Split drum winch

Started by dan kowall, 10/23/2004 08:02PM
Posted 10/23/2004 08:02PM Opening Post
Hello all,
It's hard to express how happy I am.
I've been trying to find a satisfactory way to close the roll off roof on my observatory for almost a year now. The opening hand winch was working fine but all of my efforts to find a closing apparatus met with failure.
After reading a mention of a split drum winch, I knew this would solve my problem. I modified my opening hand winch into a split drum winch, added the needed pulley and hardware, and I can now report success.
I now have a simple, elegant way to open and close my roof. As one cable is winding onto the winch, the other cable is unspooling. Flipping the reversing rachet either opens or closes the roof. No more balancing with one foot on a step ladder, the other foot braced against a beam, and pushing the roof closed with my hands.
Minimal effort is required to move the heavy 8' x 12' roof.

dan kowall

Attached Image:

dan  kowall's attachment for post 19612
Posted 10/23/2004 08:56PM #1
Dan, your happiness and ingenuity have just brought a smile to my face as well. good going!
Andy 8)