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Just some work pics

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
Chain and steel bucket elevator change out. Ended up having to take out the head pulley for ruined bearings, so put it all back in in one shot. About 6,000 lbs worth of buckets and chain.

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Tradesman

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
1,075
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Contractor
Show up to set some steel beams over a indoor pool. No room, dumpster and all the wood piles in the way. And the beams setting out in the cul-de sac.

Set up once, all the wood out, move the dumpster, swing/ skip the beams around to get them close. Move the crane, all the wood out again, and set the beams.

38' beams, 3800lbs

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Some times sight conditions don’t allow for proper placement of materials, but most of the time it’s just someone not thinking, I just console myself with the knowledge that it’s costing them money and making me money, but I do a lot of muttering under my breath.
 

Tradesman

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
1,075
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Contractor
Insulated roof panels on a log cabin.

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We haven’t seen the old Mack for awhile, good to see your still a boom truck guy.
I had to re-roof over those insulated roof panels,they can cook a shingle roof of in 5 years. The one we re-shingled, we strapped vertically, put on 1/2” plywood sheathing, membrane and shingled. I have seen the roof recently and 10 years later it looks like the day we put it on.
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
We haven’t seen the old Mack for awhile, good to see your still a boom truck guy

Mack is still around, I just never run it, so not much chance to get action pics.

I took my son over to see the panels set, he had learned about them in school, but never seen them installed. It was close by my shop, and I got some pictures while I was there.

Right now I have the operating split between me and another operator. I run the old 25 and have gradually been using the newer 40 ton grove, to replace it for my small truss/ hvac jobs- and I take the 100 ton. My other guy will run the mack and the 70 ton. We kind of split the jobs with the two rough terrains, my 40 and 15 ton. He's a great operator, and we both can split to any of the machines. He's probably least comfortable with the 100 ton, if I've got it set up though- he'll run it too.

I have a full time mechanic/ rigger that will go out with either of us when we need a hand.

I've also been having my son go along when we need more help. He's at a community college that has no school right now, and this semester he has had tues, thursday till 2:00 and all day friday off. He's getting old enough now, and been around it enough to be good help. I wish either he or my mechanic had a CDL, it would ease the lack of a truck driver at times. I'd really rather hire another operator, as just hire a truck driver, who can't do anything unless the 100 ton is going to a job.
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
I have the oil leak slowed down- 1/2 was coming from a sensor up on the top of the engine. The other half I think is coming out of rear main, and exiting through the bell housing. So tranny move back or engine ahead and rear main. I've just been letting it leak.

I really like the upper on the 40 ton, pleased with the chart and how it runs. Pleasantly surprised with the power of the little cat, really liking the allison- its great at a uphill stoplight.

Still need to fix the swing brake. I took it apart the other day and resealed it all, the electrical works right now, the foot applied does not. Its like it either doesn't move the piston far enough, or the plates are worn too much- or the springs worn off that the clearance is too much, and it won't grab it. It doesn't move that piston very far at all when you apply the foot brake.

I have the Lmi mostly fixed, need one more transducer installed.
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
I guess my observation is that seems like a lot of overhead for only 2 operators out billing time every day or is there that much maintenance in the crane business

I never been around cranes more curious than anything
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
He probably is out in the field 1/2 the time. Delivering spreader bars, manbasket, signal man, moving loads, etc.

I actually had 3 operators most of the time until last year, and I went to two and we got most of the jobs done, but worked a lot of hours. My mechanic guy is a good jack of all trades, and we get into a lot of different things. I really could have made another operator work and pay his way last year, but I guess I decided I'd make do with what we had.

I actually own 7 cranes for two operators also. Some jobs take a big crane, some take a little crane, some jobs take two cranes. I actually could stand to sell a couple, but the older iron isn't worth a bunch, and its pretty reliable.

For me it works the best having a lot of different types of equipment, but not a lot of manpower- I couldn't keep all my cranes busy 30 hours a week with a operator for each crane. Some guys would say then I probably shouldn't own it if its not out making $$$ every day, but it works for me.
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
He probably is out in the field 1/2 the time. Delivering spreader bars, manbasket, signal man, moving loads, etc.

