Traditional hand chain hoists are a known commodity within the lifting and rigging industry as one of the most versatile and reliable rigging choices for a variety of different projects. However, much like any other piece of equipment, hand chain hoists have their limitations. That is where a lever hoist can save the job.
Workers using a Griphoist from LGH.
Breaking down the difference between the two is as simple as looking at the direction the load needs to move. While a hand chain hoist is a great option for vertical and angular lifting, they are not suitable for horizontal pulling. Lever hoists, in this case specifically referencing come-alongs and Griphoists, have the ability to operate both vertically and horizontally with no difference in setup or capacity.
Comealong lever hoist from LGH.
Let’s say you are replacing a load in a facility with nearly no headroom to fit a clamp/trolley, hoist above, or skates below at the final position. The placement needs to be exactly where the old unit was. And the site does not allow for a winch to be anchored into the ground; what do you do? This is a great application to break out a lever hoist.
A Griphoist from LGH.
To start, let’s quickly discuss the difference between a come-a-long and a griphoist. Most often, when people think of lever hoists, their first thought is a chain come-a-long.
Come-alongs operate with a ratchet and pawl that rotates a gear to pull the chain along a straight path. Although they move loads slowly, come-a-longs provide greater precision than traditional hand chain hoists. With less than 80 pounds of force on the lever, users can move loads of up to 18,000 pounds. Because engineers design the levers for optimal safety, users should never use cheater bars or misuse a chain come-a-long in any other way.
Griphoists, also commonly referred to as a Tirfor, operate instead using specially designed wire rope that allows two grip-jaws inside the unit to clamp down on the wire rope. The unit alternates which jaw is activated, similar to a hand-over-hand pulling method. The only limit to the length of pull available with a griphoist is the length of rope available in your fleet or from your local distributor. But remember, you must ensure that the wire rope you are using is designed for use in a griphoist. Learn more about griphoists by clicking on our Youtube Video below.
Now, let’s head back to our load to determine the best course of action.
With the bolt-down restriction, the first step is to have an engineer check if any anchoring points are viable for mounting the lever hoist. If there’s a safe column or structure with a clear line-of-sight, you can now set up your hoist and begin the move. First, determine the force required. This is based on the load weight and the coefficient of friction, as covered in previous blogs.
Griphoists have capacities up to 4 tons. This is without using sheave blocks, which increase capacity through mechanical advantage. Come-alongs are available in capacities up to 9 tons. If you know the exact force needed, you can choose the best option for your job. A task that might have been impossible or very difficult can now be completed easily with a lever hoist.
For help on your next project or choosing the right tool, contact your local representative or call us at 800-878-7305 to speak with a rental specialist.
LGH is North America’s largest single organization devoted exclusively to the provision of lifting and moving equipment for rent. LGH holds the most comprehensive inventory for hoisting, rigging, jacking, pulling, material handling, and safety equipment. With over 80,000 pieces, discover your next project solution at RentLGH.com.
