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Terms: Bucket Boom Trucks

Here Are The Essentials On Lift Truck Bucket Reconditioning/Replacement As A Companion To Bucket Boom Trucks

It is interesting that while often checking into Bucket Boom Trucks, 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, they generally may not provide the best protection for the user or the company owning the aerial lift truck. For instance, there are both structural needs and electrical insulating properties that may not be addressed if the repair just takes into account the physical repair. Plus legal/monetary risks they can't support. Moreover, it can be a tremendous problem for a larger operation that has more exposure over time because of higher volume of activityand the resulting revenue it can generate. (For those doing an analysis of Bucket Boom Trucks, the comments contained within this article may be more applicable to to whomever carries the responsibility for field vehicle operations.)

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 are the technical needs to safely insulate the two sections of the boom from one another, and how these needs can be interfered with in a variety of field-induced situations and potentially some in the repair facility itself.

The level of tension and damage the insulators for the upper and lower boom can safely withstand.

Sometimes the final line of defense in preventing electrocution is the bucket itself. And, this ability must be checked during any refurbishment.

Correct boom-bucket mounting procedure.

More Than Bucket Boom Trucks: The Critical Assessment Of The Abilities Of A Repair Facility For The Most Important Fixup You'll Ever Do

So what capabilities are needed for the entity that can safely complete a bucket truck lift repair? Here are some of the key ones to look for:

Does the company carry product liability insurance 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:

Aerial man lifts are a very specialized subset of the fiberglass products industry. Are those who are doing the repair specialists or very familiar with this application?

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 potential for dangerous circuit completion that could effect the operator. (For situations relating specifically to Bucket Boom Trucks, 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.)

Beyond Bucket Boom Trucks: Examples of Specific Component Repair/Rebuild Issues and How the Repair Company Should Handle Them

Let us take a look at some steps a qualified repair facility would typically undergo. With broadly interpreting them, you can get a grasp of the best practices of repair. As a manufacturer of buckets, and a re-manufacturer of booms, we have seen all of these situations come into being.

No Obvious Damage, Now What?

Here we find that a boom section shows up 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, one that is familiar with the gravity of the need 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 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.

Documentations and certifications of all tests and servicing done.

Highly protective packaging and attachment of certifications prior to shipping.

Here Is A Time When More Care Is Needed From The Very Beginning,

The top most section of a telescoping lift arm with some apparent cracks is put in an inspection area for evaluation.
1. The cracks should be reviewed using the repair manual guidelines of the manufacturer and the judgment and experience of those doing the actual work. It will probably be necessary to sand the coating off the boom to evaluate the cracks. The repairer should provide a detailed work plan including time and materials .

2. If approved, the repair company should complete the structural repairs, then do a structural test on the boom.

3. The boom should then be cosmetically refinished and dielectrically tested and returned to the owner.

Using An Instructive Example To Illustrate The Dangers Of Proceeding With Improper Repair And Returning A Component To Full Field Use

There are not a lot of backup systems with a bucket style lift mechanism, especially when it concerns the attachment of the boom to the bucket itself. There are various ways that this main support can be accomplished. In this case:

The main attachment was accomplished through threaded rods that are in effect integrated into the side of the bucket.

It was clear that there were fissures in the actual fiberglass layering that surrounded and supported these mounting rods.

It is apparent that no amount of reinforcement would make for a safe operating position.

This One Involves The Fiberglass Mounting Holes Themselves

While the owner ultimately makes the call as to repair, they need good advice. In effect the risk management falls on whoever at the customer is managing this function. So here is a piece of advice we gave.

Buckets can be attached by creating an assembly out of the actual fiberglass.

Gaps, damage or stress lines where material has pulled apart can form in these attachment points.

When something like this happens, it is pretty difficult to make sure that the deterioration can be turned around enough to ensure the safety of the person who is operating the equipment will not be compromised.

A competent facility would recommend replacement.

Where It Looks Worse Than It Is

So, there are cases where competent skills can be applied on an aftermarket basis with good results such as in this case:

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.

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: Bucket Boom Trucks