Whether you are stuck at home or trying to go away for a vacation, summertime is also a time for bad weather. Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and derechos can keep utility equipment operators busy no matter what is going on. Staying safe means never skipping your daily pre-operations check or knowing where the manual is … and much more. Everyone knows that bucket truck operators are busy for days and have lots work to do after storms -- repairing wires, fixing traffic lights, and trimming downed trees/limbs. There are two important pieces to staying safe on the job -- having the right … [Read more...]
Little PTO
Who can forget the muscle cars of the 60’s and 70’s? The Pontiac GTO was the poster child. Here’s how Ronny & the Daytonas put it: Little GTO You're really lookin' fine Three deuces and a four-speed And a three-eighty-nine Oh wait, this blog is supposed to be about PTO’s, not GTO’s. :roll: So, what the heck is a PTO? Per Wikipedia, a power take-off (PTO) is any of several methods for taking power from a power source, such as a running engine, and transmitting it to an application such as an attached implement or separate machine. PTO and pump attached to an engine shown … [Read more...]
Airing It Out … How to Bleed the System
Now that winter is over ... time to "get the lead out" and the AIR!! What does that mean anyway ... "get the lead out?!" Oh well, back to the important part of this blog. ;-) Have you ever tried working the upper controls of your bucket truck and the system seems sluggish? It’s a frustrating thing because you just can’t get the boom to move as much as you want it to – the system doesn’t respond crisply. Obviously, your first step is to consult the unit’s maintenance manual. A blocked control orifice could be causing your problem, or you may have air in the lines that carry hydraulic … [Read more...]
Spiders and Buckets and Lifts, Oh My!
Bucket Trucks, Gotta Love 'Em... Bucket trucks are versatile and are used by utility companies, tree trimmers, electricians, sign companies, light industrial, etc. They are high-quality machines that are reliable when properly maintained. They can last a very long time. It’s not unusual to see bucket trucks circa 1970. It is also not unusual to see a love/hate relationship between bucket truck owners and their machines. But the love does show through. They even have pet names for their units -- some we would not feel comfortable including in this blog. ;-) . As parts suppliers, … [Read more...]
Daily Bucket Truck Pre-Operations Check
Bucket trucks are remarkably reliable and durable. Replacement parts, both new and aftermarket, are available for units that have been operating since the 1960’s and 1970’s. Because of their durability, there is a tendency for boom truck operators to jump in their bucket truck in the morning and fire it up, not thinking about what the operation manual says or performing a bucket truck pre-operations check. The ANSI aerial platform standards group understands that there are bucket trucks on the road from all eras and for that reason and others, they provides criteria to help manufacturers, … [Read more...]
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