Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charlotte
Boom trucks have hydraulic cranes mounted on their chassis.
There are two kinds of boom trucks:
- Fixed cab boom trucks
- Swing cab boom trucks
Fixed Cab
In a fixed cab boom truck, the crane is carried on the back of the truck. The crane is operated for the front of the truck (the driver’s cab). That’s why it is called a fixed cab boom truck.
Swing Cab
The swing cab boom truck, also called the swing seat, has a separate cab for operating the crane. The crane has its own cab. The driver cannot control it from his cab. The crane of a swing cab boom truck has a wider range of motion than a fixed cab as it can completely rotate.
Boom Truck Cranes
Boom trucks carry mobile cranes on their beds. These truck-mounted cranes operate in a similar manner to their standalone counterparts. They can pick objects up and put them down. The crane arm can swivel around a central axis.
Bucket Trucks
Bucket trucks are also known as aerial work platforms or elevated work platforms. These are usually boom trucks with a hydraulic crane that has a bucket attached. These buckets are used to raise workers to heights that would be hard to reach under normal circumstances. Think of a billboard by the highway or a power line.
Telescopic vs. Articulating
Boom trucks are also classified by the flexibility of the crane arms.
- Telescoping cranes
- Articulating cranes
Articulating
An articulating crane has multiple joints and can bend at various angles. It’s like the human arm which can bend and move at the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and knuckles.
Telescopic
Telescopic cranes only have one joint around which the crane arm rotates. In that regard, it is like the human torso. You can bend it at the waist but the only motion is up, down, and sideways.
Boom Truck Maintenance
The moving parts of a boom truck need constant lubrication if they’re to keep functioning in near-mint conditions. The hydraulic fluid of the crane needs to be kept pure and checked for leaks as well.
The fluid of a boom truck should be inspected at the following intervals:
- Antifreeze: 1,000 hours
- Automatic Transmission Fluid: 500 hours
- Engine Oil: 250 hours
- Hydraulic Oil: 1,000 hours
- Power Steering: 1,000 hours
- Rear Differentials: 600 hours
- Standard Transmission: 1,000 hours
Checklist for Boom Truck Maintenance
During maintenance, we check all the working parts of a boom truck. Our checklist is as follows:
- Check the lights
- Inspect the air horns
- Check tires for wear
- Check the front axle and rear suspension for broken or cracked springs, worn bushings, or loose pins
- An inspection of power steering lines and automatic transmission lines
- An inspection of all belts, hoses, and lines, including engine belts, fuel crossovers, water valves, and radiator hoses
- Leak checks in the engine, transmission, differential, power steering, or wheel seals.
- Inspect brake shoes and drums for cracks, wear and tear.
- Check for excessive play in the power steering
- Inspect the windshields
- Drain the air tank and perform a moisture test
- Check the air pressure and inflation rate
- Inspect wheels and rims for cracks or other signs of damage
- Inspect the windshield wipers and wiper fluid levels
- Check battery connections
If your boom truck is well maintained, it is unlikely to break down unexpectedly and cost you money in lost business. Repair costs for well-maintained machinery tend to be very low and the required repairs are usually minor and can be carried out relatively quickly. For poorly maintained equipment, the tale is a different one.
Boom Truck Repairs
Boom trucks sometimes require repairs due to accidents and normal wear and tear. These normally involve:
- Windshield, wipers, and windows
- Telescopic cylinder repairs and rebuilds
- Exhaust and muffler repair
- Replacing wire rope and accessories
- Suspension repair
- Turrets and swivels
- Radiator service
- Tire repair and replacement
- Starter failure
- Electrical equipment replacement or repair
- Transmission service
- Engine repair and rebuild
- Brake issues
- Diesel engine repair
- Boom repairs
- Electrical systems
- Air conditioning system repairs
- Wheel, bearing, and tire repairs
- Outrigger repair
- Hydraulic lines and fittings
- Brake repairs
Fast and Affordable Repair
Contact
Call us, email us, or visit our shop for all your heavy equipment repair needs.
Heavy Equipment Repair Services Charleston
Phone: 843-905-2441 Email: info@heavyequipmentrepairscharleston.com