Pull rope melted to PVC 90 with tugger

[Strombea]

I had a situation pulling in #500 AL. into a 4" pipe. @ 200 ft Tugger stalled and after a day of troubleshooting and digging found that the rope had melted to the inside of the PVC 90. I was using Right Rope LLC. 7/16" Polyester Pulling Rope

Im looking at The iTool PS916-300 - 9/16 Inch Pulling Rope

Any recommendations? Rope Material that wont melt?

What did I do wrong.

BTW we just pulled half the length and used repair couplers, so job is all good

 

[hillbilly1]

Sounds like the guys on the “dumb” end weren’t feeding it like they should have. You say 90’, how many? How many guys on the dumb end? if any? 500 Al in 4” should be an easy pull.

 

[DrSparks]

I had a situation pulling in #500 AL. into a 4" pipe. @ 200 ft Tugger stalled and after a day of troubleshooting and digging found that the rope had melted to the inside of the PVC 90. I was using Right Rope LLC. 7/16" Polyester Pulling Rope

Im looking at The iTool PS916-300 - 9/16 Inch Pulling Rope

Any recommendations? Rope Material that wont melt?

What did I do wrong.

BTW we just pulled half the length and used repair couplers, so job is all good

Lube?

Sent from my BE2028 using Tapatalk

 

[Hv&Lv]

Sounds like the guys on the “dumb” end weren’t feeding it like they should have. You say 90’, how many? How many guys on the dumb end? if any? 500 Al in 4” should be an easy pull.

Agreed. If they aren’t going to help or not feed properly a front end pack may need to be used to lube the rope.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Don't pull heavy pulls around PVC 90s. It is very common that the pull rope will burn through the 90.

Some have success with mule tape, but if there is any possible way, I use a rigid steel 90.

 

[infinity]

Maybe a larger (wider) rope is needed. We use Greenlee 7/8" ropes for large wire pulls. Was this the first elbow? You can also use front end pack bags to get the lube down the pipe.

SM Systems :: Polywater :: Cable Pulling Lubes :: Accessories :: Front End Pack™ Bags

www.smsystems.co.in

 

[roger]

I always used metal 90's in runs over 50', probably unnecessary at times but burn through didn't happen on those pulls.

Roger

 

[LarryFine]

+3 for the rigid steel 90s.

 

[kwired]

There are fiberglass elbows out there as well, with PVC couplings on the ends.

 

[tortuga]

What are the radius of the 90's used?

 

[tburdick]

Violation using poly rope with tugger, isn't it?
Why yes, yes it is.

 

[ptonsparky]

Steel cable.
Mule tape.
Metallic or fiber glass 90s.

Feeding it with pressure won't help if you're pulling very far.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Steel cable.
Mule tape.
Metallic or fiber glass 90s.

Feeding it with pressure won't help if you're pulling very far.

Would never consider the use of a steel pulling cable with a PVC raceway....I would expect that will cut through the raceway at any slight bend and for sure at any 90.

 

[ptonsparky]

Would never consider the use of a steel pulling cable with a PVC raceway....I would expect that will cut through the raceway at any slight bend and for sure at any 90.

It doesn't. IDK why.

 

[wwhitney]

It doesn't. IDK why.

Pure speculation--the coefficient of friction of steel on plastic is for some reason much less than plastic on plastic, so it doesn't heat up the PVC elbow enough for it to soften?

Cheers, Wayne

 

[tortuga]

I have learned the hard way, It does not matter what the elbow is made out of if the radius is 'standard'
I use 48" radius 90's on horizontal turns for 2" and up.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Pure speculation--the coefficient of friction of steel on plastic is for some reason much less than plastic on plastic, so it doesn't heat up the PVC elbow enough for it to soften?

Cheers, Wayne

I don't think it is heat, even though we call it burn through", I think it is simply friction and the pressure that pushes the pulling material against the inside wall of the raceway.

I would expect it is much worse as the sidewall pressure is increased because of high pulling forces.

"edited to add sidewall pressure comment"

 

[Knuckle Dragger]

I don't think it is heat, even though we call it burn through", I think it is simply friction and the pressure that pushes the pulling material against the inside wall of the raceway.

I would expect it is much worse as the sidewall pressure is increased because of high pulling forces.

"edited to add sidewall pressure comment"

I call it a frict

 

[Strombea]

Yea the 3 guys at the dumb end were feeding it hard there was 4 90s at 36" radius. It has never happened since but I mainly wanted to know what material of rope to use. When I dug it up and cut the 90 open it had turned to that hard wax like material when you burn a fretted rooe on purpose.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I have learned the hard way, It does not matter what the elbow is made out of if the radius is 'standard'
I use 48" radius 90's on horizontal turns for 2" and up.

I have never had any issues with standard radius bends when pulling around rigid steel elbows. The only time I would change the radius would be where the pulling calculation showed excessive sidewall pressure which can damage the conductor insulation. The crushing force of the sidewall pressure is reduced as you increase the radius.