HELP! mini castle stuck up in the air
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Jewel
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:05 pm
- Location: IL/Payson 10 mi SE Quincy,IL.
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Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get this house down without doing MAJOR damage. I am pretty sure the cable broke and it is resting on the cross bolt. it is hard enough remove it from the ground pole (no, not set into a socket) when the house is lowered let alone with it being all the way up. I'm guessing I can repair most damage if it not too severe when it hits the ground. (there are only two of us) Thanks for your quick reply.
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Jewel
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:05 pm
- Location: IL/Payson 10 mi SE Quincy,IL.
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sorry, it's not the cable it's the pulley that is broke I think.
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Jewel
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:05 pm
- Location: IL/Payson 10 mi SE Quincy,IL.
- Martin Colony History: Active
No, sorry Joe I don't, I have the equipment just haven't figured out how to use it all. It is the basic Trio Mini Castle, we have had it for probably 10 years or so I'm not surprised that something has broke up top. Calling the neighbors looking for a 15' step ladder, hope someone has one.
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I guessing the cable runs up the center of the pole?? Might try clamping set of vise grips under the house onto the pole to prevent it from falling. then I would cut the cable, now that the house is free I would use two vise grips and lower a foot or two at a time while not falling off the ladder or getting bonk in the head with the house. Matter of fact I would wear a hard hat just in case 
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klcretired
- Posts: 2174
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- Location: Grand Prairie,Tx
Jewel
How tall is your pole??, is it possible for a person to climb a ladder to get up to the house and take a closer look as to what is wrong??, also you could use Large C-Clamps along with those vice-Grips.
Good luck...be careful
How tall is your pole??, is it possible for a person to climb a ladder to get up to the house and take a closer look as to what is wrong??, also you could use Large C-Clamps along with those vice-Grips.
Good luck...be careful
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Happy Martining for 2022 to everyone,
K.C.
[email protected]
Jewel,
Another thing that may work, is if you can find a ladder that can at least get to where the center section of the pole, meets the top section. It is here that the Mini Castle's pole comes together like shown in the following drawing from Nature House:
If you hold on with both hands, and it's not too windy, you should be able lift the top section of pole - house and all, and hand it down to a second person on the ground. That house weighs approximately 15 pounds, and the top section of pole is 1 1/4" in diameter, and 5 feet in length. Again, the key to this operation, is to keep the top pole section (with the house on it) from toppling over, once it becomes free from the center section.
Needless to say, this operation is going to be much easier without a lot of wind blowing, and a second set of hands.
Another thing that may work, is if you can find a ladder that can at least get to where the center section of the pole, meets the top section. It is here that the Mini Castle's pole comes together like shown in the following drawing from Nature House:
If you hold on with both hands, and it's not too windy, you should be able lift the top section of pole - house and all, and hand it down to a second person on the ground. That house weighs approximately 15 pounds, and the top section of pole is 1 1/4" in diameter, and 5 feet in length. Again, the key to this operation, is to keep the top pole section (with the house on it) from toppling over, once it becomes free from the center section.
Needless to say, this operation is going to be much easier without a lot of wind blowing, and a second set of hands.
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Jewel
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2004 8:05 pm
- Location: IL/Payson 10 mi SE Quincy,IL.
- Martin Colony History: Active
Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions, luck would have it, a good neighbor had a 15' tall step ladder. It was pretty windy, and ground was a little soggy, but what ever was the problem, I can't figure it out. As soon as my husband raised up on it I could feel the difference in the rope and it worked just fine. We tried it several times. The only thing I can think of is that it has been raining ALOT lately, and when I raised it up (in the rain) was when I felt it "catch/jump" and maybe the rope was so wet it got smashed in between the pole and the notch on the bottom plate. It's really frustrating because I have been assembling these houses/poles for people for 12-14 years now, and I just assumed 
that the pulley had broke. I think I will add a new washer on that end of the rope just in case. Oh and a 15' step ladder is on our list for the next trip to the home store. Best of luck to everyone, we're expecting ours back any day now.
that the pulley had broke. I think I will add a new washer on that end of the rope just in case. Oh and a 15' step ladder is on our list for the next trip to the home store. Best of luck to everyone, we're expecting ours back any day now.Visit here this quiet nook, as songbirds rest their wing, hearken softly, whisper low, and perchance, you'll hear them sing.