Boom Trucks
Here Are The Essentials On Lift
Truck Bucket Reconditioning/Replacement With
Boom Trucks
If case this applies
to your
needs,
we'll show
you the best practice
for this type of
admittedly
critical repair.
(We hope you
find this pertinent, even in your search for
Boom Trucks.
If this does not apply to you specifically we would ask that you find the most appropriate person in your organization to give this information to.)
First, There is a need to establish the very basic
requirements the for evaluating capabilities of upper boom and lower boom insulators, and what can, in effect, distort the dielectric performance of the boom itself . And yes, there is a basic but
established specification that must be consulted.
Second, no
competent testing and repair approach can be complete,
without looking at the material integrity of the
insulating members of the lift which carry loads as
well. Specifically, how much
stress and strain they can withstand over time without
breaking down. With respect to this enclosed platform
that the rider controls and works from, and how it can be important to maintain a high
level of electrical separation( which is the main
reason for the choice of a non-conductive material like
fiberglass from which it is fabricated), is still a
large part of the safety equation against personal shock.
It then becomes even more critical that a three-stage [inspection-repair-inspection] process must also
be included. The idea of having a conductive
bucket in situations where power line exposure is a
potential is not wise, and - in fact - that is using a non-conductive personnel enclosure versus a wire or
other metalized platform may be the next best thing
possible. (An example may be routine tree trimming
or tree removal where at some point, the operator may be
exposed to electrical power sources. In this case it may
be wise to have the capability at all times.)
Third, a point of common wear, are the
mountings that connect the bucket to the boom. There must be a rigorous method of checking
-including monitoring under load- of this important
functional aspect. (Again, if you were brought here by
researching Boom Trucks, and this does not apply directly to
your area of responsibility, to make a priority to forward or deliver to the correct person in your maintenance or
management group.)
It is apparent,
this is not something that can be put in the category of
basic mechanical repair or restoration. It is
incumbent upon any operator to approach this situation
with more than simple production goals. So, some of
the special considerations involved in fiberglass repairs
and rebuilds of aerial manlift components
include:
The requirements for insulating
capabilities of upper booms and lower boom insulators .
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.
One of the most critical
aspects of the repair is the 100% dependable linkage of the
bucket and the boom.
You Have Considered Boom Trucks,
So Now How Do You Restore A Lift?
The following questions should be asked
of any company on the list for aerial manlift
fiberglass work:
Does the company carry product
liability insurance that can fully support any
errors that might be made in providing aerial lift repair?
For 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.
Also to be evaluated:
Is the company familiar
with the special needs of fiberglass components in aerial
man lift units?
How does a customer know
if the insulating properties of bucket and boom have been
maintained during repair? By using an approved testing
device. (Again, we realize your direct interest is in Boom Trucks ,so there may be varying levels of need for this.
Please consult manufacturer specs to determine
applicability.)
Moving
Away From Boom Trucks: How Repairs Can And Should
Unfold
Please do not let the hypothetical
nature of these examples deter you. 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 with little or no instruction from the owner except - to do a general check-over and servicing. A
lower end repair shop may do no more than 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 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 and additions of protective coatings.
Final electrical testing to ensure no part of the
process caused any issues/problems.
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
We will continue with
boom repairs since a failure at that level can be
catastrophic. Looking once more at the top
section of the support boom. It has fractures that have been flagged in the field and also are confirmed by an initial visual inspection. There
is usually a cosmetic and visual coating on the boom
itself. This protective layer should be
stripped off and inspection made
both on the outside, and also on the hollow
inner core of the boom itself. At this point the
potential harm from the fissures need to be determined if
they 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.
Appropriate electrical testing would follow the same
pattern, but this would most likely be done
after surface finishing or layers are restored. Full
documentation needs to accompany the device back to its
owner/user.
Cutting
Losses
1. A well used fiberglass enclosed operator containment platform comes in.
2. This particular design uses bolts to mount it to the arm. 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.
This One Involves The Fiberglass Mounting Holes
Themselves
Another
situation is when the
enclosed platform that holds the operator is formed into reinforced arches
that in turn
are used to connect the boom arm. When these mounts are cracked or badly worn, it
can compromise the actual boom mounting assembly. While there are repair
techniques that can be used, the recommendation to the owner would be for replacement rather than remanufacture.
Where It Looks Worse
Than It Is, But It Really May Not Be That
Bad
So, the bottom line is there are cases where competent skills can be applied on an aftermarket basis with good results:
Bucket comes in
with no problems on the actual physical connection side of the
bucket
Yet you can see fissures, cracks or
other issues elsewhere.
Yes, this can be
saved. Question: Does the person in authority want to have something that merely works , 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, and really
depends on the economics of both options, and making the first contact with their assessment of the
situation to whomever has sent them the component,
and to await further instruction.
Tags: Boom Trucks
