Bought a link-belt RT crane for scrap, what parts to save

Bought this crane:

https://www.ironplanet.com/jsp/s/item/1465510

I think that I will just scrap it. I will try to get the A2B from it for myself and maybe keep the 20 ton Johnson load block, I am sure that it is the same as mine. What else to save? Tires? Engine? Or just fix it? "severe hydraulic leak" probably is fixable...

Looks like it has a 4-53 engine .

You'd have to pull the boom apart. Check/replace extend/retract cables. Repack tele and hoist cyls. I think to rebuild would really be cost prohibitive.
Of course block and winch would be good to strip and have on hand as well as the mechanical lock pawl and lever. I seem to recall the outrigger jacks being somewhat prone to damage. Wouldn't hurt to hang on to one or more known good. After that , I'd part it out
Good luck

Also Photo #7 suggests that it has a propane cab heater! Would be a cool add-on...

As opposed to no heater, yes. I personally like the little webasto heaters myself.
I just noticed, it has a McAllister sticker on it. That was the dealer I worked for. Beneath that looks like an asset number from perhaps Prairie Materials. She's got issues though.

Always keep Detroit’s! Haha

OK I agree that 90% likely it is going to be scrapped. What is the easiest way to load it on a lowboy?

Easiest would be to pick it and set it down on the trailer. Aside from that I guess you could round up some equipment to push it on although I’m not sure you could steer short of physically shoving a tire to get it straight. It’s a consideration of time, space and $$.....

can you forklift it from the bottom, I have a 60,000 lbs forklift and this crane is supposedly 38,000 lbs

I would drop a new battery in it along with some fuel & hydro oil and try driving it on first .

ichudov said:

can you forklift it from the bottom, I have a 60,000 lbs forklift and this crane is supposedly 38,000 lbs

Click to expand...

You probably can figure out a way to do that, especially since you’re most likely scrapping it anyway. Who cares what might get tweaked or mangled in the process. RT’s have a substantial frame so I don’t think it would be too difficult to make a forklift that big work.

You might follow TD25c's suggestion of just walking her up under its own power. It would be worth a shot.

Severe hydraulic leak. Idk how they’d feel about it puking oil out faster than you can dump in....may not care at all Perform standard due diligence as far as resurrecting old Detroits

It's a quarry, oil dry everywhere. Lol

Remove the a2b, and all the wiring and the switch, that looks pretty new. The rest of the stuff it depends on how much storage you have, and how long you want to sit on it, before the "just right" buyer comes along that needs what you have, and isn't going to just by new parts. Not only does it take a buyer that needs your parts, but he's going to have to find out that you have the parts.

I wouldn't try to pick it up with your forklift, its a long ways to the center of gravity from the side. Looks like the tires might all hold air, if you want to load it, I'd push the tires straight with your forklift, then pull or push it on the lowboy. If it won't run to pick up the outriggers, individually pick up each corner with your forklift while you cut off the jacks. disconnet the park brake, drop drivelines if the trans is holding you up, but I think the park brake will do it.

That said, it may have only lost a main hyd hose, just coming off the pump, from setting around. It looks really rough, but look at it this way, sometime in the last 2-3 years, they spent $3,000 putting that a2b on it, so it really probably isn't that far from being a running crane. You don't spend that kind of money unless you plan to use it some. It needs a new winch line and some paint, but the main part of the crane, everything looks pretty straight. All the pieces are there. There's no reason to pull the boom apart, if its not puking oil from the boom, there's no extend/retract cables in that style. And in the pictures, the boom looks dry.

Tires are all good, outriggers are all there, boom looks straight, I guess I'm seeing your yard crane for unloading while the other one is out in the field, or can you say "tandem pick".....

They actually got it running, so I'm betting you're only some hoses away from it working. For me I think I'd look it over a little before just deciding it's scrap, $400 in hoses might get you a second crane. $600 of painting would make it look a lot better. If it had been sitting for 10 years, they wouldn't even have batteries in it. It would be really similar in size to your grove.

If there was such a thing as the Crane Rescue Society ,there would be a few members in here im sure. Im looking at another 40 ton American Its pretty war torn but has lots of parts i can use. I just have to stop myself from any thoughts of resurecting it.

I picked it up today. I will scrap it, it will be easier than fixing it. They said that it worked and they used it a lot, then it started leaking oil and they could not get it certified for their quarry operation (everything I have is leaking oil). But they also said that the boom is slightly bent and somewhat hard to extend and retract. That to me is a deal breaker.

I will save

- Propane Cab heater (for my Grove RT60S)
- A2B (for my Grove RT60S)
- Hydraulic pumps for sale
- Detroit 8.7L engine for sale
- Tires for sale
- 20 ton hook block for sale
- outrigger jacks for sale
- outrigger jack feet for sale

I thought most of those had 6V72's in them.

OK, I have removed the Rayco Wylie R147 anti-two-block system. The valves are hard to transplant and I just wanted to use this system as a alarm, to buy a really loud 12v warning device and run it off of the a2b. Would that somehow make me legally exposed for anything? Can a A2B be installed just to provide a clear warning, without disabling crane functions?

I think that would go back to how it was originally equipped. If it had ATB that stopped winch up or stick extension , then , I think you would need same functionality. You can improve on but never delete or minimize. At least, that is my understanding.
Good luck , I'm sure craneop can shed light on this .