Flip Style Stack Cap

[maple flats]

That's how mine works too, except rather than a spring, one SS cable holds it just short of the balance point and the pull SS line holds it open.

[wnybassman]

That's how mine works too, except rather than a spring, one SS cable holds it just short of the balance point and the pull SS line holds it open.

I was just out in the barn looking at it and was thinking about that idea as well.

[johnallin]

Yeah, I've searched all over the place for pictures of flip cap installations, not many to be found.
I already have it, bought it from Leader. I am using cable (I have it already) 1/8" or maybe slight bigger. Two cables will need to be used, and it appears both will need to be simultaneously used for opening, and closing. Nearly 270º of movement with no stopper. Might have to fabricate a stopper of some kind.
Haven't decided whether I was going to go through the roof, or go down the outside.
I even thought about attaching large eyebolts to the "control arm" and using a long pole with a hook/stud on the end to open and shut it. Would need to be about 14' to 16' long though. 1/2" EMT conduit might be an idea, IDK.
Thanks for the ideas so far, keep them coming!

Noel, I have a flip style cap that I bought from Leader back in 09' when I purchased our 2x6. I took a few pictures yesterday.

I only attached one cable to the "arm". I didn't see a need for two. When you pull on the cable, the lid and arm both rotate the 270° you mention.
Once in the open position; a short tug on the cable pulls the arm down and causes the lid to rotate back over the stack.
Just a short pull to get some momentum built up is all it takes. Couldn't be simpler..

My cable is a length of 1/8" 7x19 stainless sailboat rigging wire. It leads down over the roof and along side the sugar house.
It did take me a while to remember to open the stack...putting it through the roof may have been a wiser choice...

Pictures attached. I also shot a short video, but can't see how to load it. If you want to send a PM, I'd be happy to email or text it to you.

John

allin- stack cap closed.jpg allin- stack cap open.jpg

[ennismaple]

The Lapierre one we have flips from flat closed to straight up in the open position - so only 90 degrees of rotation. It requires 2 ropes to operate but is simple and easy.

From experience - use #14 wire for the first 6 feet or so because the rope will touch the stack and burn through right when you are firing it!

[wnybassman]

Noel, I have a flip style cap that I bought from Leader back in 09' when I purchased our 2x6. I took a few pictures yesterday.

I only attached one cable to the "arm". I didn't see a need for two. When you pull on the cable, the lid and arm both rotate the 270° you mention.
Once in the open position; a short tug on the cable pulls the arm down and causes the lid to rotate back over the stack.
Just a short pull to get some momentum built up is all it takes. Couldn't be simpler..

My cable is a length of 1/8" 7x19 stainless sailboat rigging wire. It leads down over the roof and along side the sugar house.
It did take me a while to remember to open the stack...putting it through the roof may have been a wiser choice...

Pictures attached. I also shot a short video, but can't see how to load it. If you want to send a PM, I'd be happy to email or text it to you.

John

Attachment 20366 Attachment 20365

That does seem easy! Do you have any problem with wind blowing that open without a wire holding tension on it while closed? That was one concern of mine.

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

[johnallin]

That does seem easy! Do you have any problem with wind blowing that open without a wire holding tension on it while closed?
That was one concern of mine. Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

It has blown open once or twice, but only when I had the cable going straight back and hanging along the back wall of the sugar house.

I've not had that happen since I started leading it to the side and hanging along the side wall.
Can't tell you why that works - and it was by accident that I discovered it - but we've had some real daisy cutters blow through here without blowing it open.
The stack is only 3' from the back wall, so it might be that the cable was swinging around in the wind - it doesn't take much to flip the cap open.
When it's laying on the roof and hanging to the side, I think movement is limited.

[n8hutch]

Noel, I have a flip style cap that I bought from Leader back in 09' when I purchased our 2x6. I took a few pictures yesterday.

I only attached one cable to the "arm". I didn't see a need for two. When you pull on the cable, the lid and arm both rotate the 270° you mention.
Once in the open position; a short tug on the cable pulls the arm down and causes the lid to rotate back over the stack.
Just a short pull to get some momentum built up is all it takes. Couldn't be simpler..

My cable is a length of 1/8" 7x19 stainless sailboat rigging wire. It leads down over the roof and along side the sugar house.
It did take me a while to remember to open the stack...putting it through the roof may have been a wiser choice...

Pictures attached. I also shot a short video, but can't see how to load it. If you want to send a PM, I'd be happy to email or text it to you.

John

Attachment 20366 Attachment 20365

This is Exactly how I have mine setup too. Wind has maybe blown it open 2 or 3 times in 5 years.

[SeanD]

Coincidentally, I'm in the process of changing mine. I made it myself. I have a single arm with one cable that had a spring close it, but high winds eventually flipped the cover back too far and stretched the spring out too much. So for the last number of years, I've had to give it a flick to get the cover to flip over shut. I'm pretty good during the day, but after midnight it's hard to see the cable and lid so I have to try again and again adding some colorful language for effect.

I've finally made it a priority and gotten up there to see what my options are. I'd prefer to take it down and weld another arm onto it that is in the up position when the lid is flipped open, but the screws are corroded on. I think taking it down will be twice the work. I think if I drill through the existing arm, maybe I can bolt a new arm on. Thanks for the cable idea. Maybe I can make that work.

Anyway, that's all a long way to say I wish I had a cap with two arms and two cables.

[wnybassman]

I was excited about the one cable idea. I got the cap mounted and must of twanked it just a bit because it was no longer loose and floppy like it was. Still moved relatively easily, but couldn't swing it around with a quick flick of a cable. So I ended up using two cables and put a stop on the one so it only opens so far. Screwed a stainless eye-screw into the roof right at the edge for something for that cable stop go up against, and to keep the cables off the roof a bit. A couple bungee cords at the bottom of the wall keep the cables tight, and pressed closed or open. Should work as long as snow/ice isn't a problem. But if sap is running, snow/ice on a black 12/12 roof usually isn't a problem. lol

Thanks for the comments and ideas!


flipcap.jpg

[n8hutch]

Looks good. That wont blow open for sure. Honestly I think that I was putting my stack up 2 Days before Maple weekend and I had one Cable Handy so that's what it got , and it Has worked, if I had had more time I may have done what you have there. Looks professional