Picking between hydraulic and traction for a mid-rise job in St. Louis last month

I had to choose between a hydraulic system and a traction system for a 6-story office building we were updating. The building manager wanted something quiet and energy efficient, so traction seemed like the obvious pick. But the budget was tight and the shaft was already built for a hydro setup from the 80s. I went with a machine-room-less traction from a brand I won't name here, and honestly it was the right call. The install took about 3 days longer because we had to reinforce the guide rails, but the ride quality is way smoother than any hydro I've worked on. Has anyone else had luck swapping old hydro shafts for MRL setups without too much headache?

2 comments

2 Comments

derek9391mo ago

Nah, I've seen MRL swaps bite people hard on older hydro shafts.

kim.sandra1mo ago

Oh come on, those stories are mostly from people ignoring the pilot bore spec. If you match the pilot bore diameter and the keyway depth correctly, a MRL swap is actually pretty straightforward on most older hydro shafts. I've seen guys run into trouble when they just grab a random MRL off the shelf without checking if the shaft has a step or a worn keyway. The real issue is often just a misalignment of the oil supply ports or a bad o-ring groove, not the swap itself. But hey, what do I know, right?