Even though last Thursday/Friday’s winter storm left 5”-8” of new snow here, April 15 is my “drop dead date” to have the 16 gourds hung. My martins usually arrive around April 23. They have been as early as April 14 and as late as May 7.
I want to re-string the pole/winch/gourd rack before I hang the gourds.
This year I’m using one natural gourd and a mix of 15 Super Gourds and Excluder Gourds.
I have an older braking winch on a 2-3/8” round EZ lift pole. It holds a double fountain and 16 metal rods. 8 gourds on each level.
What diameter steel stranded cable should I use to safely lift this set-up?
Right now I have very old 3/8” cable that is stiff and seems to be overkill.
? Cable diameter to re-string the winch ?
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
~ Not all those who wander are lost.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
Both of my T14's have 3/16 galvanized steel cable. I think it is rated for close to 1,000 lbs which is obviously plenty for my houses. I can't imagine your set up weighs much more, if any, then a T14. My original one has 4 gourds under it too.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
Harbor Freight has the cable you need and way cheaper than any other place you could buy it.
Colony started in 2002
Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS
*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
Offering 82 Troyer Horizontal Gourds
2018 - 45 PAIR - FLEDGED 203 MARTINS
2019 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 268 MARTINS
2020 - 82 PAIR - FLEDGED 392 MARTINS
2021 - 78 PAIR - FLEDGED 349 MARTINS
2022 - 76 PAIR - FLEDGED 373 MARTINS
2023 - 68 PAIR - FLEDGED 355 MARTINS
*2023 Added 2”X4” wire cages to all three Troyer Gemini Gourd Racks to deal with Great Horned Owl predation on Colony.
flyin-lowe wrote: ↑Sat Apr 13, 2019 8:26 pmBoth of my T14's have 3/16 galvanized steel cable. I think it is rated for close to 1,000 lbs which is obviously plenty for my houses. I can't imagine your set up weighs much more, if any, then a T14. My original one has 4 gourds under it too.
2021
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
T14
10 Pair
49 Fledged
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Caroline94535-ND
- Posts: 337
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:12 am
- Location: North Dakota/Larimore
- Martin Colony History: Will add later
I want to thank each of you for responding.
I will be getting the new, smaller diameter cable, and a worm-gear winch soon and installing them this August after the
fledge!
I will be getting the new, smaller diameter cable, and a worm-gear winch soon and installing them this August after the
fledge!~ Not all those who wander are lost.
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ToyinPA
- Posts: 2227
- Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:07 pm
- Location: PA/Avis
- Martin Colony History: The 1972 St. Agnes flood wiped out all the Martins in my area. One day, in 1997-98, 5 or 6 Martins landed on the power wires crossing my back yard. I had no house for them. They kept coming back day after day. We got a martin house a few weeks later & they have been coming back every year since. I average 12-15 pair per year.
Lowe's has 3/6 inch stainless steel cable. They sell it by the foot. It's located in the aisle where they have the screws/bolts/washers/et. They will cut it to length for you. I found it on the bottom shelf. You'll need the squeeze on end sleeves to keep it from fraying.Caroline94535-ND wrote: ↑Sat Apr 13, 2019 3:12 pmEven though last Thursday/Friday’s winter storm left 5”-8” of new snow here, April 15 is my “drop dead date” to have the 16 gourds hung. My martins usually arrive around April 23. They have been as early as April 14 and as late as May 7.
I want to re-string the pole/winch/gourd rack before I hang the gourds.
This year I’m using one natural gourd and a mix of 15 Super Gourds and Excluder Gourds.
I have an older braking winch on a 2-3/8” round EZ lift pole. It holds a double fountain and 16 metal rods. 8 gourds on each level.
What diameter steel stranded cable should I use to safely lift this set-up?
Right now I have very old 3/8” cable that is stiff and seems to be overkill.
Toy in PA
PMCA Member
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Larry A Kronemeyer
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 5:27 pm
- Location: Illinois/Millstadt
Stay with the same size cable. Stainless is more flexible than galvanized and lasts longer without the rust. If your system came with t he 350lb brake, keep, if 500lb better. You are doing a stright pull up and down pole and you do not want anything to fall on your head while loaded with birds, nests and eggs. Be safe, than sorry. If your system came as a kit, size and cable were put in for a reason. Hobbies are expensive, don't cut expensises for birds sake.
Larry and Judy Kronemeyer
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
est. 1999
1-12 compartment Trendsetter and 8 gourds(crescents)
12 gourd rack (crescents)
Member PMCA
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Harold Green
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:30 pm
- Location: Georgia/excited
I would put some kind of safety bolt through the pole to stop the rack from coming all the way down in case the cable broke or came loose. I had a cable to come loose and the rack fell, the safety bolt stopped the rack about 6" above my head
and bent the bolt. i'm sure i would have been hurt bad if not killed if the bolt hadn't been in place.
and bent the bolt. i'm sure i would have been hurt bad if not killed if the bolt hadn't been in place.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3788
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
There is give and take with safety bolts. Drilling a hole in the lower part of a pole has an impact on the strength of the pole. In the grand scheme of things human safety is of the utmost importance but I pay close attention when I am under my systems raising and lowering them. I would rather have all the strength I can in my pole as for me the odds are higher that I would be more likely to have issues from very high winds then to have a failure while I am standing under my system. Everyone has to make their own decisions on that part of it though.
2026 HOSP 26
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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4th Gen Martin Fan
- Posts: 1498
- Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
- Location: TN/Collierville
- Martin Colony History: I have been exposed to purple martin sounds in utero when my mother went out to get my father away from his martin colony.
I played around the martin colony every summer and watched as my father maintained his colony. In the late 50's until the 70's he did not notice European Starlings in south Texas.
When old enough, I helped maintain his colony. My primary task was eliminating English House Sparrows with a 1956 Benjamin 317 .177 air rifle.
When I settled into my own home, I started my first colony with an original Trio Castle and Trio Grandpa. When I moved again, I did not put up any martin houses. Frustration with European Starlings in the Southeast US was overwhelming.
Found PMCA Forum and learned about modern enlarged compartments and SREHs.
Inherited my father's last martin house, a Trio Grandma, modified it to modern specifications and have had good results since then.
Home Depot has Everbilt 3/16" diameter 7 x 19 construction stainless steel uncoated wire rope which is rated at 740 lbs working load limit.
Compared to galvanized wire, it will last MUCH longer with no rust.
7 x 19 wire rope is constructed of seven strands of nineteen wires. 7 x 19 is stronger than 7 x 7 and has excellent flexibility and good abrasion resistance.
I wholeheartedly agree with Toy in PA about squeeze on end sleeves to prevent fraying of the wire rope. She must have experienced the needle like ends of frayed 7 x 19 wire rope!
Compared to galvanized wire, it will last MUCH longer with no rust.
7 x 19 wire rope is constructed of seven strands of nineteen wires. 7 x 19 is stronger than 7 x 7 and has excellent flexibility and good abrasion resistance.
I wholeheartedly agree with Toy in PA about squeeze on end sleeves to prevent fraying of the wire rope. She must have experienced the needle like ends of frayed 7 x 19 wire rope!
Mark.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.
Firm believer in HOSP/EUST Control, Enlarged Compartments, SREHs, Pole Predator Guards, Owl/Hawk Guards, Mite/Parasite Control, Housing Insulation, and Vents for Compartment Cooling.
PMCA Member.