Home Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Overlubricated cables

I have some cable that I feel are good, but they have a lot of lubrication on them. Too much in my opinion. I was told that baking soda was good for cleaning them up and would not harm the cables. Anyone have any experience with this or know of another way. The car is slipping traction a little bit.

Baby powder, makes a huge mess but works.

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.

Once a rope job is finished I place a oiler on them for about 4 days then that is it. Im not sure if this is correct or not but keeping the oilers filled all the time seems to make more of a mess then anything else. What would be proper way?

I was taught to take a clean white rag and wipe the rope. If lubrication came off as a black smug you were ok. If the rag came back clean the ropes were too dry and needed lube. You must check in several places along the length of the rope.

On over lubricated ropes I would never use a powder we wash the rope down with cleaner and let them dry out then reapply a light coat of oil. I do not know what the book says but this is what we do. The cleaner is a oil based motor solvent and has some fumes. And Robert is right on about rope tensioning. This is the number one way to get maximum rope and sheave life.

Otis has recommended carpet for many years. Get a length of carpet and secure it over the sheave. The carpet will absorb the oil and also clean off any cable debris that has built up. Works great.

He needs to get some of the lubricant out of the ropes. Properly tensioned ropes are a must but he's slipping traction from too much lubricant. I've always heard never use chemicals on ropes, wire brushes and rags yes. I've seen guys use mineral spirits and rags but I disagree with doing that. I do like the use of carpet, IMO it keeps the cables clean which keeps dirt, dust, and debris from prematurely drying the ropes internal lubricant.

Yes carpet works great!

I remembered the carpet trick from some where.

Robert is right on with the link! Bethlehem says to use natural fiber carpet. No chemicals or solvents. I was able to down load their literature too.

Thanks guys looks like carpet is the way to go.

Use a gauge to first make sure the rope is within spec, also check the sheave for wear if you are getting some slip. I use a straightedge placed over the ropes to make sure they are equally seated. In some cases what up you are seeing is the core fibres breaking down and migrating with the internal lubrication to the outside. Is it like sticky grease or dried and crumbly? A good stiff brush has done me well in the past.

I've seen a old timer put ajax on some hoist ropes that was slipping traction. I don't know if it achieved what he wanted but I was the one stuck cleaning it up.

This wouldn't be on a Westinghouse machine, would it?