Because of the variance in escalators and elevators, manufacturers will have their own specific parts not used on competitor equipment. Elevator/escalator systems will also have their own unique parts within the same manufacturer or across a product’s lifecycle. That said, there are some parts and concepts that apply generally that building owners and service providers should have at the ready.
Spare parts building owners should have
While building owners may rarely be self-maintainers, it’s a smart idea to have a few core escalator/elevator items at the facility. The time and money to call in or call back a service provider can be avoided with the right items on hand. Here are a few ideas.
- Critical circuit boards, especially those that have a high failure rate and contribute to a down system. Escalators generally have fewer circuit boards than elevators and having a main controller board on site may be a good idea.
- Inexpensive items that when worn out may cause irritation to the riding public such as push buttons and fixture light bulbs.
- For units employing large motors with replaceable brushes, it’s helpful to have a spare set of brushes on hand. This pays a bounty of dividends when the old brushes wear out and the mechanic doesn’t have to come back with a replacement set (as well as try to identify the proper brush!).
- Escalators should have a spare set of comb fingers on hand. These can wear or break frequently and should be readily available for replacement.
- Have a spare set of keys in your office. If you give the last set to a service provider, ensure they return them when they can have a copy made. Also, keep a copy of the numbers that are on the keys, as this can be helpful in obtaining replacements.
- The equipment has a set of electrical wiring diagrams that should be given to the service provider. They may get lost during a change of service. Keep a master set of the wiring diagrams in your office, along with the keys, and provide the service agency a copy.
- Make sure that downed equipment or equipment not in service is clearly labeled as such to prevent the riding public from using it. Service providers should have work areas around the hallway or escalator entrance barricaded off to prevent entry from someone attempting to use the device.
Spare parts service providers should have
“Service providers” run a wide range: OEMs working on their own equipment, OEMs working on competitor equipment, independents or building owners maintaining the equipment themselves (self-maintainers). No matter who ultimately does the service, it’s smart to maintain a good relationship with the local OEM service office of any equipment. An effective network of resources and contacts will go a long way when a particular problem comes up that cannot be handled internally.
In addition to the occasional helping hand, having the right parts on hand will save time and effort. It’s a balancing act between the route requirements as well as the focus of the mechanic of what they will be normally working on. These are some general guidelines.
- Stock up on commonly used lubricants, greases and oils, cleaners and solvents. All equipment will use a lubrication maintenance schedule along with suggested or recommended types of lubricants. Properly lubricating equipment components is one of the most basic and easy maintenance functions to perform; failure to do so will lead to costly repairs in the future. Lubrication itself does have a shelf life, especially if it is opened, and should be discarded if it becomes stiff or gummy.
- Newer equipment uses metric hardware so the can of 9/16” SAE bolts doesn’t cut it anymore. A small investment of metric hardware saves a great deal of labor expense when a job requires a metric bolt.
- Wear or consumable items such as door gibs and rollers, push buttons and covers, light bulbs, fuses, relays and contacts, guide shoes and door clutch components to name a few.
- Using old but “good” circuit boards to troubleshoot problems is a time-honored method to identify failed PCBs. If the replacement takes care of the problem, then the original board probably has failed. If the replacement shows the same symptoms, then the problem is likely somewhere else. If the replacement board shows a different symptom, then the replacement board is either bad or has some compatibility issues with the system.
- Equipment specific sensors both electronic and mechanical are very useful to have on hand.
- A set of equipment keys are also useful to have.
- Keep spare wiring, connectors and pins along with the tools required to make spare cables.
- Chip pullers prevent damage to the chip during extraction saving a very costly repair or replacement.
- Piston diameter tape is much more accurate than trying to “eyeball” diameters using a tape measure.
- Keep spanner bit #4 and #6 for removing and installing tamperproof screws.
- Keep a digital multimeter and a spare battery on hand.
- A magnetic pickup with a lighted mirror is a very handy tool for tight spaces when a screw or a small part is dropped.
- Wire rope gauges are the best way to easily and accurately measure wire ropes to determine go/no-go status.
- Nickel-plated spanner screws are always good to have in case a panel has missing screws.
Other useful parts to have on hand
- Spanner bits #8 and #10
- 8-32 x ¾” Stainless steel Phillips screws
- Contact burnisher (10 pack)
- Electronic calipers, plus a spare battery
- Retaining ring pliers and a spare tip kit
- Wire stripper, 18-22 AWG, 7″
- Door pressure gauge, 0-35 LB
- Metric wire rope gauge
- Maverick light with 25′ cord – a good trouble light with a long cord
- Mini tachometer, 10-2K RPM
- Pit pads
- Metric and imperial escalator step gauges
- 3″ Phillips bit, #0 – #1
- 42″ four-panel barricade
High quality spare and replacement parts are absolutely critical to keeping your equipment in top running shape and Adams Elevator is an industry leading supplier of elevator and escalator replacement parts. Adams Elevator specializes in Schindler brand equipment (including Westinghouse and Haughton) and has the ability to provide many part solutions for older or obsolete equipment. ADAMS also provides a wide range of replacement parts for other OEMs, including Otis, ThyssenKrupp and Kone – and the parts provided will meet or exceed the OEM’s requirements.
Visit the easy-to-use ADAMS web store to stock up on these and other spare parts or technology for your escalators and elevators. You save more when you order online too!
