Wire rope, chain and cable perform better when properly maintained
Proper lubrication of your wire rope, chain and cable can safely extend its operational life regardless of application. Cranes, elevators, shovels, drilling rigs, suspension bridges and draglines are some of the many applications that use wire rope, chain or cable to perform work such as pulling, dragging or hoisting. These applications often are exposed to harsh environmental conditions, including extreme weather. Lubrication Engineers can help your wire rope, chain and cable last longer and operate safely by implementing a lubricant reliability program and recommending the right lubricants for the job.
Fight corrosion of wire ropes all the way to the core
Most wire ropes are lubricated during the manufacturing process, but this lubricant will not last the entire life of the rope. When looking for a lubricant to relubricate your wire rope, choose one that contains no acids or alkalis, possesses the adhesive strength to stay on the rope, can penetrate between wires and strands, has high fluid film strength, resists oxidation and remains pliable. It is important to remember that most wire ropes fail from the inside out. Corroded rope can be a safety hazard, as there is no way to determine its remaining strength and life. Proper lubrication will help prevent deterioration of wire rope due to rust and corrosion.
Because most wire ropes fail from the inside, it is critical to ensure the center core receives sufficient lubricant. LE recommends a combined regimen in which a penetrating lubricant is used to saturate the core, followed by a coating lubricant to seal and protect the outer surface. LE offers several penetrating and coating type wire rope lubricants to suit your specific needs.
Penetrating lubricants for wire rope, chain and cable
Penetrating lubricants contain an evaporative solvent that facilitates migration of the lubricant into the core of the wire rope, then evaporates, leaving behind a heavy lubricating film that protects and lubricates each strand.
Coating lubricants for wire rope, chain and cable
Coating lubricants penetrate slightly and seal the outside of the cable from moisture, reducing wear, rust and corrosion.
Wire Rope Coating Lubricants
Wirelife® Almasol® Coating Grease (451-453)
Wirelife Almasol Coating Grease (451-453) is a soft, semifluid calcium-based grease designed to coat wire rope as well as moving chain and cable parts to ensure long life and smooth, quiet operation. Its tacky, water-resistant characteristics enable it to adhere strongly to rapidly moving parts, seal out damaging moisture, protect against premature wear and shield metal against corrosive attack.
Typical Applications: Wire rope, chain links, pins, bushings, cable sheave bushings, cables, open and closed silent and roller chains, and small, slow-turning gearboxes that require a semifluid lubricant
Available Grades: NLGI 0 (453), NLGI 00 (452), NLGI 000 (451)
Wirelife® Almasol® Coating Lubricant (2002)
Wirelife Almasol Coating Lubricant (2002) is a fluid wire rope lubricant that provides a tough outer coating to seal and protect against fretting corrosion, wear and rust – even under extreme load and moisture. It seals and protects better than any product available. When used in conjunction with Wirelife Monolec Penetrating Lubricant, maximum protection and wear reduction is achieved.
In addition to its primary function as a coating, it also provides moderate penetration – depending on the tightness of tolerances and the temperature when applied. It contains a petroleum solvent to enhance its ability to penetrate. The solvent evaporates, leaving behind a self-healing, nontacky, protecting film that is highly resistant to wash-off from both fresh and salt water.
Typical Applications: Mining and construction applications such as standing and running lines, draglines, cranes and derricks; marine applications such as cranes, hoists and drilling rigs; as a rust preventative for any metal in harsh environments and for metal parts in long-term storage.
Wirelife® Almasol® Syn Coating Lubricant (2022)
Wirelife Almasol Syn Coating Lubricant (2022) is an extremely tacky, nonasphaltic synthetic lubricant with exceptionally high film strength. Perfect for extreme environments and conditions, it is the ultimate outer surface protector for wire rope and cable and comes from the same advanced technology that LE developed to protect large open gears in the mining and quarry industries. It derives its high load-carrying capacity from its synergistic blend of an extreme pressure additive and Almasol, LE’s exclusive wear-reducing additive.
Typical Applications: Mining and construction applications such as standing and running lines, draglines, cranes and derricks; marine applications such as cranes, hoists and drilling rigs.
Penetrating Lubricant for Wire Rope Applications
Wirelife® Monolec® Penetrating Lubricant (2001)
Wirelife Monolec Penetrating Lubricant (2001) has excellent corrosion resistance and high load-carrying (EP) properties. It penetrates to the core of wire ropes, whether they are running or stationary. It is also excellent as a penetrating lubricant for chains of all sizes and works well in a variety of other industrial applications. When used in conjunction with Wirelife Almasol Coating Lubricant, maximum protection and wear reduction is achieved.
It contains a petroleum solvent to enhance its ability to penetrate. The solvent evaporates, leaving behind a film of heavy-bodied lubricant that protects and lubricates each strand and resists leakage from the wire rope core. Available in bulk sizes or in an aerosol version.
Typical Applications: All stationary or moving wire ropes or cables under heavy loads; chains of all sizes; mining and construction applications such as standing and running lines, draglines, cranes and derricks; marine applications such as cranes, hoists and drilling rigs; any other application that requires excellent rust protection for steel parts.
Wire Rope Lubricants for Environmentally Sensitive Applications
Wirelife® Low Tox® Penetrating Lubricant (2011)
Designed for marine environments and other applications where environmental concerns require the use of a very low toxicity wire rope and chain lubricant, LE’s Wirelife Low Tox Penetrating Lubricant (2011) has excellent load-carrying capability and provides outstanding protection against rust, while having the lowest possible toxic effect on the environment.
Typical Applications: For wire rope, cable and chain applications with frequent exposure to the environment, particularly those near water.
Earthwise™ EAL Wire Rope Grease (3353)
Earthwise EAL Wire Rope Grease (3353) is recommended for use in applications on or near the waterways. It is an EAL and meets the specifications required by the EPA’s Vessel General Permit (VGP). It is readily biodegradable, exhibits minimal aquatic toxicity and will not accumulate in the cells of fish and other aquatic life forms. It is a soft, semifluid formulation designed to coat wire rope as well as moving chain and cable parts to ensure long life and smooth, quiet operation. Its semi-tacky, water-resistant characteristics enable it to adhere to the application and seal out damaging moisture and protect against rust formation.
Typical Applications: Applications near or around waterways including: Wire rope; chain links, pins and bushings; cable sheave bushings, bearings and strands; open and closed silent and roller chains. Ideal for use in automatic lubrication systems.
Available Grades: NLGI 0 (3353)
LE offers full-service support for wire rope, cable and chain lubrication
In addition to onsite equipment assessment, consultation and service, LE provides the following customization and value-added options:
- Program design, implementation and support
- Lubrication education and training
- Viper wire rope single-pass automatic lubrication system
LE is happy to offer industrial lubricant and reliability recommendations for a variety of applications, and to provide product-specific data on all of our items to help you make the right decision. To learn more about our wire rope lubricants, wire rope lubricators as well as our other enhanced lubricants and lubricant reliability products, please
contact LE today.
