Thread: Beaver lever block

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Been shown the ropes.

Esky, been listening alright, just wasn't putting my back into it.

The secret was to lash the head end hook around an immovable object, put the change over lever in neutral, and give the tail end hook a sharp yank while turning the knob in the right direction.

............ which is exactly what I said to do.......

PDW

PDW,

Touche, 10 points to you.

I was trying to do the impossible by holding the head end hook in one hand, and trying to pull the tail end hook out with the other. Just not enough oomph.

Appreciate all comments.

Ken

Here I was thinking, when you used all the chain up, you threw it away and bought a a new one. D'oh.

Interestingly enough, the 250kg puppy, that you can hold in the palm of your hand.

I dragged that out this morning when Ken was here. That only free wheels one way - Up. Stuffed If I could get it to run out. WD40 didn't even help.

Cant let it pass with out noticing. The details from the Beaver link at post #3. They were correct for the 750 at least.

Regards Phil.

Phil, I didn't realise the little 250 kg puppy was a Beaver as well, so picked it up for a closer look.

I quickly figured out how to de-spool the chain, ie, pull the chain out. Place the up-down lever in neutral, and simply spin the large knurled knob.

The chain runs out quite quickly, therefore you won't have to buy another one.

May be I should have kept my mouth shut and told you it was broken, and I'd take it off your hands whilst you got another one.

Ken

Edit: I have just discovered that if the knurled knob is turned hard anti-clockwise, the chain can be pulled out manually.

One thing which will usually make a block run the chain out if it first refuses to do so is to hang the block from a sky hook of some sort, and put the block into the lowering mode, and use the handle to begin the lowering of the chain. If you then put the direction lever into the neutral position, and pull the hand wheel out, the chain will usually run freely in or out.
It is much easier to hang the block to run the chain than it is to do the same job with the block sitting on the bench, the hardest bit is getting the chain started, and a surprisingly hard pull on the lever is sometimes required, so you need to have the block fixed in position, in order to rotate the handle in relation to the body of the block. You could fix the block in a vice I suppose, but hanging it is usually more practical in my experience.
Just make sure that you are not chain bound, or having a twisted link jamming somewhere before pulling too hard on the handle.
Rob.

Ropetangler,

You have summed it perfectly, your explanation is far better than mine.
It's just a matter of getting the brake to release. When you achieve that, the chain can be pulled freely either way.

Anyone looked in at HES in Preston, Vic. http://www.hesvic.com.au/

They have a fantastic range of drills, milling end mills, counter sinking bits, compressors, Kinchrome tool boxes and all manner of engineering stuff. Chain, shackles, grab hooks, all good stuff at reasonable prices.

Had a look at a 250kg Kito lever block made in Japan. Cast aluminium housing and handle, would sit in the palm of your hand. A beautiful piece of engineering. At $250, was a bit out of my league.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Ropetangler,

You have summed it perfectly, your explanation is far better than mine.
It's just a matter of getting the brake to release. When you achieve that, the chain can be pulled freely either way.

Ken

Aw thanks Ken, actually many years of doing it taught me those tricks. I should add for anyone looking to aquire a lever block or come a long, as we called them, keep clear of the Collumbus McKinnon brand also branded CM. Although an American made brand, they would have to be the biggest piece of junk when it comes to lever blocks. The hand wheel is too thin to grab to turn and the braking mechanism just doesn't cut the mustard either. In my working years, my employer had several of these with a 4 chain block giving a SWL of 6 tonnes, and we had a job with four of these units holding about 6 tonnes total, and the new blocks purchased for the job would not hold the load. They went back for dealer servicing but were returned in a similar condition. When we had to use these blocks, because we had no alternative blocks with the same capacity, we would tie the spare chain around the load chains and the handle to stop the block from slipping. Without that a six tonne block would slip with as little as four tonnes, even when being used for the first time. The Japanese made blocks we had of either three or one and a half tonne capacity were fine and a pleasure to use. Nowadays most of this kit would be Chinese made I expect, and probably pretty serviceable in most cases.
Rob.

The little 250kg Beaver lever block works well when pulling out bamboo, so much so that I snapped a fence post at ground level. Mind you, I was pulling from half way up the post.

Re-attached the block to the base of the post to carry on.

Prior to that, pushing my way up the sideway brushing vegetation aside, I snagged my glasses on an overhanging branch. Ripped the glasses clean off leaving the string still wrapped around my neck.

Took me half an hour sifting through the leaf mulch to find them, 10 feet away.

Ken

Hi Ken,
Sorry, I forgot to mention, DON'T try pulling from halfway UP the post, but at ground level.
Kryn

Originally Posted by PDW

............ which is exactly what I said to do.......

PDW

so he wasnt listening...i rest my case

Hi Esky, ease up.

I'll get my hearing aid batteries replaced tomorrow.

Ah, the joys of getting old.

Ken

Originally Posted by neksmerj

Hi Esky, ease up.

I'll get my hearing aid batteries replaced tomorrow.

Ah, the joys of getting old.

Ken

Besides getting old, you also get aids, Hearing aids, Looking Aids, Walking aids, Eating aids.

Kryn

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Besides getting old, you also get aids, Hearing aids, Looking Aids, Walking aids, Eating aids.

Kryn

Go Kryn...Ken only asked me to ease off on himself.......and I will....lol

sorry Ken