What You Should Know When Buying Come Along Pullers
Come along pullers are small and portable hoists that come in two primary varieties, the chain hoist and the wire rope type. These devices typically make use of a lever that is used to actuate the device. If not, then they will have a loop of chain that you will manually pull through the chain fall which will cause it to take up the main chain for lifting. While these devices often come in electric powered models, there are also hand powered models available which are known as cable ratchet lever hoists. Over time they devolved the slang name of ‘come along pullers’ which has quickly spread in popularity.
These come along pullers were first invented in 1919 by Abraham Maasdam in deep Creek, Colorado. However, they did not really take off until they were popularized by his son Felber Maasdam in the 1940s. In recent decades the device has been mimicked by several different manufacturers, each one adding its own subtle changes. One of the main advantages that one stands to experience when using cable pullers is that they can be operated in virtually any orientation. This is a major advantage over regular chain hoists which can only lift vertically.
One of the important things you will have to decide when in the market for come along pullers is which lifting medium you would prefer, wire rope or chain. Wire rope is generally lighter per unit of weight, but the drum diameter that it must be wrapped around does cause a significant increase in the overall weight. The chain hoist, on the other hand, is much larger than the lift wheel that it needs to function. So basically, a chain hoist must be smaller in size when compared to the wire rope of the same working load. Regardless of which medium you choose however, they will break over time if they are forced to carry loads that are above their lifting weight capacity. Rather invest in a good work station bridge crane for heavier loads.
A more specialized line of come along pullers that you may be interested in is the web strap ratchet lever. These are specially designed for overhead maintenance and construction applications and have been the leading choice of linemen over the years. They are available in both 1 ton and 2 ton capacities and the latest models are capable of going from single to double capacity without the need of changing parts. This would increase their lifting capacity by double. These are the preferred solution when you need durability, quality, and reliability.
So that come along pullers do not lift more than they were intended to, and risk breaking, they are outfitted with internal levers which only allow them to work within a safe capacity. These systems typically require regular lubrication to keep them in good working order or they will need repairs often.
