Elevator Mechanic Exam Review Practice 2022
Actual Questions with 100% Correct Answers – COMPLETE SOLUTION
Question 1
A contractor wants to raise the car speed from 100 fpm to 125 fpm. The elevator currently has a 12" sheave.
What size sheave is required?
A) 13" sheave
B) 14" sheave
C) 15" sheave
D) 16" sheave
Answer: C
The speed increase is 25 fpm, which is 25% of 100 fpm. The sheave diameter must increase proportionally: 12" ×
1.25 = 15". The calculation is: 12/4 = 3"; 25 fpm = 3"; 100 fpm + 25 fpm = 12" + 3" = 15" sheave.
Question 2
A MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) burns out. You replace it but cannot read voltage or resistance. What should you
do?
A) Replace it with a smaller MOV
B) Replace it with a larger MOV
C) Bypass the MOV entirely
D) Replace the entire circuit board
Answer: BWhen a MOV burns out and the replacement still does not allow voltage or resistance readings, the MOV
is undersized for the application. Replacing it with a larger MOV provides adequate surge protection and allows
proper circuit operation.
Page | 1
,Question 3
On a Ward-Leonard circuit, the brake is set, but the motor is trying to slip through the brake. What is the issue?
A) The brake shoes are worn
B) The brake coil is open
C) Suicide circuit
D) The motor is overloaded
Answer: C
A "suicide circuit" occurs when the motor continues to receive power even when the brake is set, causing the
motor to try to slip through the brake. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate correction.
Question 4
You have an old DC motor and are adding an SCR drive. What do you do to the interpoles?
A) Remove the interpoles
B) Replace the interpoles
C) Leave the interpoles alone
D) Reverse the interpoles
Answer: C
When adding an SCR drive to an old DC motor, the interpoles should be left alone. The series loop is removed, as
are the 3 resistors, but everything else remains the same.
Question 5
A hydraulic elevator runs up with no load but will not run with a full load. What is the issue?
Page | 2
,A) The pump is failing
B) The relief valve is set too low
C) The oil level is low
D) The motor is undersized
Answer: B
If a hydraulic elevator runs with no load but fails under full load, the relief valve is set too low. The relief valve
must be adjusted to allow sufficient pressure to lift the full load. Working pressure × 150% = maximum relief valve
setting.
Question 6
Runby for a 1:1 elevator hits the counterweight buffer 4" below the top landing. Counterweight runby should be
set at 18". How much should the ropes be shortened?
A) 14"
B) 18"
C) 22"
D) 26"
Answer: C
If the counterweight hits the buffer 4" below the top landing and the correct runby is 18", the ropes must be
shortened by the difference: 18" + 4" = 22".
Question 7
You need to work on a freight door retiring cam. You lock out/tag out the main line, but there is still power on
the cam. What circuit is still hot?
Page | 3
, A) The lighting circuit
B) The door operator disconnect/main line disconnect
C) The control transformer
D) The emergency power circuit
Answer: B
The door operator disconnect or main line disconnect may remain energized even when the main line is locked
out. The door operator circuit is often fed from a separate source or upstream of the main disconnect.
Question 8
The contractor requests that the vertical center of a rack and pinion hoist be moved. How do you accomplish
this?
A) Adjust the motor mounts
B) Adjust tie downs and wall ties
C) Move the rack
D) Replace the pinion gear
Answer: B
To move the vertical center of a rack and pinion hoist, you must adjust the tie downs and wall ties. This allows the
hoist to be repositioned while maintaining structural integrity.
Question 9
Working pressure on a hydraulic elevator is 400 psi. What is the maximum relief valve setting?
A) 400 psi
B) 500 psi
C) 600 psi
Page | 4
Actual Questions with 100% Correct Answers – COMPLETE SOLUTION
Question 1
A contractor wants to raise the car speed from 100 fpm to 125 fpm. The elevator currently has a 12" sheave.
What size sheave is required?
A) 13" sheave
B) 14" sheave
C) 15" sheave
D) 16" sheave
Answer: C
The speed increase is 25 fpm, which is 25% of 100 fpm. The sheave diameter must increase proportionally: 12" ×
1.25 = 15". The calculation is: 12/4 = 3"; 25 fpm = 3"; 100 fpm + 25 fpm = 12" + 3" = 15" sheave.
Question 2
A MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) burns out. You replace it but cannot read voltage or resistance. What should you
do?
A) Replace it with a smaller MOV
B) Replace it with a larger MOV
C) Bypass the MOV entirely
D) Replace the entire circuit board
Answer: BWhen a MOV burns out and the replacement still does not allow voltage or resistance readings, the MOV
is undersized for the application. Replacing it with a larger MOV provides adequate surge protection and allows
proper circuit operation.
Page | 1
,Question 3
On a Ward-Leonard circuit, the brake is set, but the motor is trying to slip through the brake. What is the issue?
A) The brake shoes are worn
B) The brake coil is open
C) Suicide circuit
D) The motor is overloaded
Answer: C
A "suicide circuit" occurs when the motor continues to receive power even when the brake is set, causing the
motor to try to slip through the brake. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate correction.
Question 4
You have an old DC motor and are adding an SCR drive. What do you do to the interpoles?
A) Remove the interpoles
B) Replace the interpoles
C) Leave the interpoles alone
D) Reverse the interpoles
Answer: C
When adding an SCR drive to an old DC motor, the interpoles should be left alone. The series loop is removed, as
are the 3 resistors, but everything else remains the same.
Question 5
A hydraulic elevator runs up with no load but will not run with a full load. What is the issue?
Page | 2
,A) The pump is failing
B) The relief valve is set too low
C) The oil level is low
D) The motor is undersized
Answer: B
If a hydraulic elevator runs with no load but fails under full load, the relief valve is set too low. The relief valve
must be adjusted to allow sufficient pressure to lift the full load. Working pressure × 150% = maximum relief valve
setting.
Question 6
Runby for a 1:1 elevator hits the counterweight buffer 4" below the top landing. Counterweight runby should be
set at 18". How much should the ropes be shortened?
A) 14"
B) 18"
C) 22"
D) 26"
Answer: C
If the counterweight hits the buffer 4" below the top landing and the correct runby is 18", the ropes must be
shortened by the difference: 18" + 4" = 22".
Question 7
You need to work on a freight door retiring cam. You lock out/tag out the main line, but there is still power on
the cam. What circuit is still hot?
Page | 3
, A) The lighting circuit
B) The door operator disconnect/main line disconnect
C) The control transformer
D) The emergency power circuit
Answer: B
The door operator disconnect or main line disconnect may remain energized even when the main line is locked
out. The door operator circuit is often fed from a separate source or upstream of the main disconnect.
Question 8
The contractor requests that the vertical center of a rack and pinion hoist be moved. How do you accomplish
this?
A) Adjust the motor mounts
B) Adjust tie downs and wall ties
C) Move the rack
D) Replace the pinion gear
Answer: B
To move the vertical center of a rack and pinion hoist, you must adjust the tie downs and wall ties. This allows the
hoist to be repositioned while maintaining structural integrity.
Question 9
Working pressure on a hydraulic elevator is 400 psi. What is the maximum relief valve setting?
A) 400 psi
B) 500 psi
C) 600 psi
Page | 4
