed out is that the block needs to be changed. All will be better after you change it. With line going out the block won't go down because there is not enough weight. I Know its not a 1200 ton Demag with a traverse hook.

houdel · 03-10-2008, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Do you have any load on the cable while winding?

Just the snatch block, the two pulley type which gives you four runs of cable, which I think rates the boom winch at 20,000 lbs capacity; vs the single pulley snatch block which only gives you two runs of cable and 10,000 lbs capacity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Is there an adjustment on the roller or its guide?

None that I can see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

What size is the cable?

1/2" diameter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Could someone put on a smaller than intended size?

Almost anything in life is possible but I don't think this is the case. When properly wound on the drum the grooves are filled and there is no free space between adjacent wraps of cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acetomatoco

The rollers should be pushing against the cable at all times and you need keep a few winds on the drum for friction under load.

I guess I need to put a little more bend in the roller brackets for more pressure on the drum and remember to leave a few wraps on the drum when unwinding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acetomatoco

I remember an incident at the inpact area on Camp Edwards where I bird's nested the boom cable on a M543A2. Do not ever unwind that cable with a least the weight of the pulley block on it or you too could suffer the same fate.

Thanks for the hint, but you are a couple of days too late. I was playing with it at night without good lighting and instead of playing out cable at the load end, it unwound cable at the fixed end. The cable then jumped off the drum and flopped down on the shaft between the drum and the gearbox. I did not see what happened and when I winched in, the cable birdnested and wrapped itself tight between the drum and gearbox. At least it is only the last 2' or so of cable so if I have to cut it off I won't lose too much cable.

My winch will NOT play out cable with only the pulley block on it until I get about 1/2 of the cable played out. I have the 2 pulley block and there apparently is too much resistance with all those turns around the pulleys for the weight of the block itself to properly play out the cable. I have to hook my boom winch hook to the rear winch hook and alternately crowd out and boom up to keep the boom winch cable tight in order to play out the boom winch cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joec

Do you still have the same block on the end? 2 pulley on then thats the problem. Put the single part block on and problem is over. I thought i put this on here before on a different post...

Got a single pulley block you want to donate? Won't that decrease my boom winch capacity from 20,000 lbs to 10,000 lbs with only a single pulley and two runs of cable?

I remember your reply, I think it was in my "M125 Wrecker has a new home!!!" posting.

joec · 03-11-2008, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by houdel

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Do you have any load on the cable while winding?

Just the snatch block, the two pulley type which gives you four runs of cable, which I think rates the boom winch at 20,000 lbs capacity; vs the single pulley snatch block which only gives you two runs of cable and 10,000 lbs capacity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Is there an adjustment on the roller or its guide?

None that I can see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

What size is the cable?

1/2" diameter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimpyrobb

Could someone put on a smaller than intended size?

Almost anything in life is possible but I don't think this is the case. When properly wound on the drum the grooves are filled and there is no free space between adjacent wraps of cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acetomatoco

The rollers should be pushing against the cable at all times and you need keep a few winds on the drum for friction under load.

I guess I need to put a little more bend in the roller brackets for more pressure on the drum and remember to leave a few wraps on the drum when unwinding.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acetomatoco

I remember an incident at the inpact area on Camp Edwards where I bird's nested the boom cable on a M543A2. Do not ever unwind that cable with a least the weight of the pulley block on it or you too could suffer the same fate.

Thanks for the hint, but you are a couple of days too late. I was playing with it at night without good lighting and instead of playing out cable at the load end, it unwound cable at the fixed end. The cable then jumped off the drum and flopped down on the shaft between the drum and the gearbox. I did not see what happened and when I winched in, the cable birdnested and wrapped itself tight between the drum and gearbox. At least it is only the last 2' or so of cable so if I have to cut it off I won't lose too much cable.

My winch will NOT play out cable with only the pulley block on it until I get about 1/2 of the cable played out. I have the 2 pulley block and there apparently is too much resistance with all those turns around the pulleys for the weight of the block itself to properly play out the cable. I have to hook my boom winch hook to the rear winch hook and alternately crowd out and boom up to keep the boom winch cable tight in order to play out the boom winch cable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joec

Do you still have the same block on the end? 2 pulley on then thats the problem. Put the single part block on and problem is over. I thought i put this on here before on a different post...

Got a single pulley block you want to donate? Won't that decrease my boom winch capacity from 20,000 lbs to 10,000 lbs with only a single pulley and two runs of cable?

I remember your reply, I think it was in my "M125 Wrecker has a new home!!!" posting.

Yes it will but unless you use that A-frame Your not gonna lift 20k . You will need The single. 10K is more then enough. It's easy to change the block. Everthing in the pictures that were posted before was no where near 20k. A seabox in only 8900lbs. They had that rigged for heavy lifting. And i would run a square across the top of the boom to make sure it's not bent.

Do i have one to Donate...maybe ...!

Just making it simple. I have the gear to do the 20k on MINE EXCEPT FOR THE PADS FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE A-FRAME.

Look at the Ps magazine article M543 it will explain everything. And show you the A-frame in use.

The setup on it now is just overkill. And all you will be doing is re-spooling the drum.