CLEANING AND LUBRICATING WIRE ROPE

Wire rope should always be cleaned carefully before lubrication. Scraping or steaming removes most of the dirt and grit that has accumulated on used wire rope. Rust should be removed at regular intervals by wire brushing. The objective of cleaning is to remove all foreign material and old lubricant from the valleys between the strands as well as the spaces between the outer wires. This allows the new lubricant to flow into the rope.

Wire rope bending around hoist drums and sheaves will wear like any other metal article, so lubrication is just as important to an operating wire rope as it is to any other piece of working machinery. For a wire rope to work right, the wires and strands must be free to move. Friction from corrosion or lack of lubrication shortens the service life of wire rope.

Deterioration from corrosion is more dangerous than that from wear because corrosion ruins the inside wires-a process hard to detect by inspection. Deterioration caused by wear can be detected by examining the outside wires of the wire rope because these wires become flattened and reduced in diameter as the wire rope wears.

Both internal and external lubrication protects a wire rope against wear and corrosion. Internal lubrication can be properly applied only when the wire rope is being manufactured, and manufacturers customarily coat every wire with a rust-inhibiting lubricant, as it is laid into the strand. The core is also lubricated in manufacturing,

Lubrication that is applied in the field is designed not only to maintain surface lubrication but also to prevent the loss of the internal lubrication provided by the manufacturer. The Navy issues an asphaltic petroleum oil that must be heated before using. This lubricant is known as Lubricating Oil for Chain, Wire Rope, and Exposed Gear and comes in two types:

Type I, Regular: Does not prevent rust and is used where rust prevention is not needed; for example, elevator wires used inside are not exposed to the weather but need lubrication.

Type II, Protective: A lubricant and an anticorrosive that comes in three grades: grade A, for cold weather (60F and below); grade B, for warm weather (between 60F and 80F); and grade C, for hot weather (80F and above).

The oil, issued in 25-pound and 35-pound buckets and in 100-pound drums, can be applied with a stiff brush, or the wire rope can be drawn through a trough of hot lubricant, as shown in figure 5-28. The frequency of application depends upon service conditions; as soon as the last coating has appreciably deteriorated, it should be renewed.

A good lubricant to use when working in the field, as recommended by COMSECOND/COMTHIRD NCBINST 11200.11, is a mixture of new motor oil and diesel fuel at a ratio of 70-percent oil and 30-percent diesel fuel. The NAVFAC P-404 contains added information on additional lubricants that can be used.

Never lubricate wire rope that works a dragline or other attachments that normally bring the wire rope in contact with soils. The reason is that the lubricant will pick up fine particles of material, and the resulting abrasive action will be detrimental to both the wire rope and sheave.

As a safety precaution, always wipe off any excess when lubricating wire rope, especially with hoisting equipment. Too much lubricant can get into brakes or clutches and cause them to fail. While in use, the

Figure 5-28.-Trough method of lubricating wire rope

motion of machinery may sling excess oil around over crane cabs and onto catwalks, making them unsafe.

STORAGE

Wire rope should never be stored in an area where acid is or has been kept. This must be stressed to all hands. The slightest trace of acid or acid fumes coming in contact with wire rope will damage it at the contact spot. Wire that has given way has been found many times to be acid damaged.

It is paramount that wire rope be cleaned and lubricated properly before placing it in storage. Fortunately, corrosion of wire rope can be virtually eliminated if lubricant is applied properly and sufficient protection from the weather is provided, Remember that rust, corrosion of wires, and deterioration of the fiber core will significantly reduce the strength of wire rope. Although it is not possible to say exactly the loss due to these effects, it is certainly enough to take precautions against.

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