Taking the Transformer Up the Pole

Demonstration of hanging and removing a transformer on a wooden pole from a climbing position. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT [Jim]Okay, Ronnie's going to ascend the pole. Notice how he takes short steps; his toes are up and out away from the pole. He's operating the BuckSqueeze between his waist and his chest level. His posture is upright, he's not squatting. He's getting into position above the poles where he's going to hang the transformer. He's going to rig his hand line first, making sure the gate is up. You'll pass the hand line from one hand to the other, keeping it under control. Reattaches it and adjusts it tight onto the pole. He's going to move the hand line around to this side where I can operate it from the ground. [Ronnie]I'll take the rigging sling for the transformer. [Jim]Alright Ronnie. I'm going to attach this short bucket to the hand line using this snap. In the ring, that way it can’t come off. Stand back away from the pole, send the rope up in this short bucket. Coming up. [Ronnie]You can take it down. [Jim]Ronnie's going to go rig his rope for hanging the blocks on to bring the transformer up. He'll start from bottom to top, wrapping the rigging. He secures the bottom first. He'll pass the rope from hand to hand, building the loops upward. Trying to keep it all good and tight, always keeping the rope under control. He needs a minimum of five wraps. He's in good working position, he's got his work right at chest level. Securing it with a square knot. Brings his knot off to the side, away from where he's going to have his block hooked. He'll select three inner wraps and that's where he'll attach his block. [Ronnie]I'll take the rope blocks. [Jim]I'm gonna send these blocks up. [Duane]Coming up. [Ronnie & Jim]Coming up. [Jim]You're securing the block with the center three wraps on that rigging, gate out.[Ronnie] And we'll secure the rope blocks directly over my bolt holes.[Jim]Yep, he's got them lined up right over the bolt holes. Notice he's in a good working position, he's not reaching out, stretching out anyway. Looks comfortable, his knees are locked. [Ronnie]I'm gonna drop down, install the transformer bolts. [Jim]Alright, I'm going to bring the bolts up, Ronnie. [Duane & Ronnie]Coming down the blocks. [Ronnie]I'll take the bolts whenever you're ready. [Jim]Alright, bringing them up. Coming up on the bolts. [Ronnie]Good method is to spin the bolt. Don't try to spin the nut, you'll lose it. [Ronnie]Okay. [Jim] Alright coming on. [Ronnie]You can send the transformer up. [Jim]Coming up. I got the tagline. [Ronnie]Hold that. Down easy. [Duane]Down easy. [Ronnie]Hold that. [Duane]Hold that. [Jim]Notice Ronnie's getting into a good work position on the backside of the pole. He's using a screwdriver to pry the bolt out to him. He's tightening the nuts down by hand. Getting all the slack out by hand. Squaring the washers. Now he's going to use his wrench, he's never going to pull it toward him. He's going to get in a good working position. Use both hands. Good and tight. [Ronnie]Okay the transformer's secure. [Jim]Alright. [Duane]Rope block. [Ronnie]Off the blocks. [Jim]Off the tag line. Alright I guess the thing to do now Ronnie, would be taking the transformer back down. [Ronnie]Okay. I'm going to begin the steps to remove the transformer. Take strain on the block. [Duane]Got strain on the block. [Jim]Ronnie's going to loosen the nuts on the backside of the pole which are securing the transformer. Now he's going to maneuver himself into a good working position to get the transformer released from the bolts. Note that he never gets himself in a position to be between the transformer and the pole. He uses this screwdriver to pry the transformer away from the pole and up off the bolt. [Ronnie]Take up on the transformer, easy. [Duane]Coming up on the blocks easy. [Jim]Note his hand is never in between the transformer and that pole. [Ronnie]Down on the rope block. [Duane]Down on the transformer. [Ronnie]Again spinning the bolts, not the nuts gives you total control and avoids dropping material. [Jim]Coming up on a short bucket. [Ronnie]Coming up on the short bucket. [Ronnie]Bolts in the short bucket. [Jim]Coming down. [Duane]Alright, blocks coming past you. [Ronnie]Okay, blocks coming up. I'm going to remove the rope blocks by grabbing them like so, it makes it much easier. Collect the rope blocks down. [Jim]Coming down. [Ronnie]Rope blocks going down. Get into work position to totally control my rigging rope. Secure the bottom rope. [Jim]Short bucket coming back up. [Ronnie]Alright, short bucket coming up. Open the short bucket. [Jim]Coming down on the bucket. [Ronnie]Coming down on your right, Jim. [Jim]Alright. Notice Ronnie's descending the pole, keeps his one leg nice and stiff. Operating the BuckSqueeze from chest to waist. Alright. Good job, Ronnie. [Ronnie]Thank you.