Cat Detachable wheels
Hi, Wulf, Cat Dr and Activeorpassive.
I think it is a pretty safe bet that those front wheels didn't come off like that because of tyres. My guess is a serious mechanical failure that was left neglected and untreated for some little time. This same mechanical failure results in many unfortunte incidents around mining and construction sites. For such an apparently insignificant thing, it can have absolutely disastrous consequences.
I'm speaking of the loose nut holding the steering wheel.
Now, how to remedy this situation. I think the 'paymaster's shotgun' is the ONLY remedy in some cases. In others, more rigourous and on-going training may help. Better supervision is also needed and in many cases company policy needs to change, sometimes drastically.
F'rinstance, I know of a quarry near here where there is a grade of around 12% from the upper levels to the crusher feeder. Company dump truck drivers are permitted to descend this grade in 32 ton capacity dump trucks loaded to 40 tons at up to around 35 kilometres per hour, approximately 21 miles per hour. If there is some long-term wisdom in that policy, it escapes me.
I might add that the dump truck manufacturer has permitted 40 ton loading without voiding warranty but recommended a maximum speed down that grade of 30 kilometres per hour - about 17-18 miles per hour - with the trucks loaded to 40 tons and I'll bet that sometimes they are exceeding 40 kmh - about 25 mph. And the drivers tell me that the retarders in those trucks will overheat trying to keep them down to 30 kmh on that grade. Go figure. I'd have thought a lower gear selected at the top of the grade might have had some beneficial effect, say about second gear and 15 kmh. I know it works for me. But I'm only a mug plant operator.
So, any suggestions????????
