PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-584
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 584
JULY 2001
Inspect
While you’re cleaning, look for broken wires, kinks and other damage. Replace
the cable if you find kinks. Broken wires KO the cable, too. See your vehicle TM
for inspecting details. FM-25,
Rigging Techniques, Procedures and Applications
and
TB 43-0142,
Safety Inspection and Testing of Lifting Devices
has more good info.
Lube
Lube the wire rope according to the lubrication instructions for your equipment.
There are some other things you can do to keep the rope mission-ready.
If the cable gets lots of use, coat it with clean OE-HDO 30 engine oil. Stay away
from used oil. It has acid in it that weakens rope strands.
In dry, dusty areas, the cable doesn’t need oil. In fact, oil just collects more dust
and dirt.
If the wire rope isn’t used much, or if conditions are damp or salty, give it extra
protection with MIL-G-18458 wire rope grease. Get a 35-lb can with NSN 9150-00-
530-6814.
PS 584
JUL 01
12
W
ire rope hates four-letter words:
dust, grit, rain, snow, and rust to
name a few. These are the ele-
ments that shorten wire rope life.
Wire rope loves some longer
words. Its favorites are preventive
and maintenance. Try some on the
wire rope on your equipment
winches after a muddy or dirty
operation, or whenever you think
it’s needed.
But, before you do any PM, be
sure to put on leather gloves.
They’ll protect your hands from
any broken strands or wires.
Clean
Unreel the wire rope and
stretch it out straight on a clean
surface, like a paved motor pool.
Use a wire brush, like the one
from your No. 1 Common shop
sets, to remove old lube, dirt and
corrosion. Clean the entire cable.
Grit and corrosion get buried
among strands.
Protect your hands
with leather gloves
Use wire brush
to clean rope
G
if
I
love
a coat
of oil…
Proper
maintenance of
cables
can
lengthen
their lives.
…after
a
good
brushing!
Keep Wire
Rope Clean and Lubed
584. 12-13 (C)
6/3/01
4:22 PM
Page 1
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