arugula:

Rest assured that training will not affect disease or insects unless you block light or air. Cold isn't an issue either. You can train now but the branches won't "take" in their new position until they grow new tissues in the shape you set.

When training limbs down I tie off to a stake or weight resting on the ground. Hanging weights aren't stable and can break a limb. By fall the limbs will be set in their new position.

Thanks for your thoughts, fruitnut! I like your bending ideas.

Can train anytime, but spring would probably make most sense, and then maybe adjust things as the growing season goes by.

I like to use tent stakes and sisal or some other type of twine and just tie them down. You can usually get quite a few branches tied to each tent stake. You can make your own stakes with scrap pieces of lumber.

I visited a large comm orchard last fall and noticed he used baggies with sand in them as weights. He made a "dumbell" shape and tied it onto the branches. looked cheap and simple.