Dragline ???

[Tom in west Mi.]

Does anybody have dragline experience here? I started operating a 999 American this year and the trip cable does not seem to last long. It starts to fray were it attaches to the bucket. This machine is setup with 100' foot boom and 5 yard bucket. It has also been repowered with a D353 Cat engine. It also is direct drive and mechanical swing. It is in good condition and runs out well. I do not have pictures but will try to post some soon. Would like to here if anybody else runs a dragline here? I am digging in water so can't see what is going on in the cut.
 

[NCWayne]

I've never operated one, but I have worked on alot of American, BE, and Northwest draglines over the years. That said, and it may sound like a stupid question, but when you say it starts to fray 'at the bucket', where exactly are you meaning? Looking at the diagram at the link below, is it fraying right at the becket at the top of the bucket, in the middle of the cable, at the end where it ties in to the chains and the drag cable, or what?

Reason I ask is that, as you know, the bucket dump/trip cable runs through a sheeve. Running in the water is always bad on bearings, and like many draglines I've seen, greasing is not always the operators strong suit. If you just started running this machine then there's no way to know if the sheeve ever got greased properly. If the bearings in the sheeve are dragging or locked up, the sheeve is grooved, etc, etc it can cause problems. In one case the cable is sliding on the sheeve causing the fibers to wear, in the other, a new cable running in a groove that may be even a little but smaller in width than the diameter of the cable will also cause problems by cutting the fibers as the cable is forced into the groove by the weight. In a situation like that it seems like the wear ought to be somewhat spread out along the cable but it could also be even worse at both ends where the cable gets the most stressed from the weight of the bucket reversing directions as it trips.

Beyond that, post a few pics when you get a chance. If what I'm guessing might be going on is off base, the real problem be more evident when you can seeing what is going on.
Dragline reeving diagram

 

[dipper77]

I run a Manitowoc 4600 with a 140 ft boom and a 6 yard bucket near Ann Arbor. When I use used 1 1/8 cable that came off the mast, I usually get 3 months out of my dump cable. When I run out and switch to 1" new cable, it lasts about 6 weeks. All of my digging is in the water. I also grease the dump sheave twice a day and usually will get a year or so out of the bearings.
 

[dipper77]

I run a Manitowoc 4600 with a 140 ft boom and a 6 yard bucket near Ann Arbor. When I use used 1 1/8 cable that came off the mast, I usually get 3 months out of my dump cable. When I run out and switch to 1" new cable, it lasts about 6 weeks. All of my digging is in the water. I also grease the dump sheave twice a day and usually will get a year or so out of the bearings.
 

[Tom in west Mi.]

That is about what I'm getting out of my trip cable so I guess that is about right. I am working a pit just west of Allendale Mi. I am greasing the dump sheave everyday.
 

[to_many_irons]

you guys make the old 22B seem small .
3/4 yard bucket would not do clean up behind you .
don't think i could of move your mats .lol.
 

[NCWayne]

I'm waiting on a customer in Chapel Hill to get his money right so I can reassemble a 190D Northwest for him. I don't remember exactly how much boom he has with it, I'm thinking it was just over 100 feet, but the way it was set up it's pulling a 7 yard bucket.

Before that I've got the undercarriage out of his 80D, also waiting on him to get his money right to get it back together. It's set up as a shovel and sports a 3 yard bucket.
 

[dipper77]

Sorry about the double post. I am using my phone and thought that it didn"t send the first post. I have only been around the 4600, so I am not sure how it stacks up compared to other machines. I"ve only worked at one pit and only been in the seat for about 7 years.