OT: Threading a Block and Tackle

After some consideration (and the odd incantation...) I've have come to the conclusion that the problem is one or more of the following:

1. I designed it wrong;

2. I have unrealistic expectations of how it should work, or;

3. I'm threading it wrong.

I tried two ways of threading it:

Start at fixed point on lower block
Up through middle pulley on top block
Down through left pulley on bottom block
Up through left pulley on top block
Down through right pulley on bottom block
Up through right pulley on top block.

Problem is, lines don't take up evenly, lower block wants to tip to the side nearest the line you pull on. So, thinking perhaps I had it bass-ackwards, I re-threaded it thusly:

Start at fixed point on bottom of top block
Down through right pulley on bottom block
Up through right pulley on top block
Down through left pulley on bottom block
Up through left pulley on top block.
(Middle pulley on top block is not used)

Took a strain, same problem.

I'm stumped, and more than a little frustrated. Anybody got any clue what I'm doing wrong?

I hope this helps.

The sheaves on the bottom block are a bit tight, I'll free them up a tad and see if that helps.

I've had some referrals to some websites for nautical tackle, and it seems you can have the fixed point be either top or bottom, but having it on the bottom block adds one to the mechanical advantage.

I'll fool with it some more tomorrow and see what I come up with.

You should be able to easily spin each sheave on the block with a light finger. If not, you need to free them up.

The line should pass through the block without dragging. You may have to use a smaller line.

Make sure that none of the lines touch each other. I wouldn't thread it the first way that you describe: You should start at one end of each block, not in the middle.