STOP!!!
Do not put any sort of powder on the hoist ropes.
Maybe you should try balancing the load on each of the hoist ropes.
Please Contact Brugg Wire Rope, or http://www.wwwrope.com/about-wirerope-works-bethlehem.htm for maintenance procedures on hoist ropes.
Plucking the ropes to determine the load is just about as effective as spinning a dead cat around your head on a full moon to change your luck.
George Gibson has a great and reasonably priced video on Hoist Ropes available from ElevatorBooks.com

I have a copy of the video and share it with my continuing education classes.