Crane Inspection Process
To conduct a thorough inspection on a mobile crane, you should go through the following steps;
1- Check all the crane documents as following;
- Valid calibration certificate has the same serial number that written in the crane data plate;
- Valid Operator’s license
- Crane driving license in case the crane will move inside the work location;
- Crane Load Table and Chart;
- Crane Manufacturer Manual;
- Previous Crane maintenance records.
2- Extend the crane outriggers completely and support the crane on them to check their hydraulic
system and if there is an oil leakage in any of the outriggers.
3- Check the “Anti Two Block Device” limit switch by raising the hoist block until to reach to the small
weight which pulls down the switch rod- Showed in the below picture). If the switch stopped the
only up movement of the hoist and raised alarm, then the ATBD limit switch works properly. If the
hoist has Not been stopped after reaching the “weight”, then the limit switch is not working.
4- Extend the telescopic boom full sections to check their smooth movement and verify that there are
no unusual sounds or difficulty in their egression or any evidence of unauthorized repair or welds.
5- Check the wire rope of the crane against any defects (broken wires (6 broken wires in one lay or 3
broken wires in one strand in one lay, kinking, crushing, etc.)
6- Check the regular wire reeving around drum.
7- Check the block sheaves and the hook of the hoist against any deformation.
8- Check the brakes of the boom rotating part to ensure its proper operability
9- Check the crane computer system by verifying 3 points in the crane load table as following;
From the load table, extend the boom at a certain length to achieve a certain radius and check the
capacity reading in the computer against the capacity in the load table. Do this for three different
points. If the readings are the same in the load table so the computer is working properly.
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10- (Load test). Let the crane achieve 100 % of its capacity by lifting a known-weight load at its radius
and boom length from the load table. The load shall be lifted at 10-20 cm height from the ground
and keep it suspended for 10 -15 mins.
During this test, check once again the outriggers against any oil leakage; check the bearing of the
crane rotating system; check the distance between the lifted load and ground to ensure that there
is no slumping occurred
11- Check the overload switch by increasing the load radius while lifting the load to reach at Maximum
110% of the crane load capacity. The overload switch must stop the crane movement in the range
from 95% to max. 110% of its capacity.
If the overload switch didn’t stop the crane, THE TEST MUST STOP MAXIMUM AT 110% OF THE
CRANE CAPACITY.
12- Conduct general check on the availability of fire extinguisher, crane proper access ladder, tires and
the operator cabin.
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