Why can the ground slope not exceed 8% when installing the lightweight fairlead beam?

When installing the lightweight fairlead beam, maintaining a ground slope of no more than 8% is critical to prevent tape tracking problems with the sheaves. A slope greater than this can lead to misalignment and difficulties in the tape moving smoothly through the sheaves, which are designed to guide the tape as it is pulled.

If the slope is too steep, the tape may not engage properly with the sheaves, leading to issues such as jamming or lateral slips. This misalignment can complicate operations and potentially damage the system, making adherence to the 8% maximum slope essential for ensuring reliable and safe functioning during use.

The other concepts related to the friction of energy absorbers, wear on tape guides, and the tape contacting the ground, while potentially relevant in different contexts, do not address the specific mechanics involved with the sheave and tape interaction, which is directly influenced by slope and alignment.