Operators, hoist up on these PM pointers to keep your crane mission-ready at all times.
Use the Handholds
The crane’s swing/auxiliary hoist control lever, known as the joystick, is not a handhold for climbing into and out of the cab.
The joystick is not strong enough to support your weight. A busted joystick puts your crane out of action until a new one is installed. With that new joystick comes a big bill!
Instead, use the handholds attached to either side of the cab door.
Use Stowage Box
Remind yourself to do some good housekeeping after the day’s run.
Don’t leave the crane’s lifting slings, cables, chains or pile drive attachments on the vehicle’s superstructure when you’re done with them. Anything left behind can get lost when the crane moves, or cause you to slip and fall off the vehicle.
Put the items where they belong, in the stowage box next to the cab carrier. That way they’ll be out of the way, won’t get lost, and you’ll know where to find them.
Lube the Hook Block
Four grease fittings on the crane get overlooked because they’re on the vehicle’s hook block.
Without lube, the block’s sheaves, trunnion and thrust bearings can seize up. That causes excessive wear and tear on the crane hoist cables and hook block sheaves.
For smooth crane operation, lube the hook block with GAA monthly or every 100 hours like it says on Page 1-4-9 of TM 5-3810-307-24-1-1 (Aug 00).
Cap the Grease Fitting
Here’s a good idea: Use protective caps on the hook block’s grease fittings.
These caps keep the fittings clean and unclogged. It’s easier to take the cap off when it’s time to lube than it is to replace the fitting(s) because they won’t take grease.
You can order protective caps with NSN 4730-00-289-8148.