That is one area I don't understand. How does the safety thimble prevent your hand from being sucked into the fairlead?
It doesn't prevent that; nothing can prevent that, should you create the conditions for that kind of injury to occur.
That is one area I don't understand. How does the safety thimble prevent your hand from being sucked into the fairlead?
I have steel line and the typical roller fairlead. While not the most glamorous looking, I use a shackle and some big ass washers. The washers keep the shackle snug and protect the rollers and my hand. Also keeps it out of the way so I can mount my license plate to the rollers. Any problems with this setup?
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Safety first and foremost. First for your hands, then to protect the winch and stall it out in the event of a stuck solenoid when the flat base of the thimble hits the fairlead. It also doesn't have to be load rated since it is a thimble and the rope goes around the eye. It is as strong as it needs to be to keep the rope's ultimate strength in play and the deep groove protects the eye from abrasion. Doesn't sound important be we find ourselves tossing a few coils of rope with the thimble up waterfalls fairly often and the catcher don't always catch so well. It is also built to be as light as possible and still do the job, again, not of importance until bad things happen accidentally and it becomes a projectile.I have a couple questions as I try to be more safe while winching. What is the main purpose of a safety thimble? I thought is was to keep hands away from the fairlead as well as damaging the fairlead with the small thimble/hook? What other benefits are there? Looking to purchase some soft shackles to use for safety reasons, but need to get ride of the giant hook on the winch line for them to be any benefit.
It actually does. The impetus behind the design was due to a video of a guy holding a hook and the winch didn't stop. It sucked his hand through the fairlead.It doesn't prevent that; nothing can prevent that, should you create the conditions for that kind of injury to occur.
One more question. Since the bow shackles should not be pulled from the side, when hung on the front of your bumper by the “bolt” part of the shackle. Would you suggest soft shackles as a better use here? Guessing soft shackles should be used whenever possible.Safety first and foremost. First for your hands, then to protect the winch and stall it out in the event of a stuck solenoid when the flat base of the thimble hits the fairlead. It also doesn't have to be load rated since it is a thimble and the rope goes around the eye. It is as strong as it needs to be to keep the rope's ultimate strength in play and the deep groove protects the eye from abrasion. Doesn't sound important be we find ourselves tossing a few coils of rope with the thimble up waterfalls fairly often and the catcher don't always catch so well. It is also built to be as light as possible and still do the job, again, not of importance until bad things happen accidentally and it becomes a projectile.
It actually does. The impetus behind the design was due to a video of a guy holding a hook and the winch didn't stop. It sucked his hand through the fairlead.
I remember being taught to always hold the hook by the back of the curve with the point away from my hand. That way if things went sideways you can always let go and not get pulled in... That explanation really stuck with me.Yeah, I guess a hook would do that, if you hold it in such a way. I'll consider this my mistake for the 5:00-6:00 hour.
I would ditch the heavy metal shackle and just get a few soft shackles. TRE sells them in sorts of sizes. Just run the soft shackle through the thimble and go from there. You can attach a strap as need be. I'm not sure how well this would work with your specific thimble, but I've looked the one on my old Warn steel cable and it appeared to me as if ditching the hook for a soft shackle through the thimble would work just fine.
I'm currently in the process of converting my winch gear from the heavy, steel Warn stuff I have to lighter options such as soft shackles and lightweight snatch blocks. My TRE synthetic was the first step towards that. I'm going to order a bunch of soft shackles soon.
I remember being taught to always hold the hook by the back of the curve with the point away from my hand. That way if things went sideways you can always let go and not get pulled in... That explanation really stuck with me.
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There must have been a time
when we could have said no.
ftgiles over on JF has posted pics several times of what you are describing.I would need to fashion a way to keep the cable taught while stowed. If one could fashion a backer that butts up against the thimble crimp and acts as a stop to the rollers? I'm picturing drilling a hole thru a hockey puck and feeding thru the length of cable to the thimble.
Warn gives those out like candy. If any event calls them up asking for sponsorship they will send out a box of them.
I would need to fashion a way to keep the cable taught while stowed. If one could fashion a backer that butts up against the thimble crimp and acts as a stop to the rollers? I'm picturing drilling a hole thru a hockey puck and feeding thru the length of cable to the thimble.
ftgiles over on JF has posted pics several times of what you are describing.
I remember being taught to always hold the hook by the back of the curve with the point away from my hand. That way if things went sideways you can always let go and not get pulled in... That explanation really stuck with me.
I would use a soft shackle without putting my hand through the loop. The problem with the wimpy straps is you can't hold onto them well enough to tension the line spooling in.
Good point that I realized through use before I got the Safety Thimble years ago but forgot about. I was going to order a box of them from Warn to use as giveaways for the next Calico cleanup but I just crossed that off my list thanks to your reminder that they're not all that useful. Thanks!I would use a soft shackle without putting my hand through the loop. The problem with the wimpy straps is you can't hold onto them well enough to tension the line spooling in.
You had to go and remind me why I'm still pissed about that.Good point that I realized through use before I got the Safety Thimble years ago but forgot about. I was going to order a box of them from Warn to use as giveaways for the next Calico cleanup but I just crossed that off my list thanks to your reminder that they're not all that useful. Thanks!