older bucket truck questions

[josh Farris]

hey I'm new to the forum and to the tree service business. I have a few questions about the bucket truck I just bought. it's a 1980 skyworker 50' working height mounted on a chevy c 70. any ways my biggest question is when I have it almost maxed out it seem to have a clunk feeling or like it has some play in the bearing coming from the turret area is this somewhat normal? this is the only bucket truck I have ever been in. this only happens when the pos low pressure controls jerk. thanks for any help.

 

[AGoodSteward]

I'd send someone else up with instructions on how to recreate the conditions or use the bottom controls. Stay on the ground and observe, feel, listen(stethoscope). Know any issues before you fly. Have it serviced and then inspect it again. Being in a lift that fails is the worst feeling. I lost the bucket leveler when maxed out over a dropline. Lucky my coworker grabbed my harness or I'd have flipped out.

 

[josh Farris]

thanks for the info. dose your truck have any movement (clunk) when you get a little rough on the controls?

 

[AGoodSteward]

The high ranger does "clunk" when the pressure hits on releasing the trigger. Mostly when moving rapid then stopping. Also when rotating then stopping, the arm flexes then unflexes. I try to move smoothly to minimize wear.

 

[josh Farris]

thanks for the info.

 

[250R]

The Skyworker is the predecessor to ALC. Might be worth having it checked. A lot cheaper that crashing down.

 

[josh Farris]

since I posted this in have learned a little bit about this lift like they went out of business because of lawsuits because of the aluminum knuckle breaks. so that being said no one will inspect it for me. hAve you heard anything like this about these lifts?

 

[250R]

Never heard any thing about the law suits and why Skyworker went to ALC but the skyworker was a good lift. Maybe sign a release form so you can get it inspected or even better verify they were sued. It would probobly be plastered all over the internet.