Abstract: An access system for installing and removing rotor components of an air preheater includes a lifting beam assembly having a pulley rotatably mounted adjacent to a proximal end portion of the lifting beam. The proximal end portion of the lifting beam and pulley are inserted through an access opening in the preheater housing into the preheater rotor until the proximal end portion of the lifting beam is supported on one of a plurality of radially spaced internal lifting beam supports connected to the rotor post. An external lifting beam support installed externally to the housing supports a distal end portion of the lifting beam. A tugger cable is carried on the pulley and extends along the lifting beam. A proximal end of the tugger cable is mounted to a lifting saddle. A pin inserted through saddle lugs of the lifting saddle and component lugs mounted to the rotor component mounts the lifting saddle to the rotor component.