Are you a purchasing agent trying to assess an overhead crane for replacement parts? Maybe you’re an engineer and need to create a custom industrial solution using an overhead crane. You might even be a dock worker in the market for a new crane hoist.
All of these positions have one thing in common: overhead crane maintenance and replacement parts. Regardless of your title, you understand that there are no cutting corners when it comes to overhead crane maintenance. The safety of all involved is at stake.
So how do you write the checklist for overhead crane maintenance? Does one list fit all?
The answer is no. Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to assess an overhead crane for maintenance and how to replace overhead crane parts.
Approaching Your Crane Maintenance Checklist
As you start to write your overhead crane maintenance checklist, remember how many different types of overhead cranes there are. Each will require different ways to maintain and service the machine, and their own crane replacement parts, too.
Are you maintaining a bridge crane? If so, is it single or double girder? Modular or process?
There are also gantry, jib, monorail, and workspace cranes out there. Each, of course, is designed for different industrial applications.
Before you can start your checklist, assess the work your overhead crane does. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How does my crane move?
- How often is it used?
- How heavy are the loads? What are they primarily composed of?
- Does the crane work indoors or outdoors?
The answers to these questions will help you assess where you need to pay the most attention in maintaining your overhead crane.
Electrical
Regardless of which type of crane you’re servicing, it’s likely it has an electric counterpart to it. If the crane is used frequently, slow or faulty electrical systems can slow you down.
It’s a good idea to upgrade your switch, breaking, and conduction systems to optimize your crane’s performance. This is a preventative measure, but it’ll save you time and money in the long run.
Mechanical
Here’s the tough thing about mechanical maintenance: after ten to fifteen years, it can be difficult to find replacement parts that fit your (now outdated) overhead crane.
This is a key consideration because overhead cranes are fundamentally mechanical machines. The last thing you want is a worn out mechanical part to present a safety hazard.
That’s why mechanical maintenance often means upgrading your crane’s mechanical elements to more modern pieces. Sure, you can always have your mechanics spruced up and repaired, but that’s not the best investment for the longevity of your machine.
Instead, opt for preventative maintenance. Upgrading will save you the headache down the line of your machine losing value because you can’t find one measly replacement part for it.
Overhead Crane Parts
If there’s one thing that’s true about overhead cranes: most aren’t created equal. Each machine requires a dedicated analysis of its function, purpose, and the lifespan of the overhead crane parts. It’s the only way to write an accurate essential maintenance checklist.
Need help with the process? We can help. Get in touch with any questions you may have about overhead crane maintenance and upgrades!