Six Simple Steps to Re-Rope Your Flagpole
To keep your flag flying high, you should inspect the rope (or halyard) every few months. The halyard becomes dried out and brittle through regular exposure to the elements. Regular inspections allow you to identify when your rope needs changing before it breaks.
Re-roping your flagpole is a simple process best performed when the halyard is dry. Always re-rope your flagpole from the ground, and never prop a ladder against a flagpole.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
To re-rope your flagpole quickly and easily, you’ll need to have the proper supplies handy. You will need the following:
- Scissors or a knife to cut your old halyard
- Electrical tape
- Silicone spray (optional)
- A new halyard
Ensure that your replacement halyard is of good quality and that its length is twice the height of your flagpole.
Step 2: Cut the Old Halyard
First, remove any flags and snaps from the rope currently on your flagpole. Then, cut the existing rope near the previous knot. To keep the halyard from unspooling through the pulley, tie off one end to the cleat and hold the other in your hand.
Step 3: Connect Old to New
Holding the old halyard in one hand, pick up the new halyard in the other and connect the ends, point to point. Tape the two ropes together, wrapping the tape about six inches up each rope. Take extra care to reinforce the tape at the juncture where the two meet.
Taping the ropes is the trickiest step, as too much tape can catch the halyard in the pulley, but too little tape won’t hold the two ropes together.
Step 4: Slowly Pull the New Halyard into Place
Spray the taped section of the ropes with silicone spray to aid in easily pulling the halyard over the pulley. (This step can be skipped if you don’t have silicone spray on hand.)
Then, slowly and steadily pull the new halyard up and over the pulley. When the new halyard is through the pulley and back to the bottom, remove the old halyard.
Ensure you hold both strands of the new halyard the whole time to keep it from unspooling.
Step 5: Tie the New Halyard
Unwrap the tape from the new and old halyard junction point and tie the loose ends of the new halyard together in a square knot. Tape the knot in place.
Step 6: Reattach the Snaps
On the halyard running outside the pulley, attach the top snap above the knot. Attach your flag to the top snap, then use your flag to measure where to attach the bottom snap (below the knot).
Contact Elmer’s Flag and Banner
If it’s time to replace your halyard, it may be time to replace your flag! The expert team at Elmer’s Flag and Banner will guide you through our various flag options, as well as our wind spinners and kites. Contact us today to learn more about getting the most out of your flag display!