🔧 Hoists & Lifting Tools
Pulling Winch (Tirfor) Inspection & Certification in Saudi Arabia
A Tirfor-type pulling winch advances a wire rope through a pair of gripping jaws with a hand lever, so a long rope can be pulled without a drum and the load moved in controlled steps. In Saudi Arabia it is used for skidding machinery, pipeline and cable pulling, tensioning and positioning heavy equipment in plants and on construction sites. The wire rope, gripping jaws and shear pin are the safety-critical parts, so examination focuses on them rather than the casing.
What we inspect on a pulling winch (Tirfor)
- ✓Wire rope is the manufacturer-specified type and diameter, with no broken wires, corrosion, kinks, birdcaging or diameter reduction beyond the discard criteria
- ✓Gripping jaws and shoes for wear, glazing and contamination so the rope does not slip
- ✓Shear pin overload protection: the correct manufacturer-specified pin is fitted, not a bolt or substitute
- ✓Forward and reverse levers and the lever selector for positive action and free movement
- ✓Operating handle and extension tube for bending, cracks and the correct length
- ✓Anchor hook or eye, rope end terminal and thimble for wear, deformation and secure fitting
- ✓Casing and frame for cracks, distortion and loose fasteners
- ✓Rated pulling and lifting capacities, serial number and rope tag, matched to the rope fitted
Common defects we find
- ✓Shear pin replaced by a bolt or oversized pin, defeating the overload protection
- ✓Gripping jaws worn so the rope slips under load
- ✓Wire rope with broken wires, kinks or crushed sections
- ✓Handle bent or extension tube damaged by overloading
- ✓Rope terminal frayed, loose or missing its thimble
Risks of operating uncertified
- ✓Overload with a substituted shear pin leading to rope or anchor failure and snap-back
- ✓Jaws slipping under load and releasing tension suddenly
- ✓Rope whip or recoil striking people in the line of pull
Testing, standards & frequency
Load / performance test
A pull test is typically carried out at 100%-125% of rated capacity depending on the standard and client, through a full lever stroke in both directions, with the shear pin function checked as specified by the manufacturer.
Inspection interval
Typically a thorough examination at least annually, with the rope checked before each use and more frequent re-inspection for tools used in heavy pulling operations where client or site rules require.
Standards referenced
- ISO 4309 (Cranes - Wire ropes - Care and maintenance, inspection and discard, as a general rope reference)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 (rigging and materials handling, where applicable)
- Manufacturer specifications and load charts
- Saudi Aramco General Instructions (GI), where applicable
Part of our Lifting Equipment Inspection & Load Testing service. You receive an inspection report, Certificate of Conformity and inspection tag for passing equipment.
Industries using this equipment
FAQs
Can a Tirfor be used to lift a load vertically?＋
Only if the manufacturer rates that model for lifting. Some units carry different ratings for pulling and lifting, so check the plate and the manual and never use a pulling rating for a vertical lift.
What is the shear pin on a Tirfor for?＋
It is a deliberate weak link that breaks before the machine or rope is overloaded. Replacing it with a bolt or the wrong pin defeats this protection, so only genuine manufacturer pins should be used.