Mobile cranes are vital in the operations which need heavy equipment to be lifted throughout the day. However, for the crane to be safe and operational for a long time, it is important to ensure that it is maintained properly. The boom, being the most important part of mobile cranes, needs most of this maintenance. Below are some of the maintenance processes that you must follow if you want a properly functioning boom at all times.
Lubricating the boom
The arm of the crane is the part which moves around the most during all mechanical operations. The constant movement means that it gets affected the most by friction. To stop this from happening, it is important to make sure that boom is well-lubricated at all times. Proper lubrication as part of maintenance should take at least two hours. In case you are operating the crane in a busy environment where it is impossible to find two to three hours needed for proper lubrication, find bits of time when the crane is free and have the different parts lubricated during these spans of time. It is also important to note that it does not hurt to over-grease your boom. Just make sure that it is well-lubricated at all times, as this is the easiest way to beat downtime.
Adhere to the maintenance schedule
When you purchase a crane, there is a manual which comes with it. The manual contains among other things, the crane's maintenance schedule. It is important to note that lack of maintenance is what causes downtime on a crane; therefore, always ensure that you perform the needed boom maintenance after the recommended length of time.
Get professionals to handle the task
Sometimes, in a bid to save costs as you work on your machinery, you may find yourself giving certain tasks to the people who run the day to day operations of the cranes. While this may seem convenient, it may have some negative effects in the long run. It is better to think about getting a professional or factory-trained technician to help with the comprehensive crane boom inspection, repair and maintenance.
Cranes can serve you for a long time without breaking down, but this will only happen if you adhere to the normal maintenance practices. Regular maintenance assures you that if there are any repair issues, they are addressed before the machine breaks down. With the right technical help, maintaining a crane should not be a difficult task.
