Tractor towing Boom lift

czechsonofagun · Dec 15, 2009

JB, I just remember article I read long time ago about changing the bulb on top of Empire State. Now holding onto a needle in that height makes me feel slightly dizzy in my chair

Here is at least a picture of it.

jinman · Dec 15, 2009

JB4310 said:
Been using those boom lifts for a long time before they were so common place, I saw 6 different lifts on a Dunkin Donuts construction job, nobody wants to use a ladder or staging now.
On those Church's they are really a necessary, the gutters on that brown stone church are 52 feet off the ground.
The lifts are alot more productive, and safer than a Boson's chair or a 60 foot extension ladder like we use to use!

John, I think you are making a terrific point about those boom lifts. What is amazing to me is how all the many variations of hydraulic boom lifts are used and most (if not all) of the problems I've heard about relate to improper use or accidental contact with electrical wires or having something fall on you. If I used those lifts as much as you, I'd want to know the details of how the lock valves were installed on the cylinders and what to do in any emergency for any brand of lift. That said, they seem to be extremely reliable regarding their hydraulics and I don't think I've ever heard of an incidence of one failing that way. I think that's amazing and part of why they are used so much. As you pointed out, they are many times easier and safer than a ladder or scaffold. That's what justifies their cost.

JB4310 · Dec 17, 2009

czechsonofagun said:
JB, I just remember article I read long time ago about changing the bulb on top of Empire State. Now holding onto a needle in that height makes me feel slightly dizzy in my chair

Here is at least a picture of it.

Nice pic Prokop, That guy has to have some nerve! sad you can see WTC in the background.

jinman said:
If I used those lifts as much as you, I'd want to know the details of how the lock valves were installed on the cylinders and what to do in any emergency for any brand of lift.

Jim, No I don't know them mechanically that well, we do give them a good looking over to try and spot obvious defects though. the biggest threat is whats under the tires, like soft ground, collapse pipes under paved areas etc. any kind of sudden drop in one of the wheels and your gonna be in trouble. Guy at the rental company told me 2 guys in New York got killed when a big one went over, they were washing windows and were driving the wheels to reposition when they drove down a ramp in the walk or street, didn't realize it from up there til it was to late.

We've had quirky machines were we had problems with restarting when way up, had to call service department so they could trouble shoot over the phone, they have contingency plans where there are things you can do inside the control panel in the basket, where parts and wires can be swapped around for help getting the machine back to the ground.
Basically if you do get marooned off road 100 feet in the air, 911 ain't gonna be able to help you, fire dept is not going to be able to rescue you. At that time a factory trained technician is going to be your best hope.
We always keep a long 3/4 inch nylon safety rated rope with us up there along with a couple of carabiners and a little bit of experience in repelling, in the event we had to rescue ourselves as a last resort in an emergency.

firefighter9208 · Dec 17, 2009

I rented a 35' lift last year from Lowe's to get a tree off the top of my parent's shop. The limb was broken about 25' up the tree, but still hanging on. The top end of the limb was lying on the ridge of the shop. The limb was about 12" in diameter. I started at the top end of the limb removing the smaller limbs and worked my way to the tree.;

When I first got into the bucket and got off the ground I couldn't move. Talk about pucker factor. I finally almost got used to it.

The rental for 24 hours was right at $200.00.

My parents recently had a 60" diameter oak tree removed from beside their house. A local guy with a tree service (licensed, insured, and bonded) came out with his crew (him on the rope, a climber, and two ground people). In 4 hours they had the tree on the ground. Only charged $500.00. Of course I had to do all the cleanup, blocking, and hauling off limbs.

It took me and another person two full days to split all the wood in that tree with a PTO splitter.

Czechsonofagun.... My suggestion is to see how much a local tree man will put that tree on the ground for you. It was well worth the $500.00 and not having to be in the lift with a chainsaw. They lowered the limbs to the ground with ropes and didn't tear up the yard.

Chris

czechsonofagun · Dec 18, 2009

Yes, JB, I noticed that too. Must be quite old picture, I think I read the article still overseas - i.e. before 97.

I know a rock climber who had nice gig maintaining this structure on the outside.

And when the Prague TV tower was under construction they used "climbing crane" and every morning, this crane would lift a crate of workers to the top. I know for sure since I could see it from my window day after day. Little platform suspended on steel line rising through the air - I guess you get used to it, but it would take me some time.