Don’t Let Frightening Mistakes Haunt Your Next Lift!

October is here—and so are the rigging nightmares. From crushed sleeves to cursed shackles, we've seen some truly terrifying setups in the field. And like all good horror stories… they could have been avoided.

So as it is Halloween season we thought we would explore three spine-chilling scenes of rigging gone wrong—and how you can rig it right with Hercules Crane & Lifting Supplies.

🎃 Image One: The Crushed Sleeve Catastrophe

When making an eye in small-diameter wire rope with aluminum sleeves, some riggers go full Frankenstein—using hammers, pliers, or guesswork tools. But this kind of "monster mash" can lead to under- or over-crimping, damaging the rope and creating a hidden hazard.
Use a proper compression tool to secure the sleeve and reach full Working Load Limit (WLL)—no tricks, just a solid lift.

🕸️ Image Two: The Curse of the Misaligned Shackle

A misaligned shackle is no ghost story—it’s a real hazard. In this terrifying tale, the load is resting on the threaded pin of the shackle, not the body.
Fix it by running the pin through the eye bolt and letting the sling sit in the shackle’s bowl. For permanent setups, use bolt-type shackles or secure the pin with seizing wire. And remember:

• Every component must have  a visible WLL
• Eye bolts must be correctly installed and fully threaded
• Only lift from engineered anchor points

🧛 Image Three: The Thimble of Doom

This setup is pure horror:

• The wire rope is overloaded
• The thimble has slipped out
• Multiple sleeves were used unnecessarily

Wire rope clips were added and installed incorrectly—violating the sacred rule:
“Never saddle a dead horse” (the saddle goes on the live end).

To make things worse, the eye bolt is side-loaded, bent, and improperly mounted. This is the stuff of rigging nightmares.

Always follow manufacturer guidelines, use rated gear, and when in doubt—ask an expert.

🧙♂️ Don’t Be Haunted by Poor Rigging—Trust the Experts
This Halloween, exorcise your rigging demons and get the job done right. Our team at Hercules Crane & Lifting Supplies is here with the tools, gear, and guidance you need to lift safely, confidently, and correctly.

🎃 Ready to rig it right?
Contact us today or visit your nearest location.

Because rigging mistakes are scary—Hercules is not.
🕷️ Happy Halloween—and safe lifting! 🎃