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...]
A Bucket Truck Owner’s – Twas the Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the hydraulic house The bucket trucks were in their bays, quiet as a mouse. Their buckets and liners were hung by the upper boom with care Anticipating that a downed wire or damaged tree soon would be there. The tools and ropes were nestled all snug on the truck beds While visions of sugar-plums danced on the control heads And mamma with her saw scabbard and I with my tools Had just settled down to work on the triple valve spools. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter It was clear that this would take much more than just … [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 60’s and 70’s. For that reason, there is a tendency for 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, operators, owners, … [Read more...]