With proper maintenance, an electric wire rope hoist will last ten to twenty years. Always keep ropes lubricated. Use the recommended hoist manufacturer grade of lubricant, and review your O&M manual. Always keep the ropes in the drum groove. Crossed and piled ropes become damaged and they may wedge into the frame and literally break the hoist. Always renew ropes that are doubtful. Luck is not a strategy for making a somewhat damaged wire rope last longer. Operators may accidently shock load or overload the crane and the rope will give out. Always use ropes of the proper size. Larger ropes will not fit the drum or sheave grooves and my be too stiff to bend around the drum properly. Always start the motor slowly until the slack is taken out of the ropes. Also do not lower the block too far where a slack cable condition is created. Always lift the load straight up and down, side-pulling and angled lifting is dangerous because it stresses the equipment in ways it is not designed. This is a key part of crane operating regulations in all fifty states.