I actually had 3 operators most of the time until last year, and I went to two and we got most of the jobs done, but worked a lot of hours. My mechanic guy is a good jack of all trades, and we get into a lot of different things. I really could have made another operator work and pay his way last year, but I guess I decided I'd make do with what we had.

I actually own 7 cranes for two operators also. Some jobs take a big crane, some take a little crane, some jobs take two cranes. I actually could stand to sell a couple, but the older iron isn't worth a bunch, and its pretty reliable.

For me it works the best having a lot of different types of equipment, but not a lot of manpower- I couldn't keep all my cranes busy 30 hours a week with a operator for each crane. Some guys would say then I probably shouldn't own it if its not out making $$$ every day, but it works for me.

Makes sense there is nothing wrong with old iron at all it will still charge as much an hour as new iron

I was just curious I would have to have 5 machines running to have a mechanic around even if he played truck driver part of the time
 

Natman

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Joined
Dec 19, 2016
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Location
ID
Lack of a backup rig is my big worry, I have all my marbles in the Mack! But every time I think of buying something additional, I think of it just sitting there, outside, sucking up money, and not being worked. Then I think of hiring my first employee, and having to pay him (or her) even after a slow week, or training them and then having them move on to a bigger operation that can pay more. I think of all that and just keep doing my one man/one rig operation, which is real cost effective as long as nothing breaks down. I can afford to baby the National, keep it inside the heated shop, etc., so far so good. If I was 40 years old instead of 70 I'd be more ambitious, but I really don't need more income, I just want what is coming in now to continue, and like having a lot of free time to fly. Being semi retired is frigging perfect, seriously. Typical issues with a small operation, how to grow without going broke, not growing is my solution I guess.
 

dirty4fun

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
1,188
Location
N. IL
Being the same age as you Natman, I understand. I haven't flown a plane in 20 years, and miss it a lot. Still enjoy working but need to find more time to do what I enjoy, besides working. Working is enjoyable for me, and I do a large variety which sure helps. I also like to hunt fish and ride my motorcycle, but keep putting work ahead of those things. Maybe this year I can learn to say no a little more often.
I set trusses with a boom on my skidsteer, on really big jobs I hire a crane. The operator is 81 or 82 the crane is worn out, but he is so smooth and good that is what matters. Three of us plus the crane operator set a 254' building in 6 hours which isn't bad I thought.
 

Natman

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Dec 19, 2016
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I fly about 200 hours a year, and run the boom truck about 1000 hours annually. Both activities compliment each other, it's all about hand/eye coordination! Snowboarding and mountain biking really helps keep my balance good, and limber enough to scamper around on the National. Occasionally I get asked how long am I going to do this, and just tell them, "when I can't find the keys, or can't climb into the cab anymore."
 

crane operator

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
Changed out some fiberglass slide pieces at a local water park. It was sunny the one afternoon when we tried to install a piece, and it wouldn't fit- too tight. I suggested jacking, boards, pulling on the lower section, etc.

Installer said we just need to wait until the morning. Next morning it was cloudy and maybe 15 degrees cooler, and we had a 1" gap on each side when we went to fit it up. He had to wait until the sun came out and it warmed up a little, before he could put the bolts in across the bottom. Its probably 250-300' long, and I guess it moves that much in expansion and contraction.

I've seen it on large bridge work that they need a temperature range to join in the center, and I've actually seen crane booms curve from setting still with the sun only on one side, but I guess I didn't think the water slide would move that much, with only a 15 degree temp change. The park employee's said afterward that the whole thing pops and creaks all summer long with the hot sun and clouds going past.

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crane operator

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Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
8,275
Location
sw missouri
Pulled two older generators out of the local hospital. They brought in a large semi trailer mounted temporary gen set, while we removed these two. Tomorrow we will install some new vaults and transformer, and I think some switchgear.

They had a pile of high dollar power leads run all over. The semi trailer is actually on the other side of one of the buildings, and they had to run the power over the roof of it to get to the old site.

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