Is there anyone who has an elevator scrapyard/boneyard where they have old elevators that they part out? I'm looking for an overspeed brake for a Cheney 1993 vpl series 2000. Its a wheelchair lift, and we are told that the company has gone out of business and the parts are nowhere to be found. <sigh> If there is no such thing, any ideas for me? This is for a church, and there really isn't the money to replace this, so we are trying to search everywhere to find this part, so we can get the lift up and working again. Is there anyone who can rebuild this part?

Thanks!
Katie

How did this fail? Are you a elevator contractor or mechanic?

No, I am the Pastor of the church it is installed in. We have had 2 different elevator mechanics/companies look at it. Both of them diagnosed the same thing, but said that Cheney is out of business and they can not get the parts for it. They said if we (the church people) can somehow find this part that they can install it and get our lift fixed. We have limited money to fix this, so it is a case of find the part so it can be repaired or nothing. We don't have the money to replace it. It failed with an elderly woman in a wheelchair and her grand daughter in it. The working theory is that they had the weight all on one side because they were well below the weight limit. We aren't really sure why it broke.

God gave you judgement and wisdom.
Please use it to determine that there is a reason that company is out of business.
There is also a reason your unit broke with people on it.

Check with your premises liability carrier to determine the wisdom of fixing a unit that should probably be removed.

Maybe a ramp would be better or possibly a movable wheel chair lift. These things are an attractive nuisance for children to play on or around and get hurt. If your church is renting the building, check with the building owner for paying for its replacement.

A church member who is a machinist can make almost any part, but will your insurance carrier cover you in case of another such accident? You have knowledge that the product is obviously defective.

I suppose in your current situation, you will have to make an alternative reasonable means to access where ever its going or face an ADA law suit. Balance that against a negligence premises law suit where it can be proven that your conveyance was not properly maintained.