F-reds:
If the sensor is the type mounted on a spring, this spring often gets gummed up with excess grease not allowing it complete freedom of movement, so it always shows as the crane being up in the air.[zb] annoying isn’t it?!
Where is this spring, mate? I’ve noticed a few drabs of grease here and there, looks like someone was too keen with the grease gun.
mucker85:
I can’t see the point of this just being a 6 wheeler, it’s longer than most 8’s. 0
That’s what me and boss man said when looking. It’s a standard 6w body on a stretched chassis with a crane. You’d be accused of taking half a load by everyone. Unless it’s for utilities to fit multiple materials in without mixing.
There’s two of those Antos grabs on TT, been for sale for ages.
Muckaway:
We’ve got a TGM with Epsilon crane. One question. The “crane over height” warning buzzer is going off in the cab once the pto is switched off, even though the crane is folded right down in the body. Any ideas? Not seen it myself as I’ve been on the 8wheeler.
have a look where the legs pull out-there will be a sensor by the sprung loaded safety catch -sometimes this can pop out of where its supposed to be, triggering the same alarm as the overheight warning
andrew.s:
have a look where the legs pull out-there will be a sensor by the sprung loaded safety catch -sometimes this can pop out of where its supposed to be, triggering the same alarm as the overheight warning
Muckaway:
0
This one?andrew.s:
have a look where the legs pull out-there will be a sensor by the sprung loaded safety catch -sometimes this can pop out of where its supposed to be, triggering the same alarm as the overheight warning
that’s the one-although looking at the picture its in the right place.
there will be two more sensors-one each side at the top of the king post-I think the one on the nearside is the overheight warning,the offside one is the forcefield(it is on mine anyway) have a look at these and see if theyre moving freely when crane is lifted up and down.
Fitter came out today as a warranty job, and found the fault was the nearside emergency stop switch. Changed a weeping hose on the rotator too and checked the sensors on the boom.
I’m still yet to use the grab or even drive the lorry, I’m pottering about on the 8w collecting stock and running stuff from the yard to the tips. No doubt the novelty will wear off and my boss will give me the grab when it gets really busy though. Supposed to be out with the JCB and 8w on Wednesday so getting a lot more variety than most tipper drivers.
Well today we had a National Plant trainer in the yard to do our grab training. Not bad, did it in one day and the course counts towards the DCPC.
Well the grab work is picking up 
more so than normal tipper work and I find it more interesting.
Here’s a question/problem though;
A few of our collections never have anyone on site so apart from the badly sighted loads where you have to leave some because it’s out of reach, we have the issue of sweeping up afterwards. One customer tells their clients that we will shovel up/clean up any odd lumps left over after loading, but our rule is “driver gets the lorry in, driver loads, driver goes.” I’m quite happy for a labourer to shovel odd bits up and I will follow them with the grab bucket for them to do so but am I unreasonable to not get down and do it myself?
I know utility firms have two man crews but what about one man trucks?
Muckaway:
Well the grab work is picking up
Here’s a question/problem though;
A few of our collections never have anyone on site so apart from the badly sighted loads where you have to leave some because it’s out of reach, we have the issue of sweeping up afterwards. One customer tells their clients that we will shovel up/clean up any odd lumps left over after loading, but our rule is “driver gets the lorry in, driver loads, driver goes.” I’m quite happy for a labourer to shovel odd bits up and I will follow them with the grab bucket for them to do so but am I unreasonable to not get down and do it myself?
I know utility firms have two man crews but what about one man trucks?
it all depends on what the customer wants Nathan-if a building site where more muck is going to be dumped then no-if a private house where it is a one off load of muck,then yes. (mr private house isn’t going to be happy that he’s barrowed all of the muck from his new fish pond to the front of his house,only for you to fly in and out and leave 4 barrows of muck for him to still get rid of!!)
as for utility firms having two man crews-sometimes I have a labourer-sometimes not.
i’m expected to do the backfilling/wacking and clearing up on my own if need be…and my wages reflect that.if its a big /awkward job I get lots of help if I need it.
anyway,with your little 6 wheeler, it should take all of five minutes to clear up 
a decent grab driver shouldn’t need anyone to sweep up behind him hahaha 
the jobs from peoples houses are usually a pain in the arse-i’d rather be out on hire to a utility firm to be honest.
I’ve learnt that if you load with the grab opening across the truck rather than front to back, it looks fuller thus eliminating the “half a load driver” comments. Plus I always load slightly less on the back as I hate seeing grabs perched on top of loads. And you can make the pile look bigger. 
