Technical Data
General Information & Service Tips:
Cranes >>
Tire Manipulators >>
Air Compressors >>
Service Bodies >>
Cranes:
Tire service cranes are uniquely different than cranes used in
other industries which are designed to pick up a load and move it from
one location to another. A tire service crane is designed to pick
up the load, plus push, pull and endure side loads. Therefore the
stresses on a tire service crane is much greater and requires much more
attention to maintenance. It is important to monitor the condition
of the pins, wear pads, hydraulic hose, bearings, pinions, controls and
structural components at all times. You must change the hydraulic
filters at least every six months and the hydraulic oil once a year.
lf you operate your crane 24 hours a day, seven days a week, you would
need to service the hydraulic oil system more often. If properly
maintained, your crane will provide you with many years of trouble free
service.
The following are a few suggestions to insure longevity of your crane:
- Insure that you have a good preventive maintenance program in place
- Always allow the hydraulic oil time to warm up prior to operation during cold weather (below 35 degrees)
- Always lower both outriggers before picking a load
Never rev the truck engine beyond the manufactures recommended speed. Understand that when you rev the truck engine it does not mean it will pick up more load; it only means you are forcing additional oil through the valve bank and it will only cause it to move faster. Remember, if your hydraulic system is functioning properly, your crane will lift as much load at an ideal rate as it will at higher speeds.
Always be aware of the objects in your immediate area with respect to people, equipment and overhead electric wires.
Most cranes are equipped with a hydraulic pressure gauge located at the main valve control bank. The gauge will give you the pressure reading of the unit’s hydraulic system. You can check your working pressure by extending the main, secondary or extension booms to its full extended position and hold the control valve in to operating position. The hydraulic pump will be forcing hydraulic oil over the system bypass which will give you the system working pressure. Most US manufactured cranes will be operating between 2350 and 4000 psi. Contact your equipment manufacturer for the proper setting on your equipment.
Remote controllers are becoming very popular today for both tethered and radio. Some cranes are equipped with a combination of manual and radio controls. It is extremely important that you use caution with either control system used in changing a tire with your equipment.
Tire Manipulators:
Tire Manipulators have become a standard tool for handling OTR
tires today. They come with a variety of names, TireHand-tm, Tire
Positioner or Tire Manipulator they all do the same task and that is to
safely handle large OTR tires. The Tire Manipulator is designed
to be adapted to forklift trucks, rubber tired loaders or truck mount
cranes. Like any other equipment, if properly used, the tool will
provide many years of service and a safe method of handling tires.
The Tire Manipulator is designed to clamp a tire and position it to the desired location. It is not designed to pick up engines, roller frames or any other objects than an OTR Tire. If you must lift an object other then a tire, lift with the load distributed evenly on each hand or lift from the lifting eyes (not available on all units) which are located in the center of the hand base. If you try to lift with one arm, you are applying a major side load to the main bearing, and, in time, you will cause serious damage to the equipment and possibly injure yourself or someone else.
The Tire Manipulator was originally designed to be use intermittently to change dual assembly tires on end dump trucks. Today the service technician has figured out how to make it work in most situations. Now that the Tire Manipulator is being utilized full time, we are finding that the standard connecting points will prematurely wear resulting in excessive movement in the link arm and nose connections. We at American Crane have developed retrofit kits that will eliminate this problem. (products section for more information)
Air Compressors:
The air compressor is the heart of the service truck, consequently,
it is the most used and abused piece of equipment. It requires more
attention and preventive maintenance than any other component of the unit
to maximize efficiency and minimize expense. Today, there are many
choices on both the type of air compressor pumping system you select and
the type of drive system you select. The pumping systems range from rotary
screw, single stage and two stage reciprocating compressor pumps.
The choices of drive systems are direct shaft drive, right angle gear-box
drive, gas engine, diesel engine, belt drive or hydraulic drive.
Besides these choices, you have to determine the size of compressor which
would best serve your needs as well as an optional air receiver to achieve
your required air supply.
Service Bodies:
It is interesting to have watched the changes in the style of
service bodies over the past few years. The farm tire service units
went from all steel to all fiberglass to all aluminum to a combination
type unit referred to as Mini OTR consisting of an aluminum rack body,
knuckle boom crane mounted behind the chassis cab, hydraulic lift gate
and portable fiberglass skid tank. The commercial fleet bodies have
simply switched from steel to aluminum. The OTR trucks are still
made with steel but with many styles geared around the type of air compressor
being used. The air compressor was originally all gas powered, located
in a front section compartment behind the chassis cab. Now, the
hydraulic and gear box drive is located under the right front section
of the body. Regardless of the type of service body you have, it
will require a lot of cleaning and some maintenance on the compartment
doors and lights.
ACI has introduced a new style of OTR body with a drop-section in the front part of the body for block storage with a fold-down gate for access.
