Steel Wire Rope - how do I maintain my Steel Wire Rope?

Lubricant – important for the life of the Steel Wire Rope
During the production of a Steel Wire Rope, lubricant is added, which only protects the wire the first time. Therefore, the Steel Wire Rope must be relubricated regularly both to maintain it and to reduce the friction between the wire and its contact surfaces. Thorough relubrication is very important for the service life of the Steel Wire Rope and has 2 important purposes:

1) To protect the Steel Wire Rope against rust.
2) To reduce friction between threads and wicks

Application of lubricant
The Steel Wire Rope must be cleaned before relubrication to achieve maximum effect. The lubricant used for relubrication must be acid-free and must not have a harmful effect on either steel wires, fiber core or the environment. The consistency of the lubricant means that it penetrates into the heart and strength of the steel wire.
The lubricant must be applied while driving by a disc or on a drum, as the Steel Wire Rope will open and the lubricant can penetrate more easily. The oil can be easily applied with a brush.

Which lubricant should be used?
The lubricant used must have good penetration and lubrication, be water-repellent, rust-dissolving and stop further rust formation. You can contact us for further advice and guidance.

Inspection of Steel Wire Rope
The following is a guide to possible control points in connection with the inspection/control of a Steel Wire Rope - not a complete manual or substitute for requirements specified in associated norms and standards.

• Wear and tear
The Steel Wire Rope must be replaced when the nominal diameter is reduced by 10%.

• Extension
All Steel Wire Ropes elongate under load, and the lifetime of the Steel Wire Rope can be divided into three phases:
– Phase 1: During the first period of use, the new Steel Wire Rope elongates quite naturally due to the load and because the steel wire settles.
– Phase 2: The Steel Wire Rope has now set, after being in use for a while, and it does not extend very much any more. The elongation during this phase is primarily due to wear.
– Phase 3: The steel wire has settled and been used for a long time. During this phase, the steel wire rapidly degrades and elongates without further impact, which is due to advanced wear and corrosion, and the steel wire must therefore be replaced immediately.

Dimension reduction
Any noticeable reduction in the dimension of the wire from the original dimension indicates degradation of the wire. The reduction may be due to:
– External/internal wear
– Squeezing of virtue and/or heart
– External/internal rust formation
- Extension

Rust
Rust usually originates from poor maintenance of the steel wire and causes faster fatigue of the wires (brittleness/cracking). Rust is at least as important a factor as wear in connection with the assessment of the condition of the Steel Wire Rope.

Local wear/destruction
Local wear on the Steel Wire Rope is most often due to poor coiling. All fittings and splices must be examined for wear/thread breaks, loose/broken ducts and wear/cracks on/in fittings.

Fire damage
After fire or exposure to high temperatures, metal damage, loss of lubricant and destruction of steel or fiber core can occur. The steel wire must be replaced immediately.

The core comes out
The Steel Wire Rope must be replaced immediately if the core comes out.

Thread breakage
Thread breakage can occur for many different reasons. Some are serious and others are minor. If the breakage are severe, the Steel Wire Rope must be replaced immediately. If you are in doubt as to whether the wire has a serious break, contact us as soon as possible.