Terms: Aerial Devices
Here Are The Essentials On Lift
Truck Bucket Reconditioning/Replacement And Accessory
Selection With
Aerial Devices
Even though you are investigating
Aerial Devices, this
subject of thought
is worth considering on a personal and
professional level:
While a
non-certified or
specifically-experienced
body shop or a custom molder
of fiberglass
parts
could certainly
have the skills inventory
make a
repair look
tolerable, trustworthy or
at the least unblemished,
often the group
can't guarantee the
aerial
lift components truly safe (enough to really protect
the lineman). Nor will they likely have the
economic and risk management resources that are
needed by most reputable operators like
product liability insurance.
[Added
note:
Understandably, even
though the priority is for
Aerial Devices,
the information below should
be passed on to your service-repair
organization.]
With all of the personal
and professional issues to consider,
this is not something that can be put in the category of
basic mechanical repair or restoration. So, some of
the special considerations involved in fiberglass repairs
and rebuilds of aerial manlift components
include:
What the official
specifications are for making sure the upper boom is
dielectrically separated from the lower boom, and how
this separation can be compromised.
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators in
view of the special stresses to which these items are
subjected.
The real insulating
capabilities provided by the fiberglass bucket
itself.
The
requirements for correct
mounting of the bucket to
the boom..
More Than Aerial Devices: The Critical Assessment Of The
Abilities Of A Repair Facility For The Most Important Fixup
You'll Ever Do
So, here is a potentially life-saving
checklist to evaluate any group that undertakes
an aerial lift
repair:
Does the product liability insurance carrier
used by this group know that it is doing repair or
replacement work on aerial manlift components?
Have the
workers been adequately trained and experienced for this type of work,
with a bonified record of testing and/or
credentials
such as those offered by the ACMA?
There are other steps that
should be taken, if one was serious about this potential
problem. A competent selection process for any
supplying repair/restoration vendor of this type should
also cover:
The components in aerial man lift units must perform
as life preserving conveyances with high levels of
criticality, often beyond other uses for fiberglass. Does
this supplier understand and is very familiar with
(and we mean have experience and a strong sense of
mission and ethics about) this unusual way of applying
fiberglass?
In addition to maintaining
physical integrity, after a repair has been made, a final
electrical insulation test should be performed to ensure
that the refurbishment process has not also created a literal and figurative potential for dangerous
circuit completion that could effect the operator. (For
situations relating specifically to Aerial Devices, a consultation
with those who actually purchased your aerial lift products are a
good idea to gain their perspective.)
Moving
Away From Aerial Devices: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
We have listed what you
might say are a bit sanitized versions of encounters from
our own experience. A competent process would
embody most of the illustrations we have
included.
Just Doing Your Job May Mean Taking A Bit Of Extra
Time
Here we find that a boom
section that connects to the bucket shows up to do a general check-over and servicing. A
lower end repair shop may do a basic
visual inspection . However,
when the real uses of the component are considered by
a specialist, its clear they have a mandate that would do
more, including the following items:
Communication with - and gaining permission - prior to any charges being incurred.
A thorough cleaning inside and outside, followed by a
visual inspection with instruments that can help to
view into the inner cavity of the boom itself.
Initial dielectric testing to determine unwanted
continuity for any potential grounding that may
otherwise occur because of damage.
Load or stress testing (the manufacturer specifications should be consulted prior to the test).
Resurfacing and additions of protective coatings.
Final electrical testing.
Publishing and
notification to the customer of all tests and
servicing done.
Highly protective packaging to endure shipment and attachment of
certifications prior to shipping.
A Package Arrives
With An Obvious Cause For Concern
The top most section of a telescoping lift arm with some apparent cracks is received for evaluation.
1. The cracks should be reviewed using the repair manual guidelines of the manufacturer. It will probably be necessary to sand the
coating off the boom to evaluate the cracks. The repairer
should quote the cost of the repair so that the owner
can compare that to the cost of a new boom.
2. If approved, the repair company
should complete the structural repairs, then do a structural test on the boom.
3. If the repairs are
acceptable, the boom should then be cosmetically
refinished and dielectrically tested.
Cutting
Losses
1. A well used fiberglass enclosed operator containment platform comes in.
2. The bucket mount consists of a
number of studs protruding from the bucket wall. One
of the studs is coming out of the side wall.
3.
The bucket probably should not be repaired because of
concerns about the possibility of the bucket later coming
loose from the boom.
This One Involves The Fiberglass Mounting Holes
Themselves
While the
owner ultimately makes the call as to repair, they
need good advice. So here is
a piece of advice we gave.
First we noted that the
fiberglass lift platforms can sometimes be attached by
creating an assembly out of the actual fiberglass. It is possible, as in this case, that layers of resin and the glass strands gaps or stress lines where material has pulled apart can form weakness in critical areas. And finally, it is often pretty difficult to
ensure that the further damage, which might end up
being life-threatening, won't occur. Therefore, an
expert in this area would
recommend replacement.
Where It Looks Worse
Than It Is, But It Really May Not Be That
Bad
We don't want to make it sound like nothing
should ever be done. In fact there are many cases
where good refurbishment practices can save an operator a
lot of money So, the bottom line is there are cases where competent skills can be applied with good results such as in this case:
Bucket displays no damage on the actual physical connection side of the
bucket
However, there is deterioration
on non-supporting side like stresses, localized
pulling apart, etc.
Yes, this can be
saved. Question: Does the department in authority want to have something that merely works and can be serviceable from the perspective of the operator, or do they wish to go further and have a cosmetically appealing effect as well?
So moving forward with any
refurbishment is a go or no go decision, weighing the economics of both options, and making the first contact to whomever has sent them the component,
and to await further instruction.
Tags: Aerial Devices
