Lattice boom cracked on a pick last Tuesday

I was setting HVAC units on a roof in Phoenix around noon when I heard a loud ping. Got down and found a hairline crack in the lattice on the middle section of my Manitowoc 999. I shut everything down and flagged the foreman immediately. Had to bring in a rental to finish the job while I welded it up that evening. Has anyone else caught a crack before it got bad or am I the only one inspecting that close?

4 comments

4 Comments

wendyg4312d ago

That moment when you hear that ping is enough to stop your heart. You did the right thing shutting down and getting a rental, that crack could have turned into a full break on the next lift. I always run my hands along the lattice every morning during prestart, especially in the summer when heat stress is a factor. Phoenix sun is brutal on equipment, so you probably saved yourself a much bigger headache. How long did the rental delay end up setting you back?

amy97412d ago

You ran your hands along the lattice every morning and still nearly missed a hairline crack? That's scary close to a disaster, man. Heat stress in Phoenix is no joke, glad you caught it when you did. How long did it take you to weld it up that night?

riley4312d ago

Yeah wendyg43 said it best, that ping is the worst sound you can hear on a job.

nancy81712d ago

A quick weld job on a hot evening beats a full boom replacement any day. You probably saved yourself thousands and a serious safety incident. Bet the foreman was relieved you caught it when you did.