16 replies to this topic

[Lift Kid]

Well Mike Rowe on Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs" went to the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and worked as a Tram Mechanic! The episode will air May 5 at 9:00 pm.. (I think Eastern time) I always thought he should do an episode as a mechanic. I guess someone read my mind.

This post has been edited by Lift Kid: 26 April 2008 - 06:36 PM

[Skiing#1]

I would love to have him to do a high speed chairlift Mechanic. Maybe he will do that someday.

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 26 April 2008 - 08:12 PM

[skisox34]

I always thought the guy who gets to run his hand along the haul rope checking for burrs was the craziest job you could have working with a ski lift. I watched them do that on Superstar and I was like "I'm glad I'm not that guy!"

[Limelight]

This episode starts in 5 minutes for you on the west cost.

[lastchair_44]

How was the episode?

[northeastskier]

It was pretty good.

[Skiing#1]

Darn, I missed it and Dirty Jobs : "Aerial Tram Greaser" will be airing on Thursday, May 8 at 11 p.m. (mountain time).

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 06 May 2008 - 05:43 AM

[Jonni]

Yeah it was a fun show to watch. They (Mike Rowe and his film crew) never got over the actual height that they work at.

[Limelight]

That last scene with him riding on top of the carrier arm was cool. I'd love to get a chance at that.

[cjb]

 skisox34, on Apr 29 2008, 09:00 AM, said:

I always thought the guy who gets to run his hand along the haul rope checking for burrs was the craziest job you could have working with a ski lift. I watched them do that on Superstar and I was like "I'm glad I'm not that guy!"

Who does that? If the rope is running (or even if it COULD) I don't allow anyone to touch the rope. I have seen one finger lost between a rope and a sheave that is enough!

[Lift Kid]

The episode was great. He even said, "There is no easy part to this job." I thought that overall it summed up the difficulty of simple, weekly tasks. Such as changing a sheave, greasing the carriage, and replacing a faded windsock. That shot of him on the carrier arm was very cool!

[spunkyskier01]

it was a good show, however the part of the episode where he was re-vegging the hill with waddles and hay brought back some unwanted memories

[SuperRat]

 Skiing#1, on Apr 27 2008, 12:11 AM, said:

I would love to have him to do a high speed chairlift Mechanic. Maybe he will do that someday.

I think that would be inappropriate for basic cable.

[Skiing#1]

Last night, I watched it and it was a neat! First thing, I thought about Snowbird tram...almost same thing. Interesting. The snowbird tram is closed for six weeks (May 5 to June 14) to due slip all four track cables and replaces the chain saddles.

I am curious...how often (everyday or once each week or once a month???) lift mechanic put lube or geases into the middle of the sheaves (both tram and chairlifts)?

This post has been edited by Skiing#1: 09 May 2008 - 01:37 PM

[liftmech]

Usually once a year, on sheaves that have greasable bearings. Most sheave bearings anymore are sealed and require no additional grease.

[SuperRat]

Our lifts that run winter only we grease sheaves once a year. Our gondola runs winter and summer and it gets greased twice a year: Spring and Autumn.

[skisox34]

 cjb, on May 6 2008, 09:06 PM, said:

Who does that? If the rope is running (or even if it COULD) I don't allow anyone to touch the rope. I have seen one finger lost between a rope and a sheave that is enough!

It was Mountain Wire Rope service out of Pennsylvania I believe. I got a T-Shirt from them one year for helping splice Superstar.