Referring to the rigger reference booklet, what is the minimum number of wire rope clips when using 5/8 wire rope?

• A. 2
• B. 3
• C. 4
• D. 5

Answer: (B)

When terminating wire rope with clips, you need enough clips to securely grip and hold the end under load. For a 5/8 inch rope, the minimum is three clips. Two clips aren’t usually enough for larger diameters because the rope tends to deform and can creep or loosen under load, reducing security. Adding a third clip provides redundancy and distributes the load across more gripping points, making the termination much less likely to slip. Remember to install the clips with the U-bolt on the live rope side and the saddle on the dead end, space them appropriately, and re-tighten after loading to maintain the grip.