LT15 Rope Issue

firefighter ontheside · December 15, 2020, 05:55:47 PM

I'm having an issue with my rope. I put a brand new rope on and it seemed to be perfect, but now as I'm cranking the rope doubles over on itself in the pulley and essentially locks up the feed. The only way to fix it is crank backwards until it pops back off of itself. Thought had it figured out that I had wrapped the pulley the wrong direction, but now it knots up when pulling the saw back. I've tried tighter, looser and it doesn't matter. The only thing I can figure now is that the new rope is cheap and flattens out too much in the pulley. Anyone have any insight? Thanks.

Mike W · December 15, 2020, 06:47:19 PM

Have the LT15 wide, was experiencing pretty much the same when we moved the mill to its final location, took the rope off one end and twisted it a few turns in the opposite direction the wrap on the pulley is where is climbs itself. Not sure of your situation, but fixed the issue on mine. Cheers

firefighter ontheside · December 15, 2020, 07:26:09 PM

I understand what you're saying. I'll give that a try in the morning. Thanks.

RichTired · December 15, 2020, 07:48:55 PM

Firefighter...

I bet the rope is just cold and trying to warm up!!! ;D

Durf700 · December 15, 2020, 07:58:30 PM

are the pulleys clean? I took a wire brush to mine when I had the LT 15. triple check that you have it on the right way after you changed the rope out.

firefighter ontheside · December 15, 2020, 08:00:50 PM

Quote from: RichTired on December 15, 2020, 07:48:55 PM
Firefighter...

I bet the rope is just cold and trying to warm up!!! ;D

Well, it was cold indeed. Coldest sawing of the season so far.

firefighter ontheside · December 15, 2020, 08:02:06 PM

Quote from: Durf700 on December 15, 2020, 07:58:30 PM
are the pulleys clean? I took a wire brush to mine when I had the LT 15. triple check that you have it on the right way after you changed the rope out.

Pulley is clean. That's not the issue, but I will double check the routing to make sure I have it per the instructions.

lazyflee · December 15, 2020, 09:23:57 PM

Every once and a while mine does the same thing, doubles over and climbs up the side. Then it will quit doing it. I have never figured it out! Was thinking it could be sawdust and sap building up and making it grabby? I dont know???

donbj · December 15, 2020, 09:59:57 PM

I don't own one but maybe a rag with a bit of atf on it and wipe the rope and give it a little lube. Just an idea.

firefighter ontheside · December 15, 2020, 11:08:48 PM

I'm afraid then it wouldn't grab the pulley like it needs to.

donbj · December 16, 2020, 12:32:13 AM

I know some of the nylon rope in the stores is quite slippery feeling and some not as much. You could be right it may not grab properly

Haleiwa · December 16, 2020, 08:38:26 AM

Try a piece of yacht braid. Three times the cost of hardware store rope and worth it.

firefighter ontheside · December 16, 2020, 09:48:17 AM

Quote from: Haleiwa on December 16, 2020, 08:38:26 AM
Try a piece of yacht braid. Three times the cost of hardware store rope and worth it.

Good thought. Hadn't heard of that, but it seems same or similar to what we use in rescue called prusik cord. I will look into some.

firefighter ontheside · December 16, 2020, 09:56:07 AM

I just ordered some new rope and its orange to match the Woodmizer!

offrink · December 16, 2020, 02:51:23 PM

I was having a problem with the provided rope not gripping well at all. I tied a knot 1" shorter and it was better. Tied another 1" shorter than that and it took two of us to put it on but it works well now.

Durf700 · December 16, 2020, 03:12:01 PM

I had my rope as tight as I could get it with 1 person and then it would work great!

Brad_bb · December 16, 2020, 08:35:25 PM

I've replaced mine with the nylon rope at Lowe's. Works fine. I just ran out to the shop to snap a pic. Here's my routing:

I just put the planer head back on tonight. The routing seems so complicated at first, but if you do it enough times, just wrap it and check the direction it moves with crank, and make sure the rope comes out at the correct angle to know you're on the correct track of the lower pulley. The planer upper pulley is turned 90 degrees to the lower.

I like the suggested trick of twisting the rope. What you describe has happened to me in the past. Not sure what I did to get out of it? Maybe I just re-routed and in the process may have taken twist out?

Lastly, it's important that the rope have some stretch to you can get good tension on it. I adjust my knot position at the end to get about 6 inches or so of stretch. I stretch it pretty tight, but you can only go so tight and still be able to get it hooked at the end.

firefighter ontheside · December 18, 2020, 08:07:48 PM

Thanks for the pic Brad. I just received my new rope. I think it is gonna be very good, but not much hurry to get it on there since my engine bought the farm today.

Durf700 · December 18, 2020, 09:51:08 PM

mill engine?? that sucks whichever it is! sorry to hear!

firefighter ontheside · December 18, 2020, 10:44:46 PM

Quote from: Durf700 on December 18, 2020, 09:51:08 PM
mill engine?? that sucks whichever it is! sorry to hear!

Yeah, my mill engine konked out during a cut today. Thought maybe I just bogged it down on the frozen elm log, but when I restarted it it sounded like there were rocks in the crank case.

firefighter ontheside · December 22, 2020, 12:41:02 PM

New prusik cord is on the mill(with no engine) and it seems to work great. It's a lot smoother now since the rope isn't riding up on itself in the pulley. Since its what we call prusik cord, I went ahead and tied prusik hitches instead of the standard overhand knot I have used with the old rope.