help-emergency repair options

[simonlow]

Hello from France,  my mainline ( half- inch cable on a farmi- type tractor winch) is broken at the hook end, and a spare sleeve/wedges is on its way from the distributor.

Is a knot in the end of the mainline safe enough to keep working tomorrow ?, or is this a bad move. Thanks for any opinions.

[jason.weir]

Don't know about France but every hardware store in the US would have plenty of wire rope clamps on hand



 

I always use at least 3, with one going on backwards.  Although a quick internet search says I've been wrong and the U-Bolt side should always go on the free end of the cable - YMMV....

[thecfarm]

As jason said.. But I do only have a 40 hp tractor. But I would do it. 

[simonlow]

Thanks for the replies. I've never really trusted those clamps, which was why I was wondering if a knot would be better/ok ?

[Stephen Alford]

A good knot is all I have ever used.   Here are a couple pics.   Not the only way for sure .




 


 



 

 



 

[starmac]

We always used a knot on the tail chain for big lines on winch trucks, I don't see why it would not work in your application.
Those clamps do work, I always used 3 of them at a time, two with he clamp part on the dead end, with the ubolt on the dead end in between the two, if yo put the 2 on with the ubolt on the dead end, it will pull out.

[Southside]

I put a temporary knot in the end of the mainline on my skidder a couple of years back, I don't remember exactly what happened to cause the issue - your post just reminded me that I need to fix that right one of these days.    :D  So yes, I would say it should work just fine.   

[OntarioAl]

Never saddle an empty horse
That's how I remember the proper way to mount the clamps
Al

[Autocar]

I would braid it my self making a eye then braid the tail end and clamp it.

[mike_belben]

Id use an anchor hitch knot. 

[thecfarm]

 I did forget to mention I do make a loop at the end and the cable is doubled and than the u bolts gets used. I put a hook in the loop.

[Sheepkeeper]

Never saddle an empty horse
That's how I remember the proper way to mount the clamps
Al

I've heard it as never saddle a dead horse.

[bitternut]

Me too Sheepkeeper. Which to me means that the saddle part goes on the load end and the u-bolt goes on the tag end ( dead horse ).

[mike_belben]

To me it means its not a very good ditty for remembering how to set cable crimps.   I use my Googlefuey. 

[teakwood]

A knot will definitively hold but it's just a nasty thing. the best and easiest solution is a cable ferrule. and the best thing is, it's removable and reusable. takes less than 5 minutes 

[simonlow]

Thanks everyone, knot it is for today/ longer !