I bought this railway crane for scrap metal

[Wes J]

They still use cranes like this on the dams on the Mississippi to clear log jams and other maintenance. They almost all have rail on top of them.

 

[kenh]

I dunno, just remember reading that many years ago.
I far as I know it could have any number of lobs between 2 and 17!

 

[ichudov]

Anyone know, do you think that it is full of concrete overall or just in the top cab counterweight?

 

[Raildudes dad]

Pretty sure that deck is one big solid casting. Counterweights tend to be just that diagonally painted piece in the back.

 

[td25c]

I don't think the inline 71 series engines ever had a 2 lobe blower, 53's yes, but I have never seen a 71 with a 2 lobe and never seen it mentioned in some of my really old service manuals ('72 vintage) and those cover old low block engines with a one piece head gasket.

3 lobe helical rotors all the way Bro !

 

[crane operator]

I doubt that any of it is a concrete counterweight. I can't think of any cranes that use a concrete counterweight. Everything I've ever been around has been a casting, or a steel box filled with steel. Concrete would eat up a steel box over time.

I take that all back, I have seen concrete counterweights as a stackable group on a portable tower crane, and some tail swing towers use cast concrete sections as their tail weights. But I doubt that your railroad crane has any concrete in it.

Concrete only weighs 150lbs per cubic ft. Steel is 490lbs per cubic ft. More weight in less room.

 

[td25c]

Anyone know, do you think that it is full of concrete overall or just in the top cab counterweight?

Can tell pretty quick on a counterweight buy tapping on it with a hammer .

Should be a distinct even sound all over a cast iron weight .

No change in tone so to speak . If the music tone changes it's filled with something other than steel .

Welded construction counterweight's are more than likely filled .

 

[mowingman]

Why don't you just call AOL Crane on Monday. Give them the S/N and they can tell you for sure.

 

[Welder Dave]

I worked at a shop that made a couple counterweights for a big crane. I had the delightful job of cutting 6" drill stem with about a 2" wall thickness into length's to fit inside the steel box. I think they put sand in to fill all the space around the drill stem. I had to do it outside and it was about 95F. I was wearing a leather jacket and heavy overalls. I probably lost 10lbs cutting that drill stem. I think the counterweights were about 15 tons each.

 

[td25c]

Any luck getting the 6 - 71 fired up ?

 

[ichudov]

Any luck getting the 6 - 71 fired up ?

I will get to it in a week. A company is giving me a CNC machine on monday, then I have to go with my crane elsewhere, and right after I will go to the railroad crane project.

 

[Bumpsteer]

Went past a big scrapyard in Bay City about 12 years ago, could see 4-5 old crane booms above the fence.

On the return trip, one was moving, rather quickly across the yard.

Stopped at an open gate to look, every one was a railroad crane. Still earning their keep
Ed

 

[td25c]

Went past a big scrapyard in Bay City about 12 years ago, could see 4-5 old crane booms above the fence.

On the return trip, one was moving, rather quickly across the yard.

Stopped at an open gate to look, every one was a railroad crane. Still earning their keep
Ed

We got one rig like that .

He still thinks it's 1956 . LOL

 

[Spud_Monkey]

Wellman 40, wow didn't know they had machinery with my last name, how cool it that. Guess I was meant for this sht.

 

[Tones]

Wellman 40, wow didn't know they had machinery with my last name, how cool it that. Guess I was meant for this sht.

So Spud your last name is 40??????????????????????????????

 

[Spud_Monkey]

So Spud your last name is 40??????????????????????????????

Nope you got it backwards lol

 

[crane operator]

Nope you got it backwards lol

So your first name is 40?

 

[Wes J]

Concrete only weighs 150lbs per cubic ft. Steel is 490lbs per cubic ft. More weight in less room.

I have some Forklift counter weights that are cast iron shells that were poured full of lead. Incredibly heavy.

 

[ichudov]

I have some Forklift counter weights that are cast iron shells that were poured full of lead. Incredibly heavy.

And if they had gold poured into them,they would be 50% heavier still!!!

 

[Welder Dave]

And 1000% more expensive.