What is a "snatch block"

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Wildhorse800
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What is a "snatch block"

Postby Wildhorse800 » Thu May 07, 2009 11:34 pm

Getting too off topic on other thread....seriously...I don't know or I know it by a different name...
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Postby roon101 » Fri May 08, 2009 6:28 am

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Postby Ken » Fri May 08, 2009 8:19 am

These guys needed one
http://www.atvobsession.com/video/snatchblock.wmv

And these guys lost one.

http://www.atvobsession.com/video/snatchless.wmv


A snatch block doubles your pulling power. You've seen a block for lifting a piano or heavy safe. Same principle.


Imagine this.....You are trying to pull your quad that is stuck in deep snow or mud. The quad weighs 1000lbs...but with the suction from the mud, it now weighs the equivalent of 3000 lbs. Too much for your winch.

So, with a snatch block....you would have the cable come OUT of your quad and toward a tree. If you attached right now, you'd be trying to pull all 3000lbs. No good. But...you have a snatch block. So you wrap a strap around the tree, and attach the snatch block. You then loop your cable through the snatch block and send the cable back toward your quad and attach. So you're winch cable is now coming out, to the snatch block and back to the quad. There are 2 cables, not one. Right?

Well....the snatch block halves the weight on each line.....so one line is pulling 1500lbs from the winch to the snatch block (that's the part the winch cares about) and 1500lbs from the snatch block to the quad. (the winch doesn't know about that). So now your winch is only pulling 1500lbs...which is doable for most winches.

If you added another snatch block at your quad and went back to the tree, each cable would be pulling 1000lbs. If you added a 3rd, at the tree and went back to the quad....You now pull it out with a chinese winch! Each cable was now pulling 750 lbs....the winch only cares about the 1st cable.

That help?

It also works great for pulling sideways....

You can see the cable to the snatch block to pull my quad back over.

Image
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Wildhorse800
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Postby Wildhorse800 » Fri May 08, 2009 9:21 am

Seen them before, just didn't know what they were called.

Good explanation. Could just use a big 'ole pulley!(less friction)
2008 Polaris SP800 HO
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Postby Ken » Fri May 08, 2009 10:11 am

Wildhorse800 wrote:Seen them before, just didn't know what they were called.

Good explanation. Could just use a big 'ole pulley!(less friction)

Snatch blocks have a wheel with a bearing...there's no friction.
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Postby Wildhorse800 » Fri May 08, 2009 12:27 pm

I'm gonna have to see one up close to get a better idea of how it works...
2008 Polaris SP800 HO
1999 Polaris SP500
2008 Suzuki M-50
1988 Honda VLX 600

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Postby GrizzlyGuy » Fri May 08, 2009 1:39 pm

Another way to understand it is to use good ole F=ma from physics.

Imagine Ken's case with the snatch block anchored to a tree, and your winch line going through it and back to your quad. Throughout the time you are pulling, the snatch block doesn't accelerate away like a space ship. This means that the total force (F) must be zero since the acceleration (a) is zero.

As you pull on the snatch block, the tree pulls on it too, so the total forces (vector-wise) are equal. There is only 1 line going to the tree, but 2 lines (each half of your winch cable) going back to your quad. Since those lines are going in the opposite direction as the tree, each line to your quad must be carrying half the force.

So in Ken's case, with a 3000 lb total pull (from the tree to the block) your winch sees 1500 lb and the quad sees the other 1500 lb. Total force (vector-wise): 3000 - 1500 - 1500 = 0. Zero is good, the snatch block stays where it is supposed to be.

Now just for fun... have someone cut the line to the tree while you're winching. If you know the mass (m) of the block, you can calculate how fast that ole block is going to instantaneously accelerate back at you: a = F/m. My guess is you'll be dead long before getting the math worked out. :lol:
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Postby Ken » Fri May 08, 2009 2:13 pm

GrizzlyGuy wrote:My guess is you'll be dead long before getting the math worked out. :lol:
That's my vote. :lol:
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Postby hemingray » Fri May 08, 2009 7:57 pm

Wildhorse800 wrote:I'm gonna have to see one up close to get a better idea of how it works...
Try this little how-to: http://www.4wdandsportutility.com/tech/ ... to_07.html
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Postby Wildhorse800 » Fri May 08, 2009 8:38 pm

There we go. Like I said, it is basically a pully system. The more pullies, the easier the pull.

Definitely need one of them as they look pretty bullet-proof.

I am thinking I can home make my own for @ $20 instead of payng out $70.
2008 Polaris SP800 HO
1999 Polaris SP500
2008 Suzuki M-50
1988 Honda VLX 600

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So one day I tried being serious.
Everybody laughed!

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Postby traildad » Fri May 08, 2009 10:12 pm

Wildhorse800 wrote:There we go. Like I said, it is basically a pully system. The more pullies, the easier the pull.

Definitely need one of them as they look pretty bullet-proof.

I am thinking I can home make my own for @ $20 instead of payng out $70.
As long as you remember quality counts
Now just for fun... have someone cut the line to the tree(or break the pulley) while you're winching. If you know the mass (m) of the block, you can calculate how fast that ole block is going to instantaneously accelerate back at you: a = F/m. My guess is you'll be dead long before getting the math worked out.:lol:
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Postby Wildhorse800 » Fri May 08, 2009 10:53 pm

1/4" flat steel...just need to make sure the pulley and pin are strong.
2008 Polaris SP800 HO
1999 Polaris SP500
2008 Suzuki M-50
1988 Honda VLX 600

I've been told I joke around too much.
So one day I tried being serious.
Everybody laughed!

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Postby Kendo » Sat May 09, 2009 8:47 am

So this is what we are all talking about and there is all this math and shit involved. I believe women have a different definition - ever heard of a 'cock block'?? :lol:
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Postby EigerMike » Sat May 09, 2009 9:40 am

seen one this morning!!!!!!!! :lol:
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Postby Ken » Sat May 09, 2009 3:03 pm

:roll: oh my..... :lol:


This is from Montana Jacks...the best high quality ATV products website.

http://www.montanajacks.com/index.asp?P ... &ProdID=80


Or for $20 more...get 2 U Shackles, 2 Tree savers and a storage bag.

http://www.montanajacks.com/index.asp?P ... ProdID=940
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