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Haul Rope Wear


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#1 Kicking Horse

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Posted 08 November 2003 - 09:23 PM

these detachable grip lifts, what sort of life do you get from the haul rope? the constant movement of the grips on the rope must create wear. Compare it to a fG
Jeff

#2 SilverFir

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Posted 08 November 2003 - 10:28 PM

I believe it is every 15 years on the highspeed lifts and every 30 years on the fixed grip lifts.
Tim Venable

#3 KZ

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Posted 08 November 2003 - 10:46 PM

so thats a pretty big difference
Zack

#4 SkiBachelor

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Posted 08 November 2003 - 11:10 PM

Yep, SilverFir your right on the money. :thumbsup:
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#5 Kelly

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Posted 09 November 2003 - 07:15 AM

Rope replacement is also related to revolutions which is related to lift length, operating hours and speed.

I posted this reply to a similar question at hyak.net.
=========================================
Haul Rope replacement

There have been a few suggestions as to why a haul rope might be changed.
A little background:

In most states there are required inspections of ski lifts. This requirement usually is insurance driven but can also include Forest Service, State, Manufactures, or industry consultants as inspecting agents. Some areas could have up to 6 inspections a year.

Also ski area's themselves have a complete haul rope inspection program included in there preventative maintenance program that the Lift Maintenance Manager or maybe the Mountain Manager would supervise. Most inspection and maintenance programs follow B-77 codes that the ski industry established in the 60s.

Haul Rope inspection criteria might include:
Exterior condition
Interior condition
Lay length (distance a strand makes a complete rotation usually 6" to 10" long)
Excessive change in carriage movement
Splice area inspection
Grip movement
Existing damage changes
Date until actual replacement

In each area there are given limits and recommendations for corrections if the limit is exceeded. Haul rope actual safety factor in ski lifts is quite high compared to other wire rope uses. To my knowledge no haul rope has broken while in normal use at a ski area.

I suspect that the Keechelus haul rope was inspected every year and for the last 5 years an increase in interstrand nicking combined with some exterior damage lead to the prudent choice of replacement. The replacement of a haul rope is not to be taken lightly due to cost and time. See my post at nw-skilifts/Images/Keechelus.

Other Stuff:
Used ski lift haul rope is sometimes sold to the logging industry.
There are some clear pictures at unirope.com – go to inspection and testing - examples of damaged ropes page.
Safety factor, cost factor, design factor, stress factor, ignorance factor all somewhat interchangeable.
Safety Factors-
Haul Rope 6
Elevator 12
Old Steam Locomotives 18
Ocean going ships 6
Airplanes .5
Bridges 6
Average car 1.1
Ford Pinto .4
Residential Home 2
Hope this helps

#6 liftmech

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Posted 10 November 2003 - 08:04 PM

Another factor in rope wear is whether it was used on a Riblet lift. Because one has to cut the core out to place the clip, one ends up with basically a broken core- or rather one which has gaps every so often. This can create stress on the outer strands, and depending on what one uses for core replacement, can also degrade lube retention. You have to keep in mind that a rope is comprised of many moving parts (even though it doesn't look like it) and thus needs lubrication like any other piece of machinery. If the core has been replaced by a solid piece of plastic (instead of a section of hemp or other woven rope) it doesn't absorbe lube as well.
Member, Department of Ancient Technology, Colorado chapter.





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