7 replies to this topic

[Jonni]

Just one quick question. I had to go in today to run our beginner quad for lift evac training. After we were done with it and I folded all of the chairs up on it, I parked it at the bottom in the usual spot in order to get the chairs at the top to be out of the way of any equipment that may be working up there. The only thing is that, when the chairs were put back on the cable after them being off for a grip inspection the spacing was affected and the chair was parked on the bullwheel. Does it matter if a chair is parked on the bullwheel for a prolonged period of time? Are there any adverse affects on the cable or the bullwheel liner?

[Allan]

I don't think it matters at all. I've gotten in the habit of not parking chairs on the bullwheel - just so the cats can clean out the terminals and fix up the ramps.

[Kelly]

Some considerations on chair parking -
If the grip is in the bullwheel the stem is somewhat locked and could be bent if hit by a cat. This also holds true if the stem is near any tower guides or guide sheave wheels. Not that I have ever hit any chairs, it's all from ah… anecdotal stories.

[liftmech]

What he said. I've never done it either, ummm, just seen it happen. Sure. I've also heard (and this was a long time ago) that grips can freeze to the liner and damage it when the rope pulls away.

[Shawn]

Never had a problem with leaving them on the bullwheel here.

[Aussierob]

This can be an issue if its windy. We never park chairs on bullwheels as the wind blowing a chair around on a fixed rope can cause fatigue damage or failure at that point. They are also in the way of the groomers.

[Jonni]

Yeah, for right now it's on the bullwheel. During regular operations we would never leave it there, as someone at the top usually parks the lift. It was only this instance that I was the only one running it after Patrol's lift evac drill was over to fold up chairs, and when I was done I parked it at the bottom in what I thought was the right place for the top. When I went up to clear the line, I discovered that there was a chair about 3/4 around the bullwheel. Chances are pretty good that it will be turned again before they make snow over on that part of the hill, and would need it moved for groomers.

[Lift Dinosaur]

I agree with Aussierob. 90% of the time you can leave a chair in the bullwheel, but the 10% where you have cats, wind (which can cause damage by repeated oscillation of the carrier to numerous components) deams that a policy of not parking a carrier in the bullwhell is probably a good practice.