My old brake lever finally gave out on a 6 story pick in Nashville

Had this old friction brake lever on the Grove that I'd been nursing along for years. Last Tuesday, mid-swing on a 6 story pick with a pallet of brick, the pawl just sheared clean off. I set the load down gently using the swing brake and the emergency stop, but my heart was pounding. Took me three hours to find a replacement part that would fit the older model, nobody stocks them locally anymore. Anyone else still running vintage rigs and having to hunt down parts from scrappers or eBay?

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1 Comment

scott.grace5d ago

That old lever did its job for years and you're mad it finally quit? Sounds like it owed you nothing. Those old Grove models are heavy, clunky, and parts are only getting harder to find. Every time you rig one up, you're betting your whole day on a scrap yard find. Maybe it's time to join the modern world. Newer rigs have better safety features and parts you can actually get at a dealer same day. The money you save on old iron disappears fast when you're down three hours hunting a pawl on a Tuesday. Vintage gear is a hobby. Picking is a business. Treat it like one.