Hello,
I have a Sunset Inn System with winch that I was lowering and lost control of while it was descending. It did not hit bottom with a bang, because I stopped the house with my hand, but I think the cable came off the roller in the house. I was able to winch it back up, but it will not come down now.
I think I will need to wait until our colony is finished nesting and headed back south to pull the pole out and bring the house down to put the cable back over the roller in the house. Does this sound correct? Do you have any tips or experience with this problem you can advise me on?
Sunset Inn System with winch -- need advice
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Phil01
- Posts: 346
- Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2020 6:42 pm
- Location: Fernandina Beach FL
- Martin Colony History: 52 Cavities offered.
24 unit gourd rack with Troyer Horizontal and Vertical Gourds. K-18 gourd rack all Troyer Horizontal Gourds. Sunset Inn aluminum house with 4 Troyer Horizontal Gourds.
2020- 1 pair, 4 eggs, fledged 3
2021- 3 pair, 15 eggs, fledged 8
2022- 5 pair, 26 eggs, fledged 21
2023- 10 pair, 53 eggs, fledged 27
2024- 26 pair, 125 eggs, fledged 83
2025- 32 pair, 182 eggs, fledged 134
2026- Added a Troyer K-18 all Troyer Horizontal.
PMCA Member
Hello perdek,
I also have a sunset in house. There should be no roller inside the house where the cable is attached… The only roller should be on the top of the pole. Couple questions:
1. Can you see if the cable is actually off the roller on the top of the pole? If it’s still on the roller it’s possible you overcranked it and jammed the house stuck on the top pulley. If that’s the case I’d put a little slack in the cable, maybe 6 inches and gently pull down on the house with a long pole or from a ladder. That may free it. Make SURE you are engaged in the raising mode on winch once you put slack in the cable so the house doesn’t free fall onto you.
2. If the cable is off the pulley and stuck, put a c-clamp onto the pole below the house so it can’t go down any further. Then feed some slack into the cable with the winch. Then you’ll need to go onto a ladder and try and work the cable loose and back over the pulley.
Don’t know if you’re comfortable on a ladder but I lean a ladder against my 2 inch pole for the house and spray the pulley with lubricant every season so it can be done if you’re comfortable and are able to.
That’s all I can think of without taking it off the ground stake. Good luck, let us know what you decide.
Phil
I also have a sunset in house. There should be no roller inside the house where the cable is attached… The only roller should be on the top of the pole. Couple questions:
1. Can you see if the cable is actually off the roller on the top of the pole? If it’s still on the roller it’s possible you overcranked it and jammed the house stuck on the top pulley. If that’s the case I’d put a little slack in the cable, maybe 6 inches and gently pull down on the house with a long pole or from a ladder. That may free it. Make SURE you are engaged in the raising mode on winch once you put slack in the cable so the house doesn’t free fall onto you.
2. If the cable is off the pulley and stuck, put a c-clamp onto the pole below the house so it can’t go down any further. Then feed some slack into the cable with the winch. Then you’ll need to go onto a ladder and try and work the cable loose and back over the pulley.
Don’t know if you’re comfortable on a ladder but I lean a ladder against my 2 inch pole for the house and spray the pulley with lubricant every season so it can be done if you’re comfortable and are able to.
That’s all I can think of without taking it off the ground stake. Good luck, let us know what you decide.
Phil
PMCA member
Fernandina Beach, FL
Fernandina Beach, FL