Winches

Do I need any qualifications to operate a winch?

You need to take a special course for hoisting machines.
Winches are subject to "Work operating a hoist with power-driven system (excluding electric hoists, air hoists and other hoists pertaining to gondolas)" in the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health (xi, Article 36).
Persons under 18 years of age are not allowed to operate a winch.

Do I need any qualifications to operate a Baby Hoist?

Although you need to take a special course to operate stationary winches, you do not need to take a special course to operate hanging hoists such as a Baby Hoist.
However, we recommend that employers give operators safety education (special education) to reduce the risks associated with the operation of hoisting machines.

Can we change the length of the wire rope of Baby Hoist?

Please make sure to use our genuine wire rope that is one meter longer than the lifting height (hoisting distance) that is shown on each hoist.
Each hoist must show the lifting height. Do not use a wire rope with an incorrect length as it may cause an accident.
If the wire rope is too short, primary liner will be insufficient and might drop. Furthermore, if the wire rope is too long, the radius of the primary liner will be too great, which may generate an excessive load and touch the inside of the frame causing a fault.

Can I operate a winch with an inverter?

Mighty pullers that use three-phase motors (MA series, MAW series, MW series, and WK55X) can be operated with inverters. Note that the MA-2 can also support an inverter through a special modification.
In this case, please select 60 Hz capability regardless of power frequency.
Models with a single-phase, 100 V power supply, such as Baby Hoist and Baby Mighty, are not compatible due to the motor specifications.

How do we replace the carbon brush in the motor?

There are consumables called carbon brushes in the motors of small models like Baby Hoist and Baby Mighty. They need to be replaced as they wear out.
You can easily replace the carbon brushes for most models by following the instruction manual. As for the MA-650 series, please see the URL here as there are many steps to follow.
We recommend that you contact our affiliate plants for the BH-800 and BH-N800 series, and DB-820 and DB-N820 as replacing the carbon brushes in these models is difficult.

Are there any models that can be operated wirelessly?

Baby Hoist (BH-N and DB-N series) and Scaffolding Boy (MA-N900) with an "R" at the end of their model names are radio-controlled models. A special modification is required for Mighty Puller.

Are any qualifications for wireless technologies required to operate radio-controlled models?

You do not need any qualifications for wireless technologies as the winch uses applications and a frequency band that are applicable to specific low-power radio communication stations.

We use a radio-controlled Baby Hoist but the reception is poor. How can we improve it?

Please try the following:

• Remove the obstructions between the Baby Hoist and the operator.
• Turn the hoist controller toward the operator.
• Restart the Baby Hoist.

We are using a radio-controlled model, but we want to change it to wired control. Is that possible?

Baby Hoist (BH-N and DB-N series) and Scaffold Boy (MA-N900) retain the operation method of when they were turned on.
The operation method will not change if the power stays on. Turn the power off to change the operation method.
Please follow the procedure below to change to wired control:

1. Connect the pendant push button switch with an emergency stop button to the socket that is hanged from the main unit.
2. Turn the power on.

Please follow the procedure below to change to radio control (only for radio-control compatible models):

1. Connect the dummy plug that is attached to the main unit to the socket that is hanged from the main unit.
2. Turn the power on.

Can I use two remote controls with radio-controlled models?

Baby Hoist does not support with two remote controllers. However, Scaffold Boy supports two remote controls as an option. Baby Hoist is configured to be used with one remote control for safety reasons.

How many radio-controlled Baby Hoists and Scaffold Boys can be operated at the same time?

You can use up to five wireless units in an area where the radio frequency reaches (100 m or more horizontally and 50 m or more vertically). Note that a Scaffold Boy that is operated with two remote controls counts as two units.
The number of usable units may decrease when the radio frequency conflicts with other devices and/or the area that receives the radio frequency is limited.

Do the radio frequencies of Baby Hoist and Scaffold Boy when they are operated wirelessly interfere with medical devices?

Although the radio frequency is applicable to specific low-power radio communications, we are not sure if they interfere with medical devices. We recommend that you use the units with a wired control if there is the possibility of interfering with medical devices.

Baby Hoist/Scaffold Boy stopped during operation. Did it breakdown?

Models with the exception of the BH-N300 series have various electrical safety functions and the unit stops if the safety functions detect abnormal voltage and excess current, frequency, or jogging. If this occurs, the units will be operable in five to ten minutes.

How can I prevent irregular wire rope winding on Baby Hoist?

The configuration of Baby Hoist is designed to prevent irregular winding when it is properly installed vertically by adjusting the fleet angle with its sheave and roller under the drum.
Be aware that both right and left sides may become unbalanced and cause irregular winding when the wire rope is touching buildings, or power and operation cables are fixed without any allowance.
We recommend that you use a weight of about 20 kg on the hook especially when using the BH-N950, which has a high lifting height, during unloading work (rolling up the hoist without a load and rolling it down with a load) as the wire rope may become jammed and damaged. If this occurs, make sure that the total of the counterweight and load is less than the rated load.

What types of explosion-proof winches are available?

We can make winches pressure and explosion-proof (d2G4 or Exd II BT4) for electric systems as well as air drive systems.

Do you have any winches that can be used on beaches?

The standard Mighty Puller cannot be used in environments affected by direct sea spray.
The unit requires a water-proof motor and control board to be used in such environments. We also produce winches for special environments, so please do not hesitate to contact us with any inquiries.
Currently we do not handle winches that can be clutch operated.

How can I prevent irregular wire rope winding on a winch?

Although it is difficult to make one statement as there are various causes for irregular wire rope winding, the following methods are effective:

• Wind the first line (first layer) that is to be rolled onto the drum tightly.
• Make the fleet angle less than 2° (the angle for a drum with a groove should be less than 4°)
  For multiple layers, the angle should be between 0.5° and 2°.

• Use a wire rope that has as few kinks as possible.
• Use a drum with a groove.
• Do not use a wire rope that is too long.

I would like to make the winch wire rope thin/thick. How many meters can be wound?

Please see here for more details.
Pay particular attention to the breaking load especially when the wire rope is thin.

What is the appropriate size of the power cable for a winch?

Make sure to select a power cable for which the rated current does not exceed the allowable current.
The more you extend the power cable, the thicker it needs to be to avoid a drop in voltage.
Please see here for more details.

What is the required power to operate a winch with a power generator?

Please see here for more details.
Note that some winches may not be powered by a generator sold in recent years, even if the power capacity is sufficient, with the "function that controls the rotation frequency automatically in accordance with the load."

Keeper

What is the operating life of the main unit?

The longest operating life for units that have pre-operation inspection, monthly self-inspection, and regular inspection every three years at a designated factory would be 10 years.
Even if the main unit is not used much, we recommend that the unit go through an overhaul at a designated factory when it is nine to ten years old when it is going to be used for more than 10 years.

What is the lifespan of a fixing rope?

Fixing ropes are made of fiber and are damaged by ultraviolet light. As it is difficult to determine how bad ropes are damaged by the way they look, we recommend that ropes should be replaced two years after the machine is shipped.
Note tha this two year policy is based on the data from the Japan Safety Belt Research Association  in which ropes and straps that are used for more than two years fall below the strength standard of 15.0 kN defined by the safety belt configuration guidelines.
Make sure to replace ropes that are damaged and worn out even if they have been used for less than two years.

I dropped a Keeper while using it. Is it safe to use it again?

Please have it overhauled at a designated factory if the unit received any shock.