[*Mr Tumble]

No, just being creative for a change.

Anyway, it looks like the angle of the wire where it exists one of the arms might put som unwanted force on some of the parts.

Ideally wouldn't you want to be able to pull the wire in a striaght line as possible to reduced any twisting motion?

How about incorporating a small pulley at that point for the wire to rotate around?  Or do you have a smooth flange of some sort at that point?

[*Mr Tumble]

Jeff?

[jeff1]

Ah Ah, you see you wasn't paying attention was you??

The grippers have a tension wing nut fitted, now if you undo the wing nut, you are able to close it with ease, no need for different angles etc.

The cable does just come through the hole and rubs against the aluminum, I would suspect over time that a groove will be worn into the alley, I could add a little wheel or even a phosphor bronze bearing, but to be honest for the amount it may get used, it may not be worth the extra effort.

[*Mr Tumble]

I can't find a spring anywhere.

[jeff1]

The second picture down on my photo's and you'll see the spring.

If you mean you can't find one at home? then do what I did and steal one 

I found an old metal child gate and on there was a nice spring, that what you see in my photo's.

[*Mr Tumble]

I'm going to have a go at this and I have a six inch steel rule that I can bend and it has enough spring to do the job I think.

btw, I have someone asking em to put a couple of leaf guards in their downpipes and your grabber thing will be just the job.

I wonder if you can get some old washing machine tongs.  That's the chap - tongs.  Littler picker use them too.

[*Mr Tumble]

These tongs might be a bit too big for gutter work.

[jeff1]

They won't be any good Mr Tumble  because there is no where to add the pole? 

[*Mr Tumble]

That reminds me, Mr jeff, where did the tube come from where you stick the end of the Harris pole?

And did you rivet it to the arm?  I guess you must have rivetted/screwed it in at least two places to stop it twisting/flopping down?

[NWH]

Groundhog do you know what i would do and it works,get a hose pipe and attatch it into the gutter at 1 end flood the gutter and then drain rod the down pipes until it no longer over flows.As all the rubbish is being pushed along if you drain rod it it will eventually clear all the debris away.

[jeff1]

That reminds me, Mr jeff, where did the tube come from where you stick the end of the Harris pole?

And did you rivet it to the arm?  I guess you must have rivetted/screwed it in at least two places to stop it twisting/flopping down?

The tube was the Boss's old mop handle   

I drilled 2 larger holes to get a screw driver in and then 2 smaller holes to screw it with self tapping screws, I had to do this a few times Just the get the angle right.
I do use a lot of rivets but non on the tube section.

[jeff1]

Groundhog do you know what i would do and it works,get a hose pipe and attatch it into the gutter at 1 end flood the gutter and then drain rod the down pipes until it no longer over flows.As all the rubbish is being pushed along if you drain rod it it will eventually clear all the debris away.

It doesn't always work Matt,
what if you have an extra unwanted garden growing in the guttering, If it was so simple I would not have come up with the hook in the first place, it was taking ages with a lance and pressure washer, just to try and blast it out.

[groundhog]

Its a good idea mate, but I have already done the majority of the job, the lower level guttering at the sides and rear of the complex, I actually used a similar method, although I didn't use a hose, just an 8 ft rod with a bung fixed onto the end, I kept pushing the rubbish along the gutters, and then clearing it out every 25ft or so, it worked well.
I have to use the guttervac for the high level stuff, as I stated it in my method statement, and the residents seem quite excited about it for some reason!!!
Hopefully going to be using the guttervac on wednesday, so I will post some pictures and let you all know how it went!!

[NWH]

Even if there are plants in there it will still soften them and move them along to the down pipe ready for you to rod,if it dosen`t leak or overflow they won`t know.

[Jeff Brimble]

What ! are you suggesting we leave the muck up there as long as the downspouts are clean ?

[groundhog]

I think he is suggesting that you wash it down the downpipe!

[Jeff Brimble]

Oh I see, it was the  "if it dosen`t leak or overflow they won`t know. " 

[jeff1]

I had this problem last week with a garden in the guttering and even the lance and pressure washer had a hell of a job shifting it.

[*Mr Tumble]

If it's just the downpipe that's blocked (and you know that from a camera), why not vacuum from below and avoid all the pipes in the air?

If the downpipe goes into the ground, you might have to get permission to cut a hole in it to attach your vac.

Why vacuum up the top if the gutters are clear?

[jeff1]

If it's just the downpipe that's blocked (and you know that from a camera), why not vacuum from below and avoid all the pipes in the air?

If the downpipe goes into the ground, you might have to get permission to cut a hole in it to attach your vac.

Why vacuum up the top if the gutters are clear?

If there is a blockage in the down pipe, I use a steel mouse with a hook on the end, if it does go right into the ground  sometimes you can remove the rubber boot and feed the mouse up that way. if you can't take it apart, then I do revert to the lance and blast it down.
No vacuums in my hands, I haven't built one yet.