11 minutes of an Otis Traction Elevator with an MG Set

An 11 minute video of an old Otis running.
These machines are bulletproof and my favorite elevator to work on.
You can see the pie plate selector on the right side of the video.
Enjoy

[@Jowevator3219]

Love the sound of the MG winding up!!

[@caroleast9636]

Seen and worked on thousands of these lifts…but that’s the only time that I’ve seen the selector tape run over the traction sheave!

[@wns808]

Nice! Looks like this has been well maintained & can run for many more years. Hope it doesn’t have to be modernized

[@asetatlikalem]

İ think i must be mad watching those damn old machines rün

[@TheTheo58]

what a dandy geared traction machine and the selector tape around the driven sheave. The machine works as precise as a fine Swiss watch, with the leveling field, smooth start/stop. MG set spins down within in a few seconds, the timer is working well. I could see the communicator end of the DC motor. This machine was built to last for decades and can be fixed.

[@anthonyboarman3833]

Do new elevators have ac motors?

[@TheTheo58]

@@anthonyboarman3833 Newer elevators do have AC motors the majority are 3 phase power (commercial type) and have a VFD variable frequency drive.

[@anthonyboarman3833]

@@TheTheo58 This goes a little bit over my head. It's like when Edison was pushing DC while Tesla said AC would be better. AC could be transmitted over long distances at high voltage. I guess at the time DC was better to drive the elevator machine.

[@jarrodemery4631]

Set up one of these last week after a tape replacement. Always takes longer than I think it will...

[@donalddavis581]

You haven't lived till you get to replace a broken selector tape! LOL

[@RichPAFC1987]

Or even worse, a selector crash, with pie plates all stacked up

[@SprayboyBoeskoolcity]

I love apartment elevators from the 70s!!!😍😎😃😃💯💯❤❤

[@Mikeurban609]

Not an elevator mechanic, but I’ve always heard they fall up. As somebody who is paranoid with elevators any truth to that? Thanks.

[@anthonyboarman3833]

If the weight of the car and passengers is less than the counterweight yes that can happen.

[@caroleast9636]

2:32 The counterweight is heavier than the car by about 45% of the designed load. If there’s less than that in the car then the car will want to run up when the brake is off. That percentage is a typical average weight that the car would run with so, on average, the lift runs balanced. That’s more efficient. The motor never has to pull the full 100% in either direction.

[@anthonyboarman3833]

@@caroleast9636 Doesn't re gen elevators the motor becomes a generator.

[@sictransitgloriamundi230]

What is that perforated tape that is laid on the traction sheave next to the ropes?

[@aprilkolwey4779]

Selector tape - some of these old Otises used the sheave as a deflector for that.