Wire Rope Lubrication

Wire Rope Lubrication is a very important factor in the longevity of Wire Rope.

The product must have a quality wire rope lubricant is applied at the time of manufacture.  It is also important for it to be part of an ongoing maintenance program.

Loss of lubricant can cause corrosion, which will result in premature rope failure or reduced in service life.  This means increased costs as you will need to replace your wire rope more frequently.

• Environment

Different environments will present different challenges for your winch rope and cause loss of lubricant.  If your wire rope is in a maritime environment, the high pressure of deep waters will break down the components in the lubricant.  In this situation you will need to have a prolific maintenance program for the reapplication of the wire rope lubricant.

• Temperature

High temperatures will cause cause wax based lubricants to soften.  This will result in loss of lubricant.  High temperatures with wire rope can be caused by the cyclic bending over sheaves as well as obvious direct heat exposure such as near furnaces.  In these situations you will need to look for a wire rope lubricant that does not have wax based products in it.

Working in high temperature climates will also cause wax based lubricants to become fluid and fling off the rope during operation.

• Type of Lubricant and Application

There are different lubricants on the market which offer a specific fit for applications.  They range from your natural based lanolin lubricants, through to offerings from wire rope manufacturers. Wire rope lubrication can be applied through manual methods or through wire rope grease lubrication applicators such as the Viper .  Using the Viper will allow you to lubricate the core of the wire rope, not just the external layers as would be done via a manual process.

If you would like assistance with your wire rope maintenance, please contact the team at Crane Ropes Australia.