Just some work pics

[rodcap]

The control valve that leaks, doesn't leak when you are using that function, it leaks when your using other functions. There has to be some kind of seal that is keeping the pressure or return flow from the boot area on that section? I could see the boot holding some seepage, but this is flow. There's no way those little boots with the spring clamps are going to hold the amount of oil I'm seeing.

The valve that is leaking is leaking from the boot area, but it isn't leaking when running that function. The valve that is leaking is for the left rear outrigger, and it leaks the worst when rpms are up and cabling down. Its worse with multiple functions. I'm guessing its spiking the pressure to overcome the winch brake, and that spool's seal is bad.

I hope it isn't coming from between sections on the valve stack. Its wet on the boot, but I haven't actually stuck my flashlight under there and looked. I'm just trying to get done with that job with it before I tear into it.

The spool-to-valve section is a machine fit with no o-rings. However, there are seals(o-rings) between the valve sections. Also, if the drain-back hole(I mentioned earlier) is restricted, back-pressure will build and cause leaking.
I have a Galion Manual around here somewhere. I'll post the control valve breakdown.

As far as the galion, I bought it from ritchie bros. Aside from the spring reel for the boom hoses being broken, it seems like a good little rig. . Those spring reels are spendy though. Its got some rust on the door bottoms, but it looks like they all rust there, the rest of it seems pretty solid. It has all new push pull control cables , and someone's been into the swing brake. I had to free up the winch brake, and I'm not really impressed with how the winch brake was designed, but it seems to work like it's supposed to now. Jib is a pain to install, I can see why most of them get taken off.

Like I said, that particular crane came from the Geismar, La. location(which is 7 miles from my place), so I wouldn't know the condition of it.

Yes, the spring reel is pricey. I carried a new reel on my service truck before I retired and don't know what happened to it.
All of the Galions in our fleet were sold because the have no Safety Shutdown Systems. Exxonmobil would not allow them after a certain date. We replaced them with Broderson RT300 and Manitex M150.

There is a guy who designed and patented a upgrade winch brake for the Galions. It's a direct fit and works well. I can send info on it if you need.

As for the jib, when not needed, we stored them on a rack. It was faster and safer installing and removing than to swing it from it's storage position. Also, removing it from the crane gave the operator a bit more lifting capacity.

 

[rodcap]

Sorry for the sideways pic.

Here is a copy of the Control Valve page.
Item # 6 is a O-ring. Two O-rings are used on each spool section.
They are to seal the Covers(#9 and #21) at each end of the valve sections(housings A-H).

Housings A through H have drain-back holes that allow oil from within the Boots(#13) to drain back to the return circuit.
Sealing Ring(#24) are installed between each valve section(housing). If the Boots(#13) are not the cause of the leak, it's possible the sealing rings(#24) are the cause.

Housings:
A-Accesory
B-Outrigger - Left rear.
C-Outrigger - Left front.
D-Outrigger - Right front.
E-Outrigger - Right rear.
F-Rear steering
G-Swing
H-Slow(swing)

 

[crane operator]

My new spring reel was over $4,000.

Thanks for the picture, I'm not sure from looking at the picture whether it would be the o-ring or the boot. I'm suprised that i'm getting that much oil at all if the spools themselves are a machine fit. I hope its not a deeper problem than the boot or o-ring.

Thanks for the heads up on the winch brake. I found the guy's you tube video, but his website is down. He had a phone number on the you tube video so I'll try it.

My winch brake wasn't holding at all when I got it. I disassembled it and cleaned it all out, relubed and now it kind of holds, but if you get up there in line pull- (6-7,000lbs) with just a single part of line, it will squeak a little. It will do 15,000 though with the 5 part in and never move, and that's probably all I'll ever pick with it for total weight. I tested it all out after the brake clean out.

 

[rodcap]

My new spring reel was over $4,000.

What?? That seem a bit high priced. Of course, I haven't bought one in a while.

Thanks for the picture, I'm not sure from looking at the picture whether it would be the o-ring or the boot. I'm surprised that i'm getting that much oil at all if the spools themselves are a machine fit. I hope it's not a deeper problem than the boot or o-ring.

Thanks for the heads up on the winch brake. I found the guy's you tube video, but his website is down. He had a phone number on the you tube video so I'll try it.

My winch brake wasn't holding at all when I got it. I disassembled it and cleaned it all out, re-lubed and now it kind of holds, but if you get up there in line pull- (6-7,000lbs) with just a single part of line, it will squeak a little. It will do 15,000 though with the 5 part in and never move, and that's probably all I'll ever pick with it for total weight. I tested it all out after the brake clean out.

If you need anything for the Galion, contact these guys.
Call their Baton Rouge, La. location. I feel they are the most knowledgeable. Ask for Frankie(Store Manager).
They handle other product lines, but specialize in Galion cranes, and the Service Manager(Michael) is very knowledgeable in Galion. They ship parts out ASAP(worldwide). They are also the only place in the south custom manufacturing of Push/Pull Control Cables. You tell thes what you want, they'll make it.
I attached their Line of Product in a file(CC.jpg)

 

[crane operator]

Truss job on Friday. I work for these guys quite often and I usually go look, but they said they were only 45' trusses or so and plenty of room. The trusses were right on for size, they were just 115' to the far truss on the house. Not going to get that with a girder truss and the 25 ton, so back to shop to get the 35 ton.

