The Taurus wire rope pulling winch is a hand operated pulling device for pulling, tensioning and releasing a load along a wire rope in any direction. The rope passes straight through the body and is gripped by two sets of jaws that advance it a set distance with each stroke of the lever, so there is no drum and no limit on the length of pull other than the rope itself.
How it differs from a drum pulling winch
A standard wire rope pulling winch, normally electrical, wraps the rope around an internal drum. The pull is limited by how much rope the drum holds and the drum has to be respooled to reset. The Taurus unit pulls the rope straight through the body on a dual jaw clamping mechanism, so it can be fitted anywhere along a rope, reset by releasing and re-tensioning, and used for long pulls that a drum winch cannot make. Drum type pulling winches are rated at 5:1; the Taurus inline puller is rated at 4:1 to SANS 500 and EN 13157. They are different machines and the ratings are not interchangeable.
Capacities and rope
| Pulling capacity |
Wire rope diameter |
Supplied with |
| 800 kg |
8.3 mm |
30 m wire rope, operating lever, safety shear pins |
| 1600 kg |
11 mm |
30 m wire rope, operating lever, safety shear pins |
| 3200 kg |
16 mm |
30 m wire rope, operating lever, safety shear pins |
The jaw mechanism grips a specific rope diameter and construction, and the rated capacity assumes that rope. Use the rope supplied or the matching replacement rope from Toco; the wrong diameter, or worn or damaged rope, will not grip correctly.
Horizontal pulling capacity
The rated capacities above are the vertical ratings. On a horizontal pull, where the load is frictional rather than a gravity load, the 1600 kg unit can safely pull 2.5 t and the 3200 kg unit 5 t. These are horizontal pulling figures, not lifting ratings: a load that is suspended or moved on a slope is a gravity load and the rated capacity applies.
Safety shear pins
The shear pins are a deliberate weak point. If the unit is overloaded they fail before the machine or the rope does, which stops the pull rather than allowing a failure under load. Replace them only with the correct part, never with a bolt or a harder pin.
Certification and traceability
Every Taurus pulling winch carries a unique serial number that traces back to a manufacturer or seller Declaration of Conformity. Toco Lifting is a registered Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008); a pulling winch is not one of the five equipment categories covered by LME 008 testing, so that registration stands here as a company credential. Ask for the serial number and the declaration when the unit is supplied.
Ordering from Toco
Send the pull required, the distance, the rope length and the quantity to [email protected] or call 011 345 8800. Toco quotes Ex Works Germiston. Buyers across the SADC region collect or send a freight forwarder; see lifting and rigging equipment supply across Southern Africa.
Related equipment: hand winches, wire grips and ratchet pullers, steel wire rope and snatch blocks for redirecting the pull.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Taurus pulling winch differ from an ordinary pulling winch?
In how the rope is handled. A standard pulling winch, normally electrical, wraps the rope around an internal drum, so the pull is limited by drum capacity. The Taurus unit is hand operated and pulls the rope straight through the body using a dual jaw clamping mechanism, so the pull length is limited only by the rope you fit and the unit can be re-positioned along the rope.
What capacities are available?
Three pulling capacities: 800 kg on 8.3 mm wire rope, 1600 kg on 11 mm, and 3200 kg on 16 mm. Each unit comes standard with 30 metres of wire rope, an operating lever and safety shear pins.
What are the safety shear pins for?
They are a deliberate weak point. If the unit is overloaded the shear pins fail before the machine or the rope does, which stops the pull rather than allowing a failure under load. Shear pins must be replaced with the correct part, never substituted with a bolt or a harder pin, because that removes the protection.
Must I use the rope supplied with it?
Yes. The jaw mechanism grips a specific rope diameter and construction, and the rated capacity assumes that rope. Running the unit on the wrong diameter, or on worn or damaged rope, will not grip correctly. Toco supplies the matching replacement rope.
How much can it pull horizontally?
More than the rated capacity, because a horizontal pull moves a frictional load rather than a gravity load. The 1600 kg unit can safely pull 2.5 t horizontally and the 3200 kg unit 5 t. Those are horizontal pulling figures only. Any suspended load, or a load on a slope, is a gravity load and the rated capacity applies.
What factor of safety applies?
4:1, to SANS 500 and EN 13157. Drum type wire rope pulling winches are a different machine and are rated at 5:1; the two ratings are not interchangeable.
How do I know the unit is genuine?
Every Taurus pulling winch carries a unique serial number that traces back to a manufacturer or seller Declaration of Conformity. Ask for it. A puller without traceable identification cannot be certified and should not be put into service.
Does Toco supply pulling winches outside South Africa?
Yes, on an Ex Works Germiston basis. Buyers across the SADC region send the pull required, the rope length and the quantity, receive a quote, and their freight forwarder collects the certified order in Germiston.
