Detachable vs Fixed Grip Lifts

[raisingarizona]

Maybe, maybe not. Probably beats trying to keep a lift that's over 20 years old running when you can't easily get parts any more.

I have a husband who keeps cars too long.

Good point.

 

[Brownski]

I’d still stick it.

Me too

 

[raisingarizona]

I’d still stick it.

It’s just going to give you more time to eye up your landing zone

 

[raisingarizona]

Me too

Pervs ?

 

[Brownski]

New parts are still being made for old lifts. I think I remember the owner of Smuggs saying on the storm skiing podcast that a hill out west bought Riblet’s machining when they out of business.

 

[snoloco]

Not a ski area. There's a company called Superior Tramway that makes replacement parts for Riblet lifts, among others. They are based in Spokane, Washington, just like Riblet was.

Riblet rose to prominence back in the 60's and 70's, during a rapid expansion of the ski industry. There was demand for a simple, cost-effective, easily installed lift, and they provided that. The thing that most set them apart was that their grips were woven into the haulrope instead of clamping down on it. As the years went on and technology advanced, Riblet had changed their design very little. They simply didn't keep up with the times and couldn't compete. What's problematic today is that their chair, grip, and sheave designs are not compatible with anything else that's currently available. That makes it hard to overhaul a Riblet lift. You either have to keep it unmodified, or replace the whole lift from the ground up. A lot of lifts from out-of-business manufacturers had parts replaced with those of a current design. For example, Sunday River's Yan lifts all have Poma sheaves. You can't do that on a Riblet lift. If you replace the sheaves, you have to replace the grips and chairs.

 

[raisingarizona]

Not a ski area. There's a company called Superior Tramway that makes replacement parts for Riblet lifts, among others. They are based in Spokane, Washington, just like Riblet was.

Riblet rose to prominence back in the 60's and 70's, during a rapid expansion of the ski industry. There was demand for a simple, cost-effective, easily installed lift, and they provided that. The thing that most set them apart was that their grips were woven into the haulrope instead of clamping down on it. As the years went on and technology advanced, Riblet had changed their design very little. They simply didn't keep up with the times and couldn't compete. What's problematic today is that their chair, grip, and sheave designs are not compatible with anything else that's currently available. That makes it hard to overhaul a Riblet lift. You either have to keep it unmodified, or replace the whole lift from the ground up. A lot of lifts from out-of-business manufacturers had parts replaced with those of a current design. For example, Sunday River's Yan lifts all have Poma sheaves. You can't do that on a Riblet lift. If you replace the sheaves, you have to replace the grips and chairs.

Great stuff Sno.

A lift mechanic bud of mine told me he was concerned with the new lifts here over the last bunch of years. He said that they were all different and the parts weren’t transferable which obviously isn’t optimal.

We still have an old Riblet over on the Prairie.

 

[snoloco]

I assume you're referring to Arizona Snowbowl. There were 4 lifts built recently. Two detachables from Leitner-Poma, and two fixed grip quads, one each from Skytrac and Doppelmayr. There's nothing wrong with any of those designs, it's just that ownership didn't stick with one manufacturer when ordering the lifts. This means they likely took the lowest bid each time. It can make it more difficult for lift mechanics since they now have to stock replacement parts for 3 different manufacturers instead of just 1. Some resorts like to stick with one manufacturer, while others will mix it up. It really depends on the ownership and what their priorities are.

 

[Sbob]

Being able to detach during rollback is like mustard on a shit sandwich. I always thought I could turn around and drop down to the ski bar and hang off until I could let go and stick the landing. Am I the only one who fantasizes about that? I might have watched too many James Bond movies.

I thought about that as well. I rode King Pine lift a month before the roll back. The one day it was making a lot of noise.
I was on a 200’ rollback at Hunter in the 70’s scared the crap out of me. The kid I was with talked me out of lowering the bar. We were at the highest possible point when it stopped and reversed. The brake stopped suddenly an we swung back close to 45 degrees. I cursed him out and never ride without the bar down.

Dam straight I’d stick it too

 

[abe]

Partek sells Borvig parts and am I correct that Doppelmayer, as the successor to Von Roll and Hall, sells Hall parts?