This　paper　considers　the　effect　of　tensile　stress　on　the　strength　of　the　magnetic　leakage　field　of　a　steel　wire　rope　defect,　which　is　easily　neglected　in　the　actual　detection　process.　An　inspection　platform　was　built　to　load　a　variable　force　onto　reproduced　samples　of　typical　defective　wire　ropes.　Coil　sensors　were　used　to　detect　the　radial　component　of　the　magnetic　leakage　field.　In　addition,　the　wavelet　denoising　method　and　wavelet　singularity　analysis　were　used　to　reduce　the　background　noise　and　acquire　the　peak-to-peak　values　of　low-frequency　components　of　the　magnetic　flux　leakage　(MFL)　signal,　respectively.　The　validity　of　the　extracted　data　and　the　effect　of　tensile　stress　on　the　strength　of　the　magnetic　leakage　field　were　verified　via　the　analysis　of　variance　method.　The　experimental　results　reveal　that　the　peak-to-peak　values　of　the　MFL　signal　from　all　the　defective　wire　ropes　increase　with　increasing　tensile　stress,　in　an　approximately　linear　relationship.　The　tensile　stress　must　remain　consistent　and　stable　during　inspection　to　obtain　better　repeatability.　Moreover,　the　detection　accuracy　can　be　improved　by　increasing　the　loading　force　within　an　appropriate　range.　The　results　of　this　study　have　significant　implications　for　the　enhancement　of　the　reliability　of　wire　rope　defect　detection.