Bucket truck boom failure, MI
- Thread starter MIspecial
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deevo
Addicted to ArboristSite
Wow, that's a long way to freefall in a bucket! I hope the guy pulls through!
PinnaclePete
Addicted to ArboristSite
Updates when available, Learn and Live. Best wishes to him.
motor
ArboristSite Operative
Looks like an Altec. Looks like the lower boom cylinder had a failure.
Treetom
ArboristSite Guru
Am900
The ring on the main cylinder failed causing the whole boom to drop.
The ring on the main cylinder failed causing the whole boom to drop.
motor
ArboristSite Operative
Did the gland nut back off or strip the threads right out?
Treetom
ArboristSite Guru
Not sure
Motor, I have an older Altec, AN series, 1994, so the exact cause of failure is of great interest to me. I'll post that information if it becomes available.
Motor, I have an older Altec, AN series, 1994, so the exact cause of failure is of great interest to me. I'll post that information if it becomes available.
motor
ArboristSite Operative
Please do, I've seen rods bend/break due to mis-use but it almost looks like the cylinder came apart. I tried to zoom in but the picture isn't the highest resolution.
TumblebugTaylor
ArboristSite Lurker
I turned down a welding job on a leaking cylinder on a boom truck a few weeks ago. THe man has a rag tag operation mostly junky euipment. He has an older truck and boom. The main cylinder was leaking and he asked me to weld it up. They have been using the boom and slings tying off to the limbs and hoisting them away. They also push on trees with it. THe safety pilot valves have also been removed.
Mikecutstrees
ArboristSite Guru
I had a rod break today on one of the two cylinders that raise the body on my dump truck. Ive only owned it a year and its 10 years old. What might cause it to fail besides lots of use. I don't want it to happen again.....
Mike
Frank Boyer
Addicted to ArboristSite
Over loading, off set load, miss aligned, and a defect in the metal are a few things.
treeclimber101
UNCLE BUCK
God its so gloomy that it makes you wanna park the bucket and climb everything but thats no safer .... I wonder how many booms fall every year , it must be scary as hell for the ground to come up so fast....
I know Aerial lift of conn. has a 6 year replacement schedule on boom cylinders. I can't speak for other manufacturers, but I am sure they do too. If this cylinder was overdue for replacement that could be a factor.
motor
ArboristSite Operative
ALC is the only manufacturer that has that requirement. Others have replacement schedules for drive cables, leveling chains ect. And rumor has it the new rods will be ten years, not positive on that though. I do know they have gotten rid of the cables for the lower boom elevation.
Mikecutstrees, Among what Frank said a frozen pin could also contribute to that type of failure.
Mikecutstrees, Among what Frank said a frozen pin could also contribute to that type of failure.
Rickochet
ArboristSite Operative
I work for a very large publicly owned electric utility that has the best maintenance program possible. We still have failures from time to time. We are using man made equipment maintained by humans. Even the best of everything fails on occasion. Making repairs using poor judgment and improper methods is the recipe for disaster! Play it safe-- no short cuts!!!!