Had a brown trouser moment today;
Trimming a load on site and noticed that the boom lever was becoming sluggish and tight to move. Stopped what I was doing and looked over to the other control panel as I thought maybe a stone or something was wedged in the other lever. Nothing there so had a glance down through the catwalk to see if there was a leaking hose, nothing. Looked back up to see the bucket slowly moving towards me. Hit the emergency stop button and attempted to push the rogue lever in the opposite direction when the button swang and clobbered the other control panel.
Buggered control levers. 
Any suggestions what could’ve caused this? The crane has a Loler certificate, was serviced when we bought it and has been no trouble at all until now (greased every few days). Thankfully I had a witness who saw it shift on its’ own.
Muckaway:
Had a brown trouser moment today;
Trimming a load on site and noticed that the boom lever was becoming sluggish and tight to move. Stopped what I was doing and looked over to the other control panel as I thought maybe a stone or something was wedged in the other lever. Nothing there so had a glance down through the catwalk to see if there was a leaking hose, nothing. Looked back up to see the bucket slowly moving towards me. Hit the emergency stop button and attempted to push the rogue lever in the opposite direction when the button swang and clobbered the other control panel.
Buggered control levers.
Any suggestions what could’ve caused this? The crane has a Loler certificate, was serviced when we bought it and has been no trouble at all until now (greased every few days). Thankfully I had a witness who saw it shift on its’ own.
does it have dual controls , if so the cables would be the first place to look
Yes it does have duals mate. The “master box” was the one hit but the fault was on the opposite side. The faulty side just about works but the ground controls don’t.
With the engine off.
Check for freedom of movement at the valve block, by manually pulling the cables by the block itself. These will more than likely be absolutely fine.
Then check for dirt or ■■■■ in between the cables as they can can get jammed up, stopping them from springing back to neutral.
My bet though, is if you lift the rubber gaiter on the offending lever/levers, is you’ll find that one of the two roll pins holding the lever to the central spline has slipped sideways, and jammed the lever from returning to its neutral position.
The fact that it has been LOLER’d doesn’t mean anything really. Your car can have a wheel or brake fail a thousand miles after an MOT…
Palfinger bloke’s been out assessing the damage today. Our normal fitter was called out first and he took the angle grinder to the damaged levers. Insisted on starting the wagon and attempting to move the crane. Which rotated the open bucket and buggered the catwalk.
Extremely ■■■■■■ off as we’ve heard nothing from him since I got the truck back to the yard (no doubt an invoice has been mailed to my boss though), and it looks like the original damage was worse than I’d reported. The original witness to the crane moving actually saw the second incident with the fitter playing scrap man so at least my arse is covered but I wish I’d taken photos of it first. God knows what the Palfinger bloke thought. 
without actually seeing it,my guess is sticky cables
I take it you were using the levers on the valve block/passenger side? (I only ever use the cable side levers as a last resort)
they can and do stick badly sometimes.pull the rubber gaitor back on each lever on the drivers side and squirt/pour copious amounts of hydraulic oil down each cable.makes a big difference in the smoothness of the levers.
andrew.s:
without actually seeing it,my guess is sticky cables
I take it you were using the levers on the valve block/passenger side? (I only ever use the cable side levers as a last resort)
they can and do stick badly sometimes.pull the rubber gaitor back on each lever on the drivers side and squirt/pour copious amounts of hydraulic oil down each cable.makes a big difference in the smoothness of the levers.
I was using the drivers side levers, passenger ones being the damaged ones.
Muckaway:
Palfinger bloke’s been out assessing the damage today. Our normal fitter was called out first and he took the angle grinder to the damaged levers. Insisted on starting the wagon and attempting to move the crane. Which rotated the open bucket and buggered the catwalk.
Extremely ■■■■■■ off as we’ve heard nothing from him since I got the truck back to the yard (no doubt an invoice has been mailed to my boss though), and it looks like the original damage was worse than I’d reported. The original witness to the crane moving actually saw the second incident with the fitter playing scrap man so at least my arse is covered but I wish I’d taken photos of it first. God knows what the Palfinger bloke thought.
whats the verdict from Palfinger/T.H White ?
hope you haven’t damaged the valve block or that really will be expensive 
I always use the levers on the passenger/valve block side(so much quicker and responsive) unless there is no alternative-the cables on the drivers side are just a pain in the arse most of the time.and they will freeze solid next winter when it gets really cold overnight ,so you will need the blowlamp to defrost,or pull the pins out on the valveblock side to disconnect the cables
About £5k according to boss. He’s actually used it a few times whilst waiting for it to be done but is worried re insurance if I drove it. It shoukd be going away to be done at the end of next week which ties in nicely with my holiday. Then I’m getting it back apparently, with a view to a new one next year.
Hopefully without sticky levers.
