CD1 / MD1 Electric Wire Rope Hoist 0.5 Ton to 16 Ton

If you've walked into a machine shop, a steel warehouse, or an automotive assembly line in the last 40 years, you've heard the distinctive hum-and-click of a CD1 Wire Rope Hoist. This is not a disposable import. This is a cast iron, oil-bath, through-hardened gear hoist designed to be rebuilt, not replaced.

The CD1 (single lifting speed) and MD1 (dual speed, slow/fast) are the standard workhorses for fixed overhead crane systems. Unlike chain hoists that stretch and wear, the wire rope drum provides a smoother, quieter lift with less "bounce" when you start and stop. If you're lifting something that costs more than the hoist itself-like a CNC spindle or a gearbox housing-you want the control that only a wire rope hoist gives you.

The reference image shows the classic yellow body, cylindrical drum housing, and the iconic squared-off gearbox end. This design has been proven in millions of lifts. We've just updated the electrical controls to meet modern safety standards without touching the bulletproof mechanicals.

 

Installation & Setup: Expect a Long Afternoon

Time Estimate: 4-6 hours for a 5-ton unit on an existing beam.

What You'll Need:

Torque Wrench: Trolley clamp bolts must be torqued to spec (usually 150-200 Nm depending on flange width).

Electrician: The hoist comes with a loose pendant cable. You need to wire the 6-button pendant to the control panel terminal strip. It's color-coded, but if you're not comfortable with 380V control circuits, call a pro.

Correct Beam Flange Width: The standard trolley fits I-beams from 150mm to 300mm flange width. Measure your beam before you order. Wider beams require a custom trolley frame.

Commissioning Check:

Run hook DOWN until the limit switch stops it. The rope drum should still have 3 wraps of wire rope on it. If it's down to bare metal, the rope is too long for the lift height.

Run hook UP slowly. Check that the top limit switch trips before the block hits steel.

 

 

Technical Specifications (CD1/MD1 5 Ton Standard Model)

This is the spec sheet you pin to the wall by the crane controls.

Parameter	CD1-5T (Single Speed)	MD1-5T (Dual Speed)	Field Note
Rated Capacity	5,000 kg	5,000 kg	Use appropriate slings. Do not side-load.
Lifting Height	6m, 9m, 12m, 18m	6m, 9m, 12m, 18m	Measured from hook saddle to floor.
Lifting Speed	8 m/min	8.0 / 0.8 m/min	MD1 slow speed is 1/10th of main speed.
Motor Power	7.5 kW	7.5 kW / 0.8 kW	Dual motor or Pole Changing (4/12 Pole).
Wire Rope Diameter	15 mm	15 mm	6x19 FC Standard. IWRC upgrade available.
Rope Reeving	4 / 1	4 / 1	4 falls of rope for 5T rating.
Trolley Speed	20 m/min (Optional)	20 / 6.7 m/min (Optional)	Motorized trolley runs on I-beam flange.
Duty Class	M5 (FEM 2m)	M5 (FEM 2m)	Suitable for 800-1,600 hours/year of use.
Protection Class	IP54	IP54	Keep out of direct heavy rain.
Net Weight (w/ Trolley)	~550 kg	~570 kg	Verify beam load capacity before install.

 

 

 

Product Details:

1.Motor shaft:The motor shaft utilizes a unique heat treatment process to enhance its strength and reduce component wear.

2.Limit rod:The limit rod has a bent portion at the top, preventing deformation and failure of the lower limit rod when subjected to force. This prevents safety hazards such as collisions and ensures greater safety.

3.Limiter:Long service life, safe and reliable performance.

4.Rope guide:Stamped pallets are stronger, more impact-resistant, and offer greater safety.

5.Reel:The rigid drum design avoids safety hazards caused by shrinkage holes in the cast iron drum.

6.Wire rope:The oil-coated wire rope ensures that each strand of the wire rope is evenly impregnated with oil, extending its service life and making it more environmentally friendly and safer.

Key Features: Why This Design Hasn't Changed in Decades

Mechanics and crane inspectors love the CD1 because they know exactly what's inside. No surprises.

Helical Geared Transmission (Oil Bath): The gears run submerged in ISO VG 220 gear oil. They're not splash-lubed by grease. This means the gear faces are constantly cooled and lubricated. The result? The gearbox runs at under 70°C even after 8 hours of continuous cycling. Change the oil once a year, and those gears will outlast the building.

Wire Rope with 6:1 Design Factor: We use 6x19 + FC (Fiber Core) or IWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core) wire rope. The diameter for a 5-ton hoist is 15mm. The breaking strength of that rope is over 18 tons. The hoist is rated for 5 tons. That's a safety factor of 6 to 1. That's why when an overload clutch slips, the rope doesn't snap-it just stops.

Rope Guide (Prevents Bird-Nesting): The drum has a machined helical groove. The rope must lay in that groove. There is a spring-loaded rope guide that presses down on the drum. If the rope gets slack (e.g., you lower the hook onto the floor and keep holding "Down"), the guide prevents the rope from jumping the groove and creating a tangled mess inside the housing. If this guide is worn or missing, you will destroy the hoist in one shift.

MD1 Dual Speed (The "Inching" Secret): The MD1 model uses a two-winding motor or a micro-speed auxiliary motor. You get Fast Speed (8 m/min) for travel and Slow Speed (0.8 m/min) for final positioning. This slow speed is so precise you can use it to gently close a gap between two heavy flanges without smashing the gasket.

