Terms: Altec Derrick
A Field Note: It
Appears To Us You Have Selected Altec Derrick - Yet There Exists Practically Gathered Knowledge On Making Lift
Bucket Repairs And Upgrades Dependable
It is
interesting that while often
checking into Altec Derrick, there are those who have asked about the following as well:
It is true that you may be able to go to
someone who works with fiberglass in many other
roles, such as a body shop, general molder or other
product producer like boats, etc., they generally may
not provide the best protection over the long-haul.
For instance, there are both structural needs and electrical insulating properties which can
be overlooked. Nor will that
company likely have proper liability insurance in case
something does go wrong that may result in legal
actions. (For
those doing an analysis of Altec Derrick, the comments contained
within this article may be more applicable to to whomever
carries the responsibility for field vehicle
operations.)
Looking at the situation from the most
responsible viewpoint possible, these are some of the
issues that this type of repair requires:
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.
How strength must be retained
in the fiberglass boom insulators
While there are no formal
standards, the lift bucket itself does provide
electrical insulation, so a check of these properties is
an important part of the repair.
Specifications must be
strictly followed for the reliable union of the bucket
to the lifting
boom.
If You Are Already
Thinking About Altec Derrick, It Is A Short Step Over To An An Effective Evaluation Of Vendor Capabilities
So, here is a potentially life-saving
checklist to evaluate any group that undertakes
an aerial lift
repair:
Is there an adequate amount
of fiscal protection, against any unanticipated risk
exposure by the group, that can fully support any
errors that might be made in providing aerial lift repair?
Are any of its people certified by the American
Composites Manufacturing Association as Certified
Composites Technicians?
Here are
some other considerations as well:
Is the company familiar
with the special needs of fiberglass components in aerial
man lift units?
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 Altec Derrick, a consultation
with those in your organization who actually purchased your aerial lift products are a
good idea to gain their perspective.)
Moving
Away From Altec Derrick: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
Look here to see how this might play
out.
Sometimes You Have
To Look A Bit Deeper
XYZ group receives an initial request. Through either shipping or
pickup, they are in possession of an
upper boom in fairly good condition for surface
refinishing and rehabilitation. Here are the
steps:
1. The first thing that should be done is
to visually examine the boom for any evidence
of damage. Any
problems require the action indicated in the manual.
2. If the boom is dirty inside, the shop should
call and ask permission to pressure wash
the inside. After cleaning, the boom should
then be dielectrically tested to make sure that it is
still dielectrically sound. If there is a dielectric
problem, the boom should be analyzed with a conductivity
tester to identify the problem. and discuss the steps needed to solve it.
3. If there is nothing else on the repair
agenda, the boom
should be cosmetically repaired and refinished as needed.
4. Then, the boom should be dielectrically tested
again and structurally tested -at a load of more than
double its rating. If it passes, the boom should be waxed properly to help
shed water and dirt, to ensure its insulating effect,
and shipped back to the owner. The final phase is
creating some type of secure package in which it is
placed .
Here Is A Time When More Care Is Needed From The
Very Beginning,
Here we have again received
the uppermost member of the support boom. It has fractures confirmed by an initial visual inspection. There
is usually a cosmetic and visual coating on the boom
itself. In order to ensure that all damage can be
identified, this protective layer should be
stripped off and a full end to end inspection made
both on the outside, and also on the hollow
inner core of the boom itself. Next determine if it can be repaired and the boom
restored to full and safe operation. This is done by
consulting what the manufacturer has declared proper, and
also comparing the damage to the capabilities of the
repair materials. These typically include physical
reinforcement, using similar OEM products and suitable
bonding materials which are impregnated into the repair
base. At that point in time, a full
mechanical stress/tension test needs to be performed at
over the rated loading for the boom section. This
must be done, as noted above, on calibrated
equipment that can be shown to measure and record the
amount of loading placed on the repaired member.
Appropriate electrical testing would follow the same
pattern, but this is done
after surface finishing or layers are restored. Full
documentation needs to accompany the device back to its
owner/user.
Using An Instructive
Example To Illustrate The Dangers Of Proceeding With
Improper Repair And Returning A Component To Full Field
Use
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. A simple
inspection reports a bolt from this assembly has punched
through the side of the operator area.
3.
The bucket probably should not be repaired because of
concerns about the possibility of the bucket later coming
loose from the boom.
Structural
Issues
Here is how this
encounter unfolded:
1. A bucket is received for repair. It mounts to the lift arm via a section of
the bucket in which a covering material made of glass
fibers in resins creates a housing for the connecting
hardware.
2. An initial examination of the mounting holes in the ribs reveals that there are cracks in the ribs at the location of the holes.
3. The
bucket probably should not be repaired
A fiberglass lift platform comes into this particular shop:
1. The
mount side is not damaged, but the front corners are
cracked through. With proper techniques and
materials, the bucket can be repaired.
2. The
repairer should determine whether the customer just wants
the bucket repaired structurally or wants the bucket to
also be refinished to a like-new condition. In most
cases, the latter option is chosen.
3. An
estimate is made first, and then the appropriate repair action should
be taken.
Tags: Altec Derrick
