Glossary term
traction lift
A lift raised and lowered by friction between ropes or belts and a driven sheave, balanced by a counterweight on the other end.
What it means
In a traction lift the car hangs on ropes or belts that pass over a grooved wheel driven by the motor. On the other end of the ropes hangs a counterweight, heavy enough to balance the car plus about half its rated load. The motor does not lift the whole car — it only moves the difference between the two sides, which is why traction lifts are efficient and why they can travel tall buildings at speed.
Where you see it
Almost all mid- and high-rise passenger lifts are traction lifts, along with a growing number of home lifts that use flat belts instead of steel ropes. If a lift travels more than a few floors, it is very likely a traction machine.
How it works
Friction is what makes it work. The ropes sit in grooves shaped to grip them, and the sheave turns without the ropes slipping. A brake clamps the machine when the lift is stopped, and the controller releases the brake only when the drive is ready to hold the load, which is why a well-set-up lift starts without a jolt.
Speed and position come from the machine end. An encoder on the motor or sheave tells the controller exactly how far the car has moved, so the controller can slow it into the floor and stop level. If the ropes slip or the encoder loses count, the position the controller believes stops matching reality and the lift takes itself out of service.
Why it matters
Traction lifts age slowly but noticeably. Rope wear, brake wear and guide wear all show up as small changes in ride quality long before anything fails, so noise and vibration are worth reporting even when the lift is still running normally.
Commonly confused with
Traction lifts are confused with hydraulic lifts. A traction lift is held by friction between ropes or belts and a driven sheave, with a counterweight balancing most of the load. There is no oil tank, and its behaviour does not change with temperature the way a hydraulic lift's does.
Wear, service and lifespan
Ropes or belts, the sheave grooves, the brake and the gearbox are the long-term wear items. Ropes are inspected for broken wires, stretch and wear, and the brake is tested regularly. Machine-room-less designs put the machine in the shaft, which makes routine access an engineer-only activity.
Signs to watch for
- A jolt at the start or end of each journey.
- The lift stops slightly out of level, especially when full.
- Rhythmic knocking that changes with speed.
- The lift creeps a few centimetres after stopping.
- Journeys have become slower than they used to be.
Troubleshooting traction lift
A regular slap or thump matched to travel speed
What it usually means: Rope movement or a sheave issue
Safe check: Ride once and note whether the sound is faster near mid-travel.
The car rolls back slightly on starting
What it usually means: Brake or drive control adjustment
Safe check: Note whether it happens loaded, empty, or going up only.
The stop feels harsh at every floor
What it usually means: Drive profile or brake adjustment drift
Safe check: Report it as a ride-quality change and say when it started.
How to report it
Describe the ride: rollback, harsh stop, slap, or vibration, and whether it is direction-dependent. Ride-quality changes on a traction lift are early evidence of brake or rope work, so reporting them early usually avoids a shutdown.
Ask us about traction lift on your lift
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Related terms
Definitions that usually come up alongside traction lift when you are describing a fault.
- bearing
A supported pivot that lets a shaft, roller or wheel turn smoothly; worn bearings are a common noise source.
Drive and machine
- governor
A speed-sensing wheel in the shaft that triggers the safety gear if the car ever descends too fast.
Safety devices
- passenger lift
A lift designed and rated to carry people in a building, with landing doors, a car with doors, and a duty rating for continuous use.
Lift types
- safety gear
Mechanical jaws under the car that grip the guide rails and hold the car if it ever descends too fast.
Safety devices
- lift components
The parts a lift is assembled from — drive, controller, doors, guides, ropes, sensors — supplied by specialist makers rather than by the lift installer.
Drive and machine