A recommended procedure is to have a qualified wire rope engineer survey the entire ski lift rope. It is advisable to have all hanger clamps removed from the rope prior to the inspection. The survey will provide the basis for determining the remaining safe service life of the rope. Should repairs be indicated, the work can then be scheduled with a minimum of inconvenience and expense to the owner. In many states a wire rope survey conducted by a qualified person is necessary for licensing the lift for the next operating season. In this event, two important details can be accomplished.
The ski lift wire rope survey will always describe conditions observed, evaluate the data, and make one of three possible recommendations.
- Wire Rope is in sufficiently good condition to operate safely, and economically for at least one more operating season without any immediate repairs, barring unforeseen accidents.
- Wire Rope needs repair work, and after repairs have been carried out the rope will be in sufficiently good condition to operate safely and economically for at least the next season, barring unforeseen accidents.
- Wire Rope is deteriorated to the point where necessary repairs cannot be economically made, or condition is such that safe and economical service cannot be expected even with repairs. In either of these cases, a new wire rope would be recommended.
If the wire rope is in sufficiently good condition to give additional service life—either with, or without repair work—the rope should be prepared for inactivity. Hanger clamps, if not already removed, should be removed and stored until just prior to the next operating season. The removal of all clamps prevents the possibility of continued corrosion to the rope wires underneath the clamp. In any case, it is advisable to remove all clamps to insure that they will be repositioned on the rope just prior to the start of the next operating season.
The next step is to apply a protective light coating of a suitable wire rope lubricant to the rope with a stiff brush. There are many compounds on the market that are suitable as a field dressing for ski lift wire ropes; however, the compound must be selected with care. It is important that the lubricant have the following characteristics:
- Easy to apply a thin coat covering the entire wire rope without heating or special devices.
- Compound must lubricate wires sufficiently to allow easy relative movement between wires as the rope works.
- Compound must protect steel wires from corrosion.
- Compound must not drip from the rope or build up in gobs at the sheaves.
- Compound must be compatible with lubricant applied to the ski lift rope at time of manufacture.
It has been found that lubricants similar to the following are very satisfactory for use in preparing a ski lift wire rope for off-season inactivity.
- Keystone XXX Light Wire Cable Grease
- Ensign Cable Dressing #383
- Shell Cold Application CP Compound Grade 3
- Sun Oil Company Prestige 740 AEP
It is extremely important that the lubricant selected be applied to the ski lift rope in minimum quantity. A light coating, just sufficient to cover the surface of the rope, will afford the necessary protection.
It is helpful to the ski lift wire rope if the lift can be started up about once a month during the off season. Running the rope around a few times helps to prevent deterioration by working the rope and flaking off any surface rust that may be present. This procedure also moves those sections of the rope which are resting on sheaves where moistures accumulates and may cause rusting. Most lift manufacturers will agree that running the lift is helpful to sheave liners, sheave bearings, gear trains, and other moving parts of the lift.
