Impact's "Things Done at Work"

[JNB]

Sounds like quite a drive. Thanks for the pics...and cool thread!

 

[Impact]

Stuck in Texas waiting on Louisiana permits. Ended up having to hire an escort service. That was hard to explain to my wife

 

[Impact]

First pick with the Liebherr. 45,000 pounds , 52' radius. Barely enough crane. I could easily overload a 1,000 tonner. I'd just lift more farther away

 

[old-iron-habit]

View attachment 158090

Me at Sturgis last year. Soooo photogenic

Your perfect. I never worked with a "pretty" crane operator that was worth a sh*t.
Nice mess of fish to.

 

[crane operator]

Nice pics. On the big hopper bottom, looks like long rigging down to the side wall on the bottom? Wind rings or a spreader inside to keep it from pulling in too much, or did it hold itself pretty round? Miss the ag-grain work.

 

[Impact]

No spreader bar. Just long cables all the way down to the bottom ring. Cables were 50' long or so. Six of them 5/8" x 50' I think

 

[Impact]

This is a 135' diameter, 34 ring tall tank we're building on a 8' tall foundation. It holds 1.3 million bushels I think. Soil capacity was excellant below 25'. It was terrible from 25' depth and up. We installed geopiers to a depth of 25' or so. Here we are setting the roof rafters with a 165 ton grove. This photo was 8 days ago. As of now it has 13 rings on it. Should have 15 or 16 by tonight if bad weather doesn't stop us

 

[crane operator]

Good to see your grove back running. Decided if you're keeping both yet?

 

[Impact]

I'm keeping it at least through the busy season this fall. After that I suppose t depends on future business. If I let one go, I'm torn between the Grove and the 100T Liebherr. I keep thinking I've got all the kinks out of this Grove. This last fiasco was just an oil leak. Found the main luffing cylinder dripping too. So repaired both. But a $58K repair bill ain't cheap.

 

[crane operator]

Ouch- I take it they had to dismantle the boom. It could be worse, this crane got vandalized a few years back, about a hour away from us. Crane company is from St. louis area. It looks like the grove dealer worked on it for about a year and a half (the invoices are at the bottom of the ad total repair of $414,000). You just know it was the shop project no one wanted to deal with. Completely dismantle, clean, reseal, and reassemble the hydraulic and suspension systems? don't think you could pay me enough


http://www.machinerytrader.com/listings/construction-equipment/for-sale/11997943/2008-grove-gmk5275



I wouldn't give that price if it hadn't been disassembled (like I have that kind of money), for me it would have to be discounted severely. I just feel for the crane company- missing the crane for a year and a half. I imagine their insurance paid the repair bill- think they gave them a different crane to use until it was fixed?

 

[ichudov]

What kind of vandalism was that? Was it a disgruntled employee? What happened, any idea?

 

[crane operator]

A news article from the time. http://www.komu.com/news/vandals-damage-heavy-construction-crane/ As far as I know, there was never a arrest, or even suspects.

 

[crane operator]

It was longer ago than I thought. news article was nov 2011. 6/28/2013 was the first date on a repair invoice. Insurance co probably dragging their feet and getting bids for repair?

Maybe a battle between the sub (crane company) and whoever the general was (responsible for site), and their respective insurance company's.

Maybe no insurance for vandalism, so they had to make the money to repair it. I honestly don't know.

Its just sad, sad that someone would do that, sad for the business, and sad because the repair probably cost all of us in increased insurance cost. And sad because they'll never get those years of production for the crane back.

 

[Knepptune]

Imo that crane has to be pretty much totaled. I don't know that I would ever trust it. All that work and you still don't know if there's one valve somewhere that didn't get cleaned waiting to dump some more salt into the system. I really don't know at what price I'd take a chance on it. I think it'll probably end up as a parts crane. Probably best case scenario.

 

[ichudov]

OK, I am very sad about the crane owner, but wondering: what does a bag of rock salt, dumped in oil, do to the hydraulic system?

I thought that salt does not dissolve in oil?

 

[kshansen]

OK, I am very sad about the crane owner, but wondering: what does a bag of rock salt, dumped in oil, do to the hydraulic system?

I thought that salt does not dissolve in oil?

In no way an expert on the subject but just looking at the size of that crane and thinking about things it may be picking and the people near by when it is working. I don't think anyone would want to take on the liability that would come ones way if something failed. Also did not happen to see if this contamination was noticed before the machine had been started. If it had been started after the salt was discovered I could imagine that some of it would have been sucked through the pumps and then to the filters that probably have a filter by-pass valve that would have opened due to the dirt in the system. Now there would be no way to be sure what went where.

 

[crane operator]

I just posted the link, trying to avoid the words, ichudov- I guess I think google can make easy trouble- I don't want anyone to get ideas. Think sand- fine tolerances on pumps- rubber seals- poppet valves.

 

[Impact]

Ok, I need ya'lls thoughts. Here is the situation.

Got a call from a contractor I have worked for once before. To make some lifts of unknown amount at an ethanol plant we've worked at many times before. The guy asked for a written quote on our 100 ton crane. I supplied the quote along with basic charts describing boom lengths and basic load charts. He called and scheduled the crane for today and tomorrow. I sent the operator, rigger and crane to the site this morning. I was told we're only lifting very light materials on top of the silo roofs 150' tall. The setup spot has been used many times before, and we are very familiar with it. We get there, get the crane setup and the jib swung. We have a 158' boom plus the jib, 52' I think. We get ready to lift, and they want to lift above the elevators which are 200-220' tall. The 100 ton isn't enough crane. So myself and a driver took the 190 and a load of counterweights as the other two guys break down the 100 ton. We then drove the 100 ton back. All told with driving, setup, tear down we have about 5-6 hous work involved. I normally get a 8 hour minimum. What is fair? I say he owes me an 8 hour minimum on both cranes. What say you?

 

[Tradesman]

I'd try for the two at eight hours, but be ready to settle for the six if you think it could leed to a good customer.

 

[td25c]

Ok, I need ya'lls thoughts. Here is the situation.

I normally get a 8 hour minimum. What is fair? I say he owes me an 8 hour minimum on both cranes. What say you?

I would bill them for strait time on the 100 ton . What ever it took to set up ,mobilize & break down .

Charge 8 hour minimum on the 190 .

Sounds like a little communication mix up , that stuff happens .

I generally try to visit the site and "walk & talk " & eyeball what they want set to get an idea what I'm up against .