Found a trick for sticky guide rails on old Otis elevators

Had a job last month in a 1970s building downtown where the car was jerky as hell on every floor. Stuck around for 2 hours trying different greases and nothing worked. Then I remembered an old trick from a mechanic I met in Chicago - put a little transmission fluid on the rail shoes before you lube the rails. Smoothed right out and the customer called me 2 weeks later saying it still rides perfect. Anyone else ever try something like that on sticky rails?

2 comments

2 Comments

williamd7010d ago

Transmission fluid, huh? Next thing you know we'll be using spit and duct tape for brake jobs.

mila39510d ago

Don't give them any ideas, honestly (because that might be the next big trend in DIY). I've seen people do brake jobs with nothing but a pair of pliers and some hope, so duct tape isn't that far off. Transmission fluid is one of those things people either overthink or just dump in blind, and then they wonder why their car starts making that angry coffee grinder sound. At this rate, we'll be using canned air and prayer to fix a blown head gasket before the decade's out.