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Vitalife
 
Your business literally hangs by a thread.
Extend its life with Vitalife®.
Known for its penetrating and lubricating qualities, Vitalife® has been the standard to which other wire rope lubricants are compared for its anti-friction, anti-corrosion and dry to the touch qualities. The preferred wire rope lubricant for many years in the towing industry.
Reasons to Lubricate Wire Rope:
A wire rope that is regularly lubricated from when it was new will last on average three times longer than one that is not lubricated (Roebling Wire Rope Handbook).
Lubricants will breakdown over time through oxidation with air and with the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It is also lost during normal use as it is squeezed out of the core from repeated cable tension and needs to be replaced periodically.
Some tow truck and wire rope manufacturers do NOT lubricate the wire rope and leave that chore to the customer. The oil that is on a new cable may only be the machining lubricant that is used during the manufacturing process as the wires are drawn through the dies. Do not presume it has been lubricated for you with a lubricant specifically for wire rope.
Wire rope primarily wears from the INSIDE out through the friction of wires rubbing against each other and the sheave wheel as they bend and flex. This internal friction works away unseen and from every angle. It’s not unusual for a cable to look fine on the outside, but for the inside wires and strands to be badly worn, or have many completely broken inside through this wearing effect.
Rain water, road salt and other contaminants get in between the wire and strands causing pitting and corrosion. A penetrating lubricant fills those spaces where water can accumulate and displaces the water. A good quality lubricant will penetrate the wire rope completely, neutralize acidic contaminants, and coat the cable with a protective film. Only a good lubricant specifically made for wire rope will do all three. Vitalife lubricants include corrosion and water displacing inhibitors, anti-wear additives, anti-oxidants, and plasticizers for low temperatures.
Why you should never apply used motor oil to wire rope:
-Most if not all of the anti-friction properties have broken down.
-Used motor oil becomes acidic, so it will actually contribute to corrosion.
-It will attract dirt to the cable since motor oil does not dry.
-It contains impurities and contaminants that will clog the wire rope, preventing any future lubricants from
penetrating properly.
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