Winch Cable Failure

[GhostDakota]

So we've all heard the stories. I've personally seen tow straps and winch line break, but cause damage to vehicles (broken windows, windshield, dents, etc.). Mythbusters tested a winch cable breaking at extremely high loads with a pig carcus hanging. They were unable to cut the pig in half.

"If a cable snaps, it can cut a person in two.

Busted

A 5/8" cable at 30,000 lbs of tension was unable to cut a pig in two (or even cut into it), but did cause potentially lethal injuries. The MythBusters took the test even further by adding a smaller cable at the end of larger one to create a "whip" effect, and even pre-looped a cable around the pig itself. None of these methods could cut the pig by the pre-tensed cable’s inertia alone. The pig was cut in half only when Adam tied a cable around it and then tightened the cable. Also, after making inquiries with almost every safety organization imaginable, the MythBusters were unable to find any concrete evidence of a person being cut in half by a snapped cable."

Has anyone really had something severed off by a winch cable failure? I can't find any hard evidence aside from this:
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/amusement-park-accident-severs-girls-feet/

But that's not a WINCH line and I'm sure is under much higher loads. Oh and I don't want to see any photos lol.

 

[Rev Den]

Cut in two and dead are the same thing.

Dead is dead.

Of course you could get lucky and just lose a finger, arm, eye, blood....etc.

Rev

 

[cal]

I've seen the tailgate knocked off of a pickup truck.

Thats enough for me.

 

[Bent]

...but did cause potentially lethal injuries.

That's enough for me.

 

[Jeepm@n]

I had a coworker that had been hit by the bar that was attached to the cable holding a missile in place during high winds. Needless to say he will never be the same. He has had at least 8 surgeries since 97. I believe it's not the cable but what it's attached to. i.e. hooks and loops. The amount of force is tremendous and like Rev said," Dead is Dead".

 

[redneckboarder]

i got scared when i saw the title rick, i though u broke the winch you just put on haha

 

[tbburg]

My father got a commendation for saving a mans life on a flight deck. Phantom caught a cable and didn't stop. Parted cable caught one guy at knee level(the one my dad saved with a pair of quick tourniquets) and a second at waist level(not so lucky) Not exactly a winch cable, but there was nothing attached to the end of it.

 

[alex22]

"If a cable snaps, it can cut a person in two.

Busted

Would you like to tell that to my former scoutmaster (USMC) who saw a cable break and remove the head of a fellow soldier while on a training exercise?

I havent been watchig mythbusters lately but either my friends or I have had experiences that exactly contradict their findings or they overlook a major piece of the myth. Most memorable was the Carlos N. Hathcock sniper shot where they overlooked the quality of the glass and the size of the scope. They re-tested the myth because of the responce on their forums, as well as pissing off probably every Marine who saw the show. How dare Adam and Jamie try to debunk the legend.

~Alex

 

[tbburg]

Most memorable was the Carlos N. Hathcock sniper shot where they overlooked the quality of the glass and the size of the scope. They re-tested the myth because of the response on their forums, as well as pissing off probably every Marine who saw the show.

~Alex

You know, I wondered about that when I saw that episode. i was tempted to get a cheap 4x fixed power scope from Walmart or somewhere and punch a 308 AP through it just to see how far it would make it. i'll have to look for the re-test episode now.

 

[alex22]

You know, I wondered about that when I saw that episode. i was tempted to get a cheap 4x fixed power scope from Walmart or somewhere and punch a 308 AP through it just to see how far it would make it. i'll have to look for the re-test episode now.

They tested with a vintage scope much like this one.
http://world.guns.ru/rifle/mosin91-30s.jpg
the bullit went through and the balistics jelly head had bullit in it.

~Alex

 

[tbburg]

I'll just take that off my "to do" list then,... :spin1: