Bucket Trucks

[coobie]

A lot of times at job sites you'll see them raised with a generator or some other expensive piece of equipment dangling from them, to keep them out of the hands of thieves.

THIS !! Being a retired electric lineman I have spoke to contractors why they leave there booms in the air.

 

[MarkF48]

I used to work for an electric utility in MA, but usually tried to avoid going near work on the weekends, so I'm not sure we had a practice of leaving buckets up. Nothing is ever left in buckets as far as I know, nor equipment hung off them to guard against theft. The only reason I can think of to put the buckets up for the weekend is if you find any have come down on Monday morning it's time to look at the hydraulics for leakage in the system.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

As I stated in an earlier post lineman leave their hand tools ( bucket tools ) in the toolboard inside the bucket, the upper boom is raised so the bucket is not easily acessible to theives and bandits, I've worked all over the country and have never worked for a power line construction contractor or utility that takes everything out of the bucket everyday, tree trimming outfits different story. Charlie.

 

[Mace Canute]

As I stated in an earlier post lineman leave their hand tools ( bucket tools ) in the toolboard inside the bucket, the upper boom is raised so the bucket is not easily acessible to theives and bandits, I've worked all over the country and have never worked for a power line construction contractor or utility that takes everything out of the bucket everyday, tree trimming outfits different story. Charlie.

Agreed! I'm an old retired Lineman who used to operate a double bucket truck for several years and leaving the boom raised would often be done for security reasons, both to keep thieves away from the tools and also to eliminate the possibility of people (more so kids) falling and injuring themselves while climbing in or out of the buckets and then suing the corporation.

 

[k0ua]

Agreed! I'm an old retired Lineman who used to operate a double bucket truck for several years and leaving the boom raised would often be done for security reasons, both to keep thieves away from the tools and also to eliminate the possibility of people (more so kids) falling and injuring themselves while climbing in or out of the buckets and then suing the corporation.

But what about the secondary controls on the truck body itself. Our bucket truck had a set. I cannot remember for sure but I though you could lower the boom without the truck running? But i am not sure about that.

 

[LD1]

Most aieral lifts have apilot operated check valve. So truck has to be running for the levers on the ground to work.

 

[coobie]

But what about the secondary controls on the truck body itself. Our bucket truck had a set. I cannot remember for sure but I though you could lower the boom without the truck running? But i am not sure about that.

James,I think you are correct on the older model trucks you could hit the dead man switch and bring the bucket down manually.The newer buckets have a electric motor that needs the ignition key on to do this now.

 

[MarkF48]

James,I think you are correct on the older model trucks you could hit the dead man switch and bring the bucket down manually.The newer buckets have a electric motor that needs the ignition key on to do this now.

Back when I was working we had bucket rescue classes that did teach how to bring a bucket down on a non-running truck. 10+ years of time since I retired has blurred the memory of how it was done.

 

[GMIslander]

But what about the secondary controls on the truck body itself. Our bucket truck had a set. I cannot remember for sure but I though you could lower the boom without the truck running? But i am not sure about that.

The lift cylinders and outrigger cylinders are equipped with hydraulic blocking valves to prevent the cylinder from collapsing if system pressure is lost due to a broken line or pump failure etc. Therefore the boom cannot be lowered without system pressure or removing a few hyd. lines.

 

[k0ua]

The lift cylinders and outrigger cylinders are equipped with hydraulic blocking valves to prevent the cylinder from collapsing if system pressure is lost due to a broken line or pump failure etc. Therefore the boom cannot be lowered without system pressure or removing a few hyd. lines.

Thanks guys for the info on the valves of the bucket trucks, it has been almost 15 years since I operated one, and it is getting a little fuzzy.