Had a main hoist brake fail on a 50-ton Grove last Tuesday in Tacoma

We were lowering a 12-foot steel beam about 30 feet up when the load just started to drop. I hit the emergency stop and the secondary brake caught it, but my heart was in my throat. The mechanic found a worn-out solenoid in the power-down circuit. Anyone else had a close call with a brake system on an older model like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

terryw678d ago

That secondary brake catch is a lifesaver. How often do you test those backups?

elliot_patel7d ago

Yeah, testing the backups is key. I once got so used to the main brake working I forgot the secondary even existed until a safety check. That was a real wake-up call.

tylerj227d ago

My old car had a backup brake fail at 60mph on the highway. I mean, after that I test mine every oil change now. @terryw67 is right, it's a total lifesaver.