Always hated wire rope lubrication until a job in St. Louis changed my thinking

I used to think lubing cable was a waste of time, just made a mess in the cab. Then we had a big tower crane job near the Gateway Arch where the cable kept fraying on a Luffing jib after only 3 weeks. The foreman showed me how a light application of WD-40 Specialist keeps moisture out and reduces friction. Has anyone else seen a big difference in cable life from a simple lube routine?

3 comments

3 Comments

tarabell1mo ago

Yeah, the "just makes a mess in the cab" thing was my thinking too. But I had a crane on a bridge job where the cable kept getting rusty spots, and a light spray with a dry lube like that every few weeks made it last way longer. It's a pain but it's worth it.

michaeld481mo ago

Does it make a big difference in how often you have to replace the cable?

william_harris1mo ago

bet you smelled like a mechanic's garage for a week after that lol