Manual RHGSE Operation and Maintenance Manual ZOM-11000-2 v2 rev E
Zephyr International llc
Page 21 of 40 United States Patent # 7,429,031 B1
Conditioning a new Wire Rope
RH cable conditioning is the process of acclimating the newly installed cable to the smaller
diameter of the rescue hoist drum.
It is only required for new cables and is not effective at salvaging cables that do not meet the
Mil-Spec and have loose outer strands. The loose strands may disappear temporarily but will
soon return as soon as the cable is extended with no load on it.
Cable conditioning should be done with a low load and at slow speed, while gradually
increasing the load up to the rated load.
Always extend with a low load of approximately 25 lbs and at a max speed of 100 feet per
minute in either direction
Perform 3 cycles
Extend at 25 lbs. and then retract at 100 lbs, then 300 lbs, then 600 lbs
Then during the next flight extend the cable to full extension and retract under approximately
200 lbs. load.
This procedure is considered the best practice by the hoist OEMs.