I. Daily Inspection and cleaning

Regular visual inspection

Before daily operation, check whether the steel wire rope has broken wires, wear, deformation (such as twisting, flattening), rust and other conditions. Pay special attention to the fixed ends of the rope and the contact areas around the pulley, as these regions are prone to wear or wire breakage.

Broken wire determination: If the number of broken wires in a single strand exceeds a certain proportion (for example, in a 6×19 structure steel wire rope, if the number of broken wires in a single pitch exceeds 12), it needs to be replaced in a timely manner. If there is a concentration of broken wires or a rapid increase in broken wires, stop using it immediately.

Wear inspection: Measure the diameter of the steel wire rope with a caliper. If the diameter after wear is less than 90% of the original diameter (or as required by the specification), it needs to be scrapped.

Cleaning treatment

After the operation, remove the dust, sand, oil stains and other debris on the surface of the steel wire rope. You can use a soft brush or compressed air to blow it clean.

If it comes into contact with corrosive substances (such as acids, alkalis, seawater), it should be rinsed with clean water and dried to prevent the corrosion from worsening.

Ii. Lubrication and Maintenance

Lubrication purpose

Reduce the friction between the wires inside the steel wire rope and between the wires and the pulley/drum to lower the wear. At the same time, it isolates moisture and air to prevent rust.

Lubrication timing

New steel wire ropes need to be fully lubricated before use. In daily use, lubricate once every 3 to 6 months (or depending on the operation frequency and environment). If the surface of the steel wire rope is dry and rust appears, lubrication should be replenished immediately.

Lubrication method

Select special steel wire rope grease (with moderate viscosity, capable of penetrating the rope core and not easily lost), and avoid using low-viscosity oils such as engine oil (volatile and with poor lubrication effect).

Before lubrication, clean the surface of the steel wire rope first. Then, use a brush, an oil spray bottle or a special lubrication device to evenly apply the grease to the steel wire rope, ensuring that the grease penetrates into the gaps between the rope strands and the rope core.

For multi-layer wound steel wire ropes, it is necessary to lubricate them in sections during the winding process to ensure that each turn can fully contact the grease.