How Long Does a Ski Lift Cable Last?

There are a number of different things you can do to extend the life of your ski lift cable. Some of these include applying penetrating oil, cleaning, and replacing the cable. Taking care of these items will not only help your cable last longer, it will also keep it from becoming a safety hazard.

Applying Penetrating Oil

If you're looking to improve the longevity of your lift, a quick spray of penetrating oil is the best place to start. This will help you to avoid abrasions and backlash in the winch. Penetrating oil also provides a measure of protection against corrosion. For the best results, you should also consider a quality lubricant such as Liquid Wrench or CRC 6-56.

The most effective cable maintenance program will likely involve a combination of preventive maintenance and periodic inspections. This will ensure you don't have to deal with a damaged or loose cable during a repair job. A good maintenance plan will also keep you from wasting time and money on repair bills. One of the best ways to save money is to replace worn out cables with new ones.

Using a penetrating oil on your cables will ensure they last for years to come. It's also a good idea to regularly inspect the gears and bearings of your ski lift's braking system. You can also check the condition of the carpet beneath your boat or jetski.

Closing the Closed Loop

Ski lifts are designed to transport skiers and other passengers up a mountain. A cable carrying these carriages is attached to a counterweight which maintains its tension. The cable also engages rotatable cable guide wheels.

In operation, a qualified lift technician performs a line check, loads the lift and performs a safety evaluation. This evaluation includes an automatic assessment of the cable, the cable's operating speeds, and the number of loaded passenger carrying units on the lift.

Safety devices monitor the ski lifts and disconnect power from the ski lift drive if a predetermined condition occurs. These conditions include cable derailment, overspeed, and excess cable slack.

When a cable derailment is detected, a normally closed switch in parallel with a specific resistor is opened. Cable derailing prevention devices are installed to prevent this situation.

Cable derailing indicating switches are long and may cause the conveyor to stop when the ski lift is briefly open. However, a momentary derailment switch operation is not enough time to determine the location of the derailment.

Replacing the Cable

If you're wondering how long a lift cable will last, the answer is it depends on how often you use it and what type of lift it is. Lifts that are operated in Ontario, for example, are required to undergo a mechanical evaluation after 20 years of operation. This is especially important if your lift is heavy-duty.

The ANSI B77 standard says that a lift should be inspected once a year. If you find signs of corrosion, kinking, or bird-caging, the cable should be replaced immediately.

In the case of galvanized cables, you may not notice signs of wear and tear immediately. Rust and abrasion may appear after several years, so it's best to replace the cable before this occurs.

Galvanized cables should be lubricated regularly. Lubrication protects the coating and reduces friction between the wire strands. It's also essential for maintaining the galvanized surface.

Stainless steel lift cables will last longer than their galvanized counterparts. However, even stainless cables will wear out after a few years.