Pro tip: I keep seeing guys skip the full governor rope tension check on older traction units.

Specifically on the 90s era Otis Gen2 systems we have all over downtown. The manual says to check it with the car at the top floor, counterweight landed, and a 25 pound pull on the rope. I watched a crew last week just give the rope a wiggle and call it good. That's asking for a nuisance overspeed trip, or worse, a governor that won't engage when it needs to. I had a call back six months ago for repeated safety activations, and it was exactly this. The rope had just enough slack to bounce at certain speeds. Spent half a day re-tensioning and the problem vanished. Are you guys still doing the full pull test, or is the visual check enough for you on routine maintenance?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_logan2mo ago

Actually, the manual says a 15 pound pull, not 25. But you're totally right about doing the full check. That wiggle test is useless. How often do you find them out of spec?

mary2392mo ago

What's your fail rate, like one in ten?

iris_ellis1mo ago

Oh man, the wiggle test drives me crazy too. Found one last month on a Gen2 that was way too loose, just a quick bounce test wouldn't show it. Full pull with the gauge is the only way to catch those ones that are borderline.