Boom Lifts
A Field Note: Granted While You Are Mostly Concerned With Boom Lifts - For Your Information There Exists Wisdom On Making Lift
Bucket Repairs And Upgrades A More Cost Effective But Safe
Item
Introduction: While you may not have thought about it
much (or even really considered it) in your search
for Boom Lifts, this alternate topic has triggered
questions by many into other related
areas of inquiry. What
follows is an example of one of these issues that you may
need to consider in the future:
Since there
are times when these devices are in extremely high
demand, a
temptation to make the repair as fast as
possible is always there. There are many ways to cosmetically repair the bucket
that leave the lift truck owner open to potential
catastrophes. For instance, physical repairs must
take into account the underlying structure. If damage has
been done there and is merely patched over
by a repair source such as a body shop, mechanical/engine
repair or even a custom molder, then the bucket could
give way at a critical time it is being loaded, often
high above the ground. There can, as an
example, be breaks in the electrical insulating
properties of the bucket that are created during type of repair. While this may or may not seem important to those
who are currently investigating Boom Lifts, it is our profound hope and
counsel that you forward it to those
responsible.
So, in a competent and
unambiguously rigorous manner:
What are the
technical needs to safely insulate the two sections of
the boom from one another.
The structural strength requirements for
fiberglass upper booms and lower boom insulators .
The real insulating
capabilities provided by the fiberglass bucket
itself.
The
requirements for correct
mounting of the bucket to secure its attachment to
the boom..
If You Are Already
Thinking About Boom Lifts, It Is A Short Step Over To An An Effective Evaluation Of Vendor Capabilities
So, here is a potentially life-saving
checklist on aerial lift
troubleshooting:
Does the product liability insurance carrier
used by this group know that it is doing repair or
replacement work on aerial manlift components?
Like any
professional, those who
actually do the work, they should have the proper
training and carry the proper certifications. A
notable source for this type of accreditation is known as
the CCT certification of
the American Composites Manufacturing Association.
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 Boom Lifts, a consultation
with those in your organization who purchased your aerial lift products are a
good idea to gain their perspective on this important
checking phase.)
Further Than Boom Lifts: Repair Scenarios And The Right Way
To Deal With Them
Look here to see how this might play
out.
No Obvious
Damage, Now What?
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 and little else. 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 - from
the entity in authority 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.
Load or stress testing (the manufacturer specifications should be consulted prior to the test).
Resurfacing.
Final electrical testing.
Documentations and certifications of all tests and
servicing done.
Highly protective packaging.
The right diagnostic
approach:
Remove anything that could form a block of any type of structural malformations.
Internal and external visual and
sometimes touch inspection.
Check of
manufacturer mandates
concerning remanufacturing.
Can it be repaired back
to factory spec?
Repair using approved means
.
High capacity stress testing to required standards.
Electrical
testing.
Resurfacing/painting, and related tasks.
Full package documentation and
shipment.
Using An Instructive
Example To Illustrate The Dangers Of Proceeding With
Improper Repair And Returning A Component To Full Field
Use
1. A bucket is received for
repair.
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.
Structural
Issues
A glimpse into this particular
case:
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. It is determined that there are cracks in the ribs at the location of the holes.
3. The
bucket probably should not be repaired
Now You Can Have A Bucket Or
Similar Item For Repair That Has Cosmetic Damage
A fiberglass lift platform comes into this particular shop:
1. The
mount side is not damaged, but the front corners are
cracked through.
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.
3. A quotation for the cost of the
repair should then be given to the customer, and then the appropriate repair action should
be taken.
Tags: Boom Lifts
