Tag: checklist

SGS Crane Inspections

A better service for used crane inspections

Are you looking for an inspector for a used crane? Did you come across or did you hear from SGS or TÜV? If you are looking for statutory or safety inspections for cranes SGS is a good solution. Well trained staff and available in many countries.

Does SGS understand used cranes?

There is a difference between inspection of a used crane for a buyer and a safety or statutory inspection. An inspector who is trained for Loler or OSHA inspections does not necessarily understand what a purchaser of a used crane wants. This is the situation when MEVAS comes on stage.

Demag Crane, Used machine inspected by MEVAS

Crane inspections by our experts

MEVAS inspectors understand, how to prepare a reasonable inspection report for buyers of used cranes. A detailed report focuses on machine details such as leaks, maintenance status, wear in ropes, wear on tires and other details which are influencing the remaining value of a crane. Our technicians know how to take reasonable pictures and videos. They crawl under the crane to search for cracks and leaks. Rust on chassis is estimated as well as condition of tool boxes, swing bearing and telescopic cylinder condition. Our engineers use a specific checklist for each type of crane. We have inspected mobile cranes up to 500 to lifting capacity and large crawler cranes for windmills.

Allowed Swing Bearing Play on mobile and crawler cranes

How much tilting play is allowed in the slewing ring of a mobile or a crawler crane?

Ask three specialists and you will get three different answers. If you ask Liebherr, i.e. the people who would like to sell you a repair or a new slewing ring, you will get the statement that the tolerance limit would be reached at 0.9 mm tilting play. If you ask a mobile crane user in Eastern Europe or Africa, they will say anything under 5mm is fine.

Measuring Swing bearing play on a mobile crane
Gauge to measure horizontal tilting play in crane swing bearing

What does a crane inspector say about swing bearing play?

As inspectors of used cranes, what is our opinion on this? Since the tilting play in the slewing ring is sometimes 0.3 to 0.6 mm even on new cranes, we do not think it is necessary to criticize a slewing ring if it has less than 1.2 mm tilting play. To know exactly, you should also measure the slewing ring play over at least three or four sides. Experienced inspectors know exactly how the procedure must be carried out. It is particularly important that the crane is ballasted. When we inspect a used mobile crane, we typically only measure across one side. Only when there are doubts about the condition is it measured over several pages.

Why is it important to measure swing bearing play from time to time on a mobile crane?

Measuring swing bearing play on a mobile crane is crucial for several reasons, and it plays a significant role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the crane. Here are some key reasons why it’s important to regularly measure swing bearing play:

  1. Safety:
    • Excessive swing bearing play can compromise the stability and structural integrity of the crane, leading to potential accidents or tip-overs. Regular measurements help identify issues before they become critical, ensuring the safety of both operators and bystanders.
  2. Equipment Longevity:
    • Monitoring swing bearing play allows early detection of wear and tear. Addressing any play or movement issues promptly helps prevent further damage to the swing bearing and other related components, thus extending the overall lifespan of the crane.
  3. Operational Performance:
    • Properly functioning swing bearings are essential for smooth crane operation. Excessive play can lead to imprecise control and reduced accuracy during lifting and positioning tasks. Regular measurements help maintain optimal operational performance.
    • Imagine a crane has the boom extended to 80 or more meters and there is 5mm play on swing bearing. On getting load the tip would reduce height and angle of boom significantly.
  4. Preventive Maintenance:
    • Regularly checking swing bearing play is a part of preventive maintenance practices. Identifying and addressing potential problems early can prevent more extensive and costly repairs in the future, minimizing downtime and maximizing crane availability.
  5. Regulatory Compliance:
    • Many regulatory bodies and safety standards require periodic inspections and maintenance of crane components, including swing bearings. Regular measurements help ensure compliance with these regulations and standards, reducing the risk of legal and financial consequences.
  6. Cost Savings:
    • Proactive maintenance based on regular measurements can be more cost-effective than reactive repairs. Early identification and correction of swing bearing issues help avoid major breakdowns and the associated costs of emergency repairs and crane downtime.
  7. Reliability:
    • A crane with a well-maintained swing bearing is more reliable and less likely to experience unexpected failures. This reliability is crucial in construction and industrial settings where cranes play a vital role in various operations.

In summary, measuring swing bearing play on a mobile crane is essential for maintaining safety, extending equipment life, ensuring optimal performance, complying with regulations, and ultimately minimizing costs associated with repairs and downtime. Regular inspections and maintenance contribute to the overall reliability and efficiency of the crane in its operational environment.

How much does it cost to replace a worn slewing bearing?

Depending on size and lifting capacity of a crane or an excavator the swing bearing itself can easily cost above 8.000 Euro. Then you need all the pins to fix it on superstructure and chassis. That’s another 1.500 Euro at least. But with this cost the slew ring hasn’t been exchanged yet. Cranes are required to lift the superstructure. You need big tools to open and fit the pins with appropriate torque. All in all the replacing cost for a sllew ring will be in most cases far above 10.000 Euro.

For the reason of the big cost it is strongly recommended to measure the play if you are buying a crane or a larger excavator. Hire an expert to inspect a used crane and check out those details.

Free Crane Inspection checklist

I guess you came to this website because you were looking for a free inspection form for cranes. A reasonable and good checklist for inspection of used cranes is based on the procedure of a crane inspection. The form is designed in such a way that a crane inspector can carry out all the tests during the inspection and the test procedure is completed in a certain amount of time. The form is therefore not intended to hinder the crane inspector, but to guide him. All assemblies are listed in the order in which they will be tested during the inspection. Checklists for cranes must of course also be based on the type of construction of the crane. So there cannot be a single checklist for any given type of crane, but separate checklists must be drawn up for each type of crane.

Free crane inspection checklist pdf download
Crane Inspection Checklist PDF

Crane inspection check-list, free download


Now the question arises how good can a document, distributed free of charge be? Someone has invested a certain amount of time to develop not for free available Free Crane Inspection Checklist. The expectation that you can download such a form for free, like everywhere else on the internet, is widespread. Especially if there are many different checklists for cranes, someone has therefore invested quite a lot. So why should the developper give something like this away for free? Our offer looks like this: If you order a crane inspection from us, you will receive a completed form from us. This means that you will receive a checklist that exactly matches the crane you want to buy. If you are looking for a free checklist for cranes, we are sorry to disappoint you, but perhaps you will find what you are looking for on another website. We have a saying for this: What costs nothing is worth nothing. We at Mevas wish you good luck in your search.

Free checklist for Liebherr mobile cranes

Does the crane manufacturer Liebherr provide a free and freely available checklist for the inspection of used cranes? Can I get this list free of charge from the crane experts at Liebherr? In our experience, this is not the case. Just like other experts in the crane business, Liebherr does not distribute documents free of charge. On the contrary, these inspection lists contain a great deal of knowledge and experience. So why would a crane manufacturer like Liebherr, Tadano-Faun or Grove give out an inspection list for free? Now the question arises as to why this website and this text actually exist? It’s because Google evaluates the time visitors spend on certain websites to rank their relevance. So we have used your search for a free document to keep you on our website for as long as possible. So your desire to get something completely free tells Google that our website is relevant for the inspection and forms for the inspection of cranes. You can have a look at the sample report page for used cranes to find a checklist.