Staying Safe Around Construction Equipment

4 Common Overhead Crane Problems You Should Know

Lifting or moving heavy loads is challenging and can result in catastrophic injuries. Do you want to lift and move heavy items easily and faster while keeping your workers safe? Invest in an overhead crane. They have high load capacity, and you can customize them to meet your needs. However, continuous usage will eventually get the better of the crane leading to damage. Here are common overhead cranes you should know so that you seek repair to protect your investment and avoid project interruptions. 

1. Rope Damage 

The rope is one of the most used overhead crane components. Therefore, it is safe to say that it's more prone to damage than other parts. Repeated usage, environmental conditions, or crane overload may cause the rope to wear out, kink, corrode, bend, or develop birdcages. Since overhead cranes lift extremely heavy items, the last thing you want is to use a worn-out rope. It could break, causing life-ending accidents and catastrophic property damage. Make it a habit to inspect your cord before work. If it shows signs of wear, engage a crane repair service without delay. They can help replace the damaged rope and lubricate relevant parts to protect it from damage and corrosion.

2. Misaligned Crane Skew

Is your overhead crane making scraping noises or using more power than necessary? Does it have broken wheel flanges or worn-out rails? If yes, you could be looking at a misaligned crane skew. And if you do not address it immediately, you will be in for crane accidents, derailment, costly repairs, or even complete failure. Therefore, find a seasoned crane repair technician for alignment services and save yourself from all these predicaments

3. Electrical System Failure

An overhead crane has high electrical power demands. But this does not mean you should be changing fuses daily. If you are, there may be a contact break between the collector and conductor bars due to carbon graphite buildup. A crane that loses power in the middle of a hoist is extremely dangerous. You would better engage a crane repair service to fix the problem to minimize downtime and keep everyone safe.

4. Overhead Crane Brakes Failure

Your crane brakes allow you to slow down the speed of the load or stop when needed. Therefore, you need to ensure the brakes are in good condition. Over time, the brake wheel may wear out, the brake spring may become damaged, the friction plate may wear out, and the braking torque may become unstable, compromising the overall crane operations. If you don't seek crane repair services, you may not be able to stop when you desperately need to.

Be on the lookout for the above problems and call a reliable crane repair contractor if you notice any. They will identify the root cause and fix the issues, so your overhead crane can be quick, safe, and efficient again.

Contact crane services to learn more. 


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