 

 

Applications: Where CD1/MD1 Makes Sense

Machine Tool Spindle Changes: The MD1 slow speed (0.8 m/min) is non-negotiable for lowering a precision spindle into a tapered housing. Fast speed chips the tooling.

Steel Plate Storage Racks: The CD1 lifts 5-ton plates all day. The oil-bath cooling handles the heat soak from constant use.

Pump Stations & Water Treatment: Lifting vertical turbine pumps out of the wet well. The high duty cycle of M5 means you can pull a 20-foot pump column in one go without thermal overload.

Foundries (With Extra Prep): Sand and grit kill rope hoists. We recommend a heat shield and rope wiper kit for foundry applications.

 

 

Packaging & Delivery

Packaging: The hoist ships fully assembled on a wooden pallet with the rope tensioned and the hook block secured. The entire unit is wrapped in VCI stretch film to prevent sea-salt corrosion.

Lead Time: Standard 380V models: 3-5 Days. Custom voltage/Low Headroom: 15-20 Days.

Freight Class: LTL Freight Class 85. We ship from our US distribution centers (Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles).

Customization (OEM & Fleet Options)

Voltage: Standard 380V/50Hz. We also stock 460V/60Hz for US/Canada and 220V/3Ph/60Hz for Latin America.

Rope Reeving: 2/1, 4/1, or 6/1. Changes the capacity and speed.

Explosion-Proof: Available as Exd II CT4 configuration for chemical plants.

Low Headroom Trolley: The "European Low Headroom" version mounts the hoist beside the beam instead of under it. Gains you 500-800mm of lift height.

Radio Remote Control: We can pre-wire a receiver inside the panel. Just unbox and pair the transmitter.

 

 

Q: I heard wire rope is a pain to inspect and replace compared to chain. How much downtime is this going to cost me?
A: It's not a pain if you know the trick. Wire rope inspection takes 5 minutes. You're looking for broken wires at the point where the rope enters the drum (the "drum anchor") and where it bends over the sheave. We give you a Go/No-Go gauge with the hoist. If the rope diameter has worn down by 10%, replace it. Replacement time for a 5-ton CD1 is under 2 hours for a competent millwright. We stock the exact cut-length rope with swaged end fittings for every model. It's not a generic rope from the hardware store.

 

Q: What's the difference between CD1 and MD1? Is the slow speed really worth the extra money?
A: This is the question that separates shops that do precision assembly from shops that just move scrap metal. CD1 is one speed: 8 m/min. That's 5 inches per second. If you're lowering a 2,000 lb motor onto dowel pins, 5 inches per second is an eternity of terror and usually results in a bent pin. MD1 slow speed is 0.8 m/min. That's 1/2 inch per second. You can literally tap the pendant and move the load 1/16th of an inch. If you're aligning bolt holes or setting bearings, the MD1 saves you the cost of the hoist in prevented damage within the first year.

 

Q: The hoist is making a "grinding" noise, but only when going down. Is it broken?
A: 90% of the time, this is normal gear mesh noise amplified by the load brake ratchet. When lowering a heavy load, the load brake pawl is skipping over ratchet teeth. It's a metallic clicking/grinding sound. However, if the noise is a deep rumble that you can feel through the beam, you have a worn pinion bearing. Turn the hoist off. Unplug it. Grab the rope drum and try to shake it side-to-side. If there is visible play, the drum bearings are shot and need replacement before the gear teeth chew themselves up.

 

Q: I only have 220V Single Phase power in my shop. Can I run this?
A: No. The CD1 motor is 3-phase only. You cannot run it on single phase with a cheap static phase converter. You will burn out the motor windings. You need a Rotary Phase Converter sized for at least 15 HP (to start the 7.5 kW motor under load) or a VFD rated for Single Phase Input / 3-Phase Output with a motor derate of 50%. Even with a VFD, the motor will run hotter. We offer a Single Phase Wire Rope Hoist in the BCD-WR series specifically for 110V/220V shops. If you must use a CD1 on single phase, call us for the VFD parameter settings first-we'll save you a $1,200 motor replacement.

 

Q: How often do I need to change the gear oil? And what happens if I don't?
A: First oil change at 200 hours (break-in metal shavings). After that, every 2,500 hours or once a year, whichever comes first. If you don't change it, the oil breaks down into sludge. The gears run dry. The bronze gear (the large soft gear on the drum shaft) wears down. That's a $600 part plus a full teardown rebuild. The oil is cheap. The gear is expensive. We sell Oil Change Kits with the exact amount of VG 220 and a new drain plug gasket. Order it with the hoist and put it on the shelf.

 

Q: The pendant cable keeps twisting into a knot. It's driving me nuts.
A: Welcome to owning a wire rope hoist. The pendant is a flat cable, not round. It has a "memory" from being coiled in the box. Before you install it, lay the cable out in the sun for an hour or hit it with a heat gun on LOW. Let it relax. Then hang the pendant from a strain relief cable that runs along the beam. Do not let the weight of the pendant hang on the electrical connections. They will pull out of the terminal strip. If you already have a twisted cable, unplug the hoist, disconnect the cable at the panel, and lay it flat to untwist. Never try to untwist a live pendant by spinning it.

Hot Tags: CD1 / MD1 Electric Wire Rope Hoist 0.5 Ton to 16 Ton, China CD1 / MD1 Electric Wire Rope Hoist 0.5 Ton to 16 Ton manufacturers, suppliers, factory, auctioned hoist, double girder hoist, explosion proof hoist, hoisting rope, medical equipment, stainless steel hoist