At what point do guylines need to be replaced when they are exposed to the elements year round on a yarder that works most of the year? obviously if they get damaged or have broken wires but what if you been running them forever and they still look great what time for him to you just replace them anyhow?
In NZ it is 5 years. I would expect there would be a rule up there to?
Howdy K.... I would not go longer than 5 years. Many yarders that log 5-6 months out of the year don't go over 5. Your machines are logging 9- 11 months. Expensive yes, but when everything is riding on two or three guy lines it's not worth the few thousand you save. They are not making many of them anymore (yarders), so to replace the machine because of the cost of new guy lines? You will have to buy new guy lines for the replacement. Too me, no matter how good they look, there is no more important line than guy lines. A proactive replacement policy could save ba-zillions if a lawsuit came about. While you are at it how old are your stubs? I'd replace all of them too.
Check the eyes/knobs as they tell the real story on condition
Is there a way to recycle old wire rope now? Years ago, there was not.
local salvage yards here will take it. Provided it is cut into 1 to 2 foot long pieces.
Years ago, the only method of 'disposal' that I saw was to string it out along the sides of the haul roads, and let it eventually rust away.
when the steel prices are good the local salvage yards here will buy old line if it comes to them Spooled up already