The nice thing about sitting on the top of the slope, plenty of view of the top plate, great visibility.

 

[crane operator]

Lucky it was in a circle road in a development, so I just blocked it, people could get out going either way. I looked pretty hard at trying to set up the 25 in front of the garage doors, but it was probably 5-6' of slope in the length of the crane, and that's pretty hard to get leveled up on.

 

[crane operator]

Loaded out some electrical switch gear monday, then did some hvac units this morning. 40 mph winds here this afternoon, so we put off a truss job until tomorrow.

Went and picked up this headache rack this afternoon, I need it for the white peterbilt in my back yard. Pete doesn't have anything for a rack now, and this one was priced right - $250 (its a little dinged up, but I think I can straighten some of it). I don't mind that it doesn't have chain racks, I put my chains in a box anyways, I just like a rack on the back of the truck.

 

[crane operator]

Finished up the deck job with the galion this week. The leak ended up being the boot on the control lever leaking.

Been a while since I've seen 1" used for roof sheathing. Most everyone uses zip system like is on the walls.

 

[crane operator]

Set a little vault the other day. Poor excavator guy got told to dig a hole, and it was no where near right. I pulled the vault back out, and sucked the beams in so he could get back in there again. Went back to the shop, got a 4' level and a couple boards, got in the hole for him and at least got close to a level pad to set it on.

 

[crane operator]

Spent the last two days after the vault, by putting in sheetrock through windows. Nice when the cradle is tight to the building, and the boom deflection changes the height about 8" from loaded to unloaded basket.

 

[crane operator]

The poor concrete guys had to put in this stairway, I felt for them

 

[crane operator]

I think we hit all the floors but one, but unfortunately this isn't all the sheetrock. Supposed to be more later, the general may make them pack it up the stairs. I wouldn't be much for 5/8" sheetrock 12' long up 10 flights of stairs, but I'm not paying the bill either.

Trash man wasn't a happy camper either, seems they moved his dumpster with the forklift before they filled it. He just drug it across that big rock, but he wasn't very happy.

 

[crane operator]

All loaded up for monday morning. Supposed to set a spiral staircase on the back deck of a house, with very poor access. I think we might need jib, and I'm pretty sure we'll have to pick n carry the stairway back up the road through the trees to get there.

But that's Monday's problem

 

[Tags]

Set a little vault the other day. Poor excavator guy got told to dig a hole, and it was no where near right. I pulled the vault back out, and sucked the beams in so he could get back in there again. Went back to the shop, got a 4' level and a couple boards, got in the hole for him and at least got close to a level pad to set it on.

First off, I always look forward to checking out your posts, you do some really interesting jobs. Second, are you saying the "excavator" on site had no laser, much less a 4' level to get the hole for the vault right??!! Sounds like I would have hated being the concrete guy after the "excavator" got finished digging the footings.....

 

[crane operator]

That job is a little different tags, the contractor is the owner, and has a site super hired. Most of the workers are hired directly from a day labor outfit. There are some subs- fire suppression and siders, roofers and sheetrockers, but they hire a lot of help directly. So the "excavator" guy, is probably the only one of the five guys he picked up that morning that has seen a mini before, and claims he has run one.

So I show up with the crane to set the vault, and they had dug the hole the day before, typically they dig below finish level, put in a bed of 1" clean and use a laser for a nice flat bottom. This guy just dug a vaguely oblong hole in the general area of where they wanted the tank, and no clean rock in the bottom, and just eyeballed everything. I don't think they even got out a tape measure.

I've done a lot of work for these guys, and the site superintendent has his hands full. My shop is only 10 minutes from there, and I grabbed the level when we went back for a spreader bar. I knew it would be a mess unless I just jumped in and helped, which I don't mind doing.

Now, the sheetrock guys didn't send enough help for loading up the cradle, and I'm all for helping out a little, but I'm not loading the cage up all day long with sheetrock, and running the crane too. So don't go thinking I'm a super nice guy and all, a straight truck load of sheetrock wasn't on my list of things to do yesterday.

 

[Bumpsteer]

Sheetrock.......there ain't a damn thing to do with it thats any fun, nothing.

Ed

 

[crane operator]

Circular stairs this morning with the galion. Picked it up on the road and carried it back in there, and set it. I didn't need jib, but I had gone and eyeballed it before hand and knew it would be close.

Kind of crooked, and even with as narrow as the galion is side to side, had to do a little cribbing up. I don't think I would have got a truck crane in here, there was a area of loose gravel on the hill up in there, and even if I could have, they had no way to back the stairway in to me, there was a curve in the driveway in the trees, to tight to get around.

Had the cable just about on the eave trough and then let off while they pulled it the last 6" over into place.

 

[crane operator]

Have the hyd. tank mounted now, and the fenders on. Still need to get the ladders on, and exhaust, toolbox and cribbing racks finished up.

The old hyd. tank that came off had a filter as a "breather" on the tank. It was all painted over, so I just went to o'riellys and got a oil filter that fit the threads of the adaptor. Any reason I can't use a oil filter as the breather filter to keep it from sucking in dirty air?

 

[Knepptune]

Nothing wrong with that all. I'm excited to see that truck once your done with it.

 

[Tradesman]

Nice work! that's a beautiful house.