Tiedown Handbook For Rail Movements - SDDCTEA - U.S. Army

SIXTH EDITION SDDCTEA PAMPHLET 55-19
D. WIRE ROPE
Figure 3. Inverted tiedown on the trailer.
Wire rope is used to secure movable parts on equipment, such as the barrel and turret on
the M 1 tank and the rear door (ramp) on the M577 tracked vehicle. Secure the wire rope using
clamps. Apply the clamps, also called clips, fist distance apart, with the saddle against the
tension-bearing side of the wire rope and the U-bolt against the dead end. The clamp must be
the same size as the wire rope being used (fig4). Tension the wire rope by pulling tight by
hand for movable parts mentioned above. For secondary loads, tension the wire rope using a
hoist (chain or wire rope) with two cable grippers, as shown in figure 5. A properly tensioned
tiedown will deflect no more than about an inch with the weight of a person standing on it. Be
sure that at least 24 inches of wire rope overlap to allow proper application of cable clamps.
Alternately tighten the nuts and torque cable clamps to the following guideline values:
45 foot-pounds for 3/8-inch wire rope
65 foot-pounds for 1/2-inch wire rope
130 foot-pounds for 5/8-inch wire rope
If the clamps break before reaching the above torques, use six instead of four clamps for a
complete loop and torque to a value just below the breaking point.
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