How are the actuation cables in multi-stage telescoping lifts tensioned?

[EricH]

Running that sort of system... I don't think 330 used anything more than a turnbuckle while running wire rope through their lifts. (Up to 10' long lifts, for anybody keeping track at home.) Generally, though, we were able to keep the wraps flat, just by having enough space. I don't think we did anything else special. (Turnbuckle, if used, was a between-match tensioning if things were getting loose.)

Remember that the cable is often only about 1/4" thick, or maybe less, counting the coating, so if you have two wraps, the effective diameter only increased by 1/2" or so; most likely, the other direction decreased by that much. You'd notice a variation in speed, maybe, but more likely than not tension won't be affected very much. Maybe use a small extension spring, but that's about it.