Had to choose between a new luffing jib or replacing my slew ring last month

Our Liebherr 150 at the Port of Seattle started grinding bad on the swing. Shop said replace the slew ring for $18k or add a luffing jib for $9k to make jobs easier. I picked the jib since we do tight spots near the waterfront. First job with it yesterday we set steel for a pier extension and the precision was insane. Anyone else had to pick between maintenance and an upgrade like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

xenam8414d ago

Did you already have the crane in the shop when you made that call, or was it still running okay? I'm just curious because with a grinding slew ring, I'd be worried about it failing mid-job and causing a bigger headache than the upgrade cost. The precision thing makes sense for pier work, but did you check if the slew ring could hold out another year or two?

craig.olivia4d ago

Damn, $18k for a slew ring and you just rolled the dice on it holding out? That's a bold move, man.

jamesc7914d ago

Well now that is a tough call but I think you made the right move honestly. I had a similar situation with my old Grove about five years back where the carrier needed new tires but I chose to put that money into a load moment indicator upgrade instead. The tires were getting thin but not dangerous yet so I figured I could run them for another season or two while the LMI would pay for itself on every job. It worked out okay for me because I got better at bidding jobs with the new gear and the tires held up fine until I had the cash to replace them later. The key is knowing your equipment's limits and being honest with yourself about what can wait and what can't. From what you described the slew ring might have had some life left in it and the jib opened up new work for you. I say if the crane is still swinging smooth enough to get the job done then you made a good bet on the upgrade.