Would this be what you're talking about?

Here is a link that might be useful: Sliding stairs

Thanks for the reply, vjrnts. :)

I also found the Bessler site after doing my post, and showed it to my father. He's amazed that they still make that kind of stair system! Mine works a little differently because it has two sets of stairs that slide across each other... probably because the ceilings are higher than 8'. It's a good starting point for researching the problem though!

I have these stairs in my 1930s house. Let me know if you need specific pictures of it.

YES!!! PLEASE!!! maureeninmd, you may be able to save me with some photos! :)

My father had to guess where the pulleys and weights should be mounted, and he bought replacement rope that he thinks isn't the right stuff to use. If your stairs are the same and slide across each other like mine, pictures would be a tremendous help!!!

I will see if I can email you through your member page.

Thank you!!!

Hello all! I am revisiting this post to let everyone know that we have FINALLY found and corrected the 10+ year old problem with the pulley system on my slide-down attic stairs!!! (Note that I correctly spelled pulley now for ColumbusGuy! I have been terribly embarrassed by my earlier misspelling and I PROMISE that I will never misspell the word again!)

The answer? I am only 5 feet tall and the ceilings in my house are mostly 9-10 feet tall -- including the ceiling in the kitchen. I was unable to reach all but the lowest shelves in the kitchen cabinets without a small ladder, so within months of purchasing the house we lowered the cabinets. Lowering the cabinets also gave me extra storage space (on top of the cabinets) in a tiny kitchen, so all was good.... or so I thought. :)

One of my BILs finally surmised that one particular weight on the pulley system was somehow 'catching' in the wall. Luckily I happened to look in the direction of the kitchen cabinets when he said it. :p We ran to the kitchen, pulled back on the screws in the cabinets that were against the wall with the weight in it, and voila I can now use my attic stairs again!

PS: That pulley system is housed in lath walls -- and we all know how much trouble lath is!!! :O)

This post was edited by party_music50 on Sun, Feb 17, 13 at 8:19

The electrician deserves an apology! hehehe!

Great ending. :)

No, I don't fori -- the electrician broke the pulley system to begin with -- before the cupboards were even moved. He also totally screwed up the wiring job I hired him to do. He should have been sued! I had to hire another electrician to re-wire what he screwed up. But that's another story....