Had a close call with a worn sheave in a downtown high rise

Claire Bell · 2026-03-24T23:55:05.836003+00:00

Last week, I was doing a routine inspection on a traction unit in a 30-story building. I noticed a slight vibration and a high-pitched hum from the motor room. When I checked the main drive sheave, I found the groove was worn down almost a quarter inch deeper than spec. The foreman said it was fine three years ago at the last major service. If that cable had jumped, it would have been a full car drop. What's your go-to method for checking sheave wear before it gets this bad?

hernandez.emma6mo ago

Cameron538, I use a simple groove gauge every six months to catch wear early.

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jennyp196mo ago

I mean, I read a thing from an old mechanic about using a penny for a quick check. If you can see a lot of Lincoln's head in the groove, it's too worn. It's not as good as a real gauge, but it's a fast visual check you can do anytime.

2

cameron5386mo ago

Well, "fine" three years ago clearly means "forgotten about" until it's a real problem!

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