In recent years many older lifts are being replaced by new and shiny lifts. Recently at the ISAA trade show in Red Lodge, MT, there was discussion about how many years old is a lift considered old. 30 to 35 years was thrown around, but this doesn’t mean to replace them. There are several lifts over 40 years and some over 50 years old still in operation and passing tests.
These older lifts have become difficult to find parts for and many rely on a the boneyard of parts. What happens when your boneyard is empty? Then you need to start looking at other resorts that have or had the same vintage and brand of lift.
When these old lifts are dismantled, don’t scrap everything, save some key parts and list them on the CHS Classifieds. These parts include but not limited to:
grips
sheaves and sheave trains
gear box
cross arms
and other parts that typically are replaceable.
We just had a success story from the CHS Classifieds. A NC ski area with a 1988 Dopplemayr lift needed some grips. We found several for them to help keep this lift in compliance and going strong.
