Surface · Rod Pump
Horsehead & Bridle
The curved head at the front of the beam and the wire cables (bridle) hanging from it to the carrier bar.
What it does
Transfers the motion of the beam to the polished rod, which hangs from the horsehead through the bridle and carrier bar.
Basics
| Hangs | Bridle cables and carrier bar |
| Carries | The polished rod through the polished rod clamp |
| Rule | No separation between carrier bar and clamp on the downstroke |
Common failures
- Carrier bar separating from the polished rod clamp on the downstroke
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Carrier bar lifts off the polished rod clamp on the downstroke
- Likely cause
- Abnormal downhole loading
- What to check
- Stop the unit and analyze the dynamometer card before restarting