If your company’s fixed assets include mobile cranes, you can operate them throughout the year, including winter. However, depending on the seasonal temperature, the operation of mobile cranes has its nuances. Especially if there is a need to work with a crane during winter. Let’s explore the key points for proper operation of crane equipment in cold conditions.
The transitional period from a warm autumn to a cold winter (even one as mild and snowless as this winter!) can negatively impact mobile crane operations if proper maintenance of the crane units and the underlying truck chassis on which the cranes are mounted is neglected. By following the operational instructions provided upon delivery of crane equipment from MPP “Modus”, and adhering to scheduled maintenance, repair, and preventive care, your mobile crane will serve you reliably and for a long time.
How do mobile cranes operate and are maintained under low temperatures and high humidity?
A mobile crane will operate correctly and reliably in winter if the appropriate seasonal fuels, transmission oils, and working fluids are used. The working fluids, selected according to the season, determine the crane’s performance, speed of loading/unloading operations, and fuel consumption.
It is important to remember that, first and foremost, a mobile crane is a heavy-duty vehicle. Therefore, in winter, any base chassis on which a crane is mounted must be used in accordance with the operational requirements for trucks:
- Use diesel fuel designed for truck operation in cold weather. Filling the tank with summer diesel can damage the fuel system and fine fuel filter due to paraffin flakes precipitating and clogging the system.
- The viscosity of oils and working fluids largely determines mobile crane performance in winter. As temperatures drop, the viscosity of oils and fluids increases, which can prevent proper circulation through pumps and may cause pump failure. Thickened oils also increase the load on the axle gearbox, potentially damaging the drive shaft. Cold-weather compatible oils include VMGZ and AU. If temperatures fall below -25 °C, pre-throttling of working fluids for heating is required.
Additionally, in winter, monitor the condition of the truck chassis, and prepare the crane’s hydraulic lifting system by maintaining the working fluids within the recommended temperature range. Before beginning operations, preheat the working fluids. Modern mobile cranes monitor these fluid temperatures in the hydraulic system via the onboard computer.
Besides working fluids, inspect the hydraulic cylinder rods. In winter, moisture, snow, and dirt accumulate on them. If the rods remain exposed for long periods, clean off dirt and ice to prevent damage to wipers and rubber seals. Preheating the hydraulic system before crane operation helps remove accumulated dirt and ice.
Modern mobile cranes are heavily equipped with electrical systems. Frequent temperature fluctuations in winter can cause condensation on lifting mechanisms.
Droplets of water lead to corrosion and may cause short circuits in electrical connections, directly risking the crane’s electronics.
Also, monitor the cable on the load drum during winding. In freezing conditions, the cable loses elasticity and can be damaged, potentially affecting the winch mechanism.
