Skilifts.org / SORT Forum

Maybe I missed something - but didn't this thread begin with the question: "What do some of you folks use for load testing a lift:dry" ?

Wet testing is works well for most folks - especially if you choose a method that allows pissing the water out from the containers gradually on the trip back down the mountain. No heavy lifting, no huge puddles at the top.
One can have bladders custom made by water mattress manufacturers for a pretty low dollar. These things fill uniformly, drain slowly on the downward return trip and store in a very small place. Unlike boxes lined with plastic bags, they're reusable - not creating a mountain of garbage after the test.

But this thread isn't about that - or any other "wet" media - the specification was "dry". Any real ideas - beyond sandbags? I've seen beer kegs (full ones) used - but that only makes sense if you have a high-traffic F&B service at the top of the lift... or a very thirsty load test crew.

I'd say the "dry:" word on the first post is a messed-up code for the emoticon, Emax.

Gravel always seemed like a good idea, most areas have it and I know of one are that used gravel in sand bags and use the gravel to build the unload ramp after the testing was complete.
This post has been edited by chasl: 09 October 2007 - 01:30 AM

Dr Frankenstein, on Oct 8 2007, 08:36 PM, said:

I guess that's possible.

Emax, on Oct 5 2007, 11:24 AM, said:

You want the load test crew to make it back down the mountain too!

skisox34, on Oct 10 2007, 07:58 AM, said:

If you're planning such a test - and your crew is concerned about this - contact me ASAP.
There is a crew here ready to help you with this problem.

On Mt Hood the prefered medium for load testing is rock (snow conditioning) salt.

ya use what's available!

A shot from the load test on Tuesday!

How well did that old beauty do there Allan?

RibStaThio, on Oct 26 2007, 06:38 PM, said:

Everything went perfect until we coupled the evac drive - which wouldn't drive the load. We had a new carb installed on the evac drive and it may just need some fine tuning. So we'll load the buckets again when it's all tuned up!

What type of motor? (Primary and Evac)

When we load tested one of our lifts a couple of years ago we had an aux that wouldn't move the load at the required speed. We did some fine tuning and it helped a bit but ended up changing the aux pulley size to something slightly smaller. When we looked at the original load test documents we saw that it BARELY made 100fpm brand new 25 years ago. This was a chrysler industrial 413.

RibStaThio, on Oct 26 2007, 10:29 PM, said:

Prime mover is a Avtek 250 HP electric, evac is a Ford 503 cid v8 (gas) industrial motor... looks like someone plunked a front end of a tractor in the drive station!

cjb, on Oct 27 2007, 07:31 AM, said:

Wish it was an option to change a pulley! This thing has a chain coupling with a 2:1 reducer in the drive line. And when I say it wouldn't drive the load - it wouldn't even move it.

Allan, on Oct 27 2007, 11:19 AM, said:

Did the evac motor move the lift empty???

Kicking Horse, on Oct 28 2007, 03:10 PM, said:

Yup it did!

Allan, on Oct 28 2007, 03:29 PM, said:

Were you guys able to get the problem solved on that Evac?

RibStaThio, on Nov 6 2007, 06:18 PM, said:

Yep! A brand new Edelbrock carb was the trick. The old girl has NEVER ran so well.

Allan, on Nov 6 2007, 06:49 PM, said:

as long as it's not a "QuadraJUNK"!

everyone here KNOWS my suggestion for an auxillary!

EagleAce, on Nov 8 2007, 09:45 PM, said:

Diesel Power all the way ;)