3 Tips To Extend The Life Of Your Industrial Crane
Posted on: 7 August 2018
Moving heavy loads from one place to another can be extremely challenging. Cranes were designed to help address the problem of relocating heavy loads and facilitate the use of vertical work spaces.
Investing in an industrial crane can be a costly endeavor. To avoid having to purchase a new crane sooner than expected, use these tips to help you extend the life of your current crane.
1. Use caution when cleaning wire ropes.
Keeping your industrial crane clean can be a simple way to reduce the amount of wear and tear experienced by the crane each day. The wire ropes that are connected to your crane's boom should be cleaned on a regular basis to prevent dirt and debris from corroding the metal wires.
It's important that you use a mild cleaner only. The wire rope must maintain proper lubrication in order for your crane to safely lift heavy loads. A dry wire rope could easily snap, putting your safety at risk. If you must clean your wire ropes vigorously, always add some lubrication to keep the wire ropes supple.
2. Check for loose bolts and rivets.
You should conduct routine inspections of the body of your crane on a regular basis. Your crane features many bolts and rivets that connect metal components and panels. Over time, these bolts and rivets can come loose. When metal components are no longer securely fastened to one another, the amount of vibration generated during normal use increases.
Vibrations have the ability to cause metal components to rub against one another. This could result in premature component failure. Tighten any loose bolts or rivets regularly to extend the life of your crane.
3. Conduct regular load tests.
A load test can be a useful tool in allowing you to identify problems with your industrial crane. Load tests require that you know the maximum weight capacity for your crane. Create a load that mirrors this maximum weight limit, then lift the load with the crane.
Your crane should be able to move the load from one place to another with ease. If you notice that your crane is struggling to complete the transport of a maximum weight load, you should have an experienced mechanic check the hydraulic system for signs of damage or disrepair.
Maintaining your industrial crane is important if you want this valuable piece of machinery to last. Take the time to clean your crane, tighten loose bolts and rivets, and conduct routine load tests to extend the life of your crane well into the future.
For more information, reach out to companies like American Equipment Inc.
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