198 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



(c) Never coil rope until it is perfectly dry. If stored in a damp con- 

 dition or in a damp place it will rapidly deteriorate. Always coil up 

 neatly and label. 



(d) Exterior appearances may be all right whereas rope may be 

 worm eaten or moldy inside; therefore always test strength of rope 

 before using, 



(e) Rope in storage should be uncoiled, dried and stretched every 

 six months. 



(f) Picket rope on the carriages should be similary treated at least 

 once a month. 



(g) Any part of a rope exposed to chafing should be parceled, that 

 is, protected by narrow strips of well tarred canvas. 



(h) Where rope passes over projections, corners or sharp edges, 

 these should be carefully padded with a gunny sack or pieces of wood 

 to avoid damage to the rope. 



(i) When a weight is to be raised it should be prevented from sway- 

 ing or held in position by means of a guy rope, thus avoiding damage 

 to the lifting rope. 



(j) In adjusting a sling always avoid placing the splice over the 

 lifting hook or a sharp corner. A sling should always be carefully ad- 

 justed, jammed down and hauled taut before beginning to lift. This 

 will insure that the strain is gradually equalized throughout the whole 

 rope. Furthermore proper adjustment of a sling will prevent contents 

 of sling from falling out. 



(k) The breaking weight of an ordinary picket rope (2^ inch to 3 

 inch rope) is about 3 tons for dead loads. The safe load which can be 

 ])ut on a rope is much smaller, usually not exceeding one-third to one- 

 half the breaking weight. With old rope and live loads, a larger factor 

 of safety must be used. 



(1) The strength of a new rope varies as the square of the circum- 

 ference of the rope. 



The bight of a rope is any part of it not an end. A bight or loop is 

 formed by bending or doubling the rope. The spaces between the 

 strands of a rope are called the jaws. A rope is long-jawed when it is 

 loosely twisted or laid up ; it is short-jawed when it is tightly laid up 

 or twisted. 



The free end of the rope is called the running end. The rest of the 

 rope is called the standing end or part. 



Stationary ropes such as guys, stays, etc., are called standing rig- 

 ging. Ropes that run through blocks or pulleys are called running 

 rigging. 



Whipping a rope is winding a i:)iece of twine around the end to pre- 

 vent it from unlaying or fraying out. Twine or other stufif is issued 

 for whipping. Worming is filling up the jaws of the rope by laying 

 spun yarn or other small stuff along them. This is done in order to 

 make the surface smooth for ])arceling. 



Parceling a rope is wrapping narrow strips of well tarred canvas 

 around it in order to protect it ?rom water, or to prevent the rope from 

 being chafed or cut when bearing against a rough surface or sharp 

 edge. 



