sparky 1971
Well-known member
Larger ropes won't dig in. Soap the rope as it's getting pulled in. Put a tarp on the ground for it when pulling it out so it doesn't get covered in dirt.
How to pull a very heavy bundle of cables?
- Thread starter reader2580
- Start date
OP
reader2580
Well-known member
How large a rope? I am looking at a 3/8" rope. I previously used two ropes from Menards that I tied together. That rope got used for an outdoor project where is was exposed to UV for probably nine months so I no longer trust that rope.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
The Greenlee 3/8 will be fine, it's made for pulling wire. No more than what your pull is, I'd be inclined to use my 3/8 just so I wouldn't have to deal with the big spool I keep the 1/2". Just soap it as it's getting pulled in. Don't mess around with a quart bottle, get a gallon bucket to make it easier to get out by the handful. If you do get it by the quart, squeeze it into a bucket.
b-boy
Well-known member
I pulled 300' of #2 copper from my house to my barn. Used a lot of lube and a pusher (my son) and a puller (me). I had several 45s and a 90 turn in there. I got 3/4 of the way and got stuck. Ended up putting a pulley on one of my rafters and tied the pull line to my pickup hitch. Worked like a charm.
I'll add to machinery stories similar to the above. The maintenance guys where I worked decades ago had to use a forklift several times as a last resort to pull 4/0 thru conduit or EMT that was connected to the steel ceiling trusses in a factory. I'm surprised they didn't pull the ceiling down. This was after failing with 4+ adult males pulling. They always used the yellow lube, but sometimes things still get tight.
Dagny
Well-known member
only pull when the other guy is pushing you develop a rhythm take 2 breaks and give the pusher time to slop some lube on.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Pulling four 500's through a 1-1/4 with six 90's in it while using a bunch of old shoelaces tied together and a 50 ton wrecker doesn't count
Last edited:
It was 1/0 in 1 1/2" and I think I was pulling with the pickup.
I try not to pull with a pickup because it's harder to regulate speed. I don't think it would have mattered on that one, was kind of a crappy conduit run with more bends than I wanted. Broke my 1/2" rope even.
I might catch flack for it but I dug up the last 90* and finished pulling the last 10' of wire. Slid PVC back over the wire.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I almost always dry fit the last piece (with the LB), take it apart for the pull then slide it on afterwards. Pulling or feeding from chest high *****.
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Sorry, missed that 1.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Don’t be cheap with the lube. Prelube a rope through with rags at intervals to goop up more lube. Once you have lubing either pull off the rags tie cable on and pull back. Or have a pull rope attached and pull back. With a man or even 2 at the pulling end and have another guy lubing cable and everyone find pulling and pushing in unison. You’ll eventually find the timing of the push and pull.
Instead of rope we used to use something called mule tape, a polyester pull tape. Aided the process amazingly. Won’t cut into conduit.
Instead of rope we used to use something called mule tape, a polyester pull tape. Aided the process amazingly. Won’t cut into conduit.
Attachments
OP
reader2580
Well-known member
I have mule tape already, but quite a few people in this thread said to use rope made for cable pulling instead. I ordered from Right Rope a couple of days ago. It was about $75 less than the Greenlee rope and still USA made. It looks similar to the Greenlee rope.
the nylon coating on THHN/THWN is what gives it resistance to oil, gasoline, and other solvents. It's a pretty thin layer, which is easy to damage. Just about every piece of thhn I've pulled out of a conduit has had the nylon damaged. the exceptions have all been easy pulls with few wires in a big, empty conduit. the damage doesn't matter for electrical properties, and in a conduit, the wire isn't usually exposed to oil.
You're way overthinking this...
OP
reader2580
Well-known member
Maybe, but why ask for advice if you're not going to follow the advice?
The problem, especially here, is it's easy to give advice that involves spending other people's money.
The mule tape you had should have been fine
I have a 150' length of nylon rope from the farm store that I use 75% of the time. Also have a 500' rope that's 30+ years old. Both are 1/2" 3 strand rope. I do it at least once, usually multiple times per year and that is all I have for 1 1/2" - 4" conduit. Have pulled up to (4) 500mcm with it. You don't need anything real fancy.
Last edited: