Crane Troubleshooting Essential Knowledge


Most operators would agree that it is more logical to test electrical systems first than hydraulic systems of faulty crawler crane parts. Safety protocols are still highly required of course, but a normal quality electronic multi-meter can rapidly test the interior values of most electrical components at the visible wiring terminals. Testing related electrical functions on a hydraulic system is one of the tasks you’ll want to carry out sooner rather than later.
It is even easier and simpler of course, for both operator and technician to always be on the lookout for an external leak. It then easier to replace cranepiping spares once the problem has been identified. This is the level of simple diagnostics at the start of the troubleshooting method. Vibrations and impacts can cause some valve solenoid connectors, fasteners, bolts and nuts to loosen. Detecting a slack connector or a wire that has disconnected results for a short, simple, inexpensive troubleshooting procedure.

If the report is several slow movements and sudden intermittent motions on the machine, and strange crane part noises, a specialist may want to check the fluid level in the main hydraulic reservoir. It might be significantly low, producing serious flow problems when the equipment is working on a sloped terrain. When were the filters replaced? Is there a layer of froth on top of the fluid in the reservoir showing air ingression? The soft, negative cylinder motion might just be a fixer on the pump drag hose that has come unfastened, permitting a lot of air to be drawn in. If these points seem apparent, then this is just a conclusion not to jump to conclusions too quickly with a decision to immediately change crane parts. Easy-to-check items and issues are often ignored by great troubleshooters only because of mental pressure from those waiting for the machine to be fixed.
If there is no clear external evidence to the fault as described and confirmed—and if a skilled worker has not faced a particular fault beforehand—a deeper, more laborious troubleshooting process must begin. But, don’t take out the test gauges and flow meters just yet. It’s now time to create a battle plan. The schematic diagram is the most convenient and suitable tool for planning and guiding troubleshooting work.
In the case of an open-loop piping track, there may be several circuit of parallel flow paths from the reservoir out to the pumps, onward to the check and gate valves, then to the actuators, and eventually back to the reservoir. On any single of those leading flow tracks, there will be flow regulators and other components in series (filters, check valves, flow controls, pressure reducing valves), and there will likely be supplementary small parallel paths or branches back to the reservoir through pressure relief valves. 
The schematic diagram is a principal flow routing plan which shows the reader or specialist where liquid is meant to flow for the different purposes, and at different stages of the procedure. The whole hydraulic system is basically a circuit, with sub-circuits and then components. The component symbols are drawn in their normal state as though the machine is shut down. A technician needs to recognize the language of the symbols and codes so that he can imagine those symbols (for example, shift a directional valve) in his mind’s eye, and study the circuit and sub-circuit flow paths for different stages of machine operation.

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