O.K. you older guys got a question on an old cable crane my buddy has just got into his junk yard. Its an older ls 98 model with an international ud-18 engine, it starts and seems to run fine but we cant seem to get it to travel, it wont even take the slack out of the drive chains. neither one of us have ever ran it and we are wondering how to get it into the travel mode. we got the house to swing a bit but that doesn't want to work real well either, thanks. Don
The travel dawgs are probably still engaged. It's been over 30 years since I ran a 98 Speeder full time so I can't remember the layout but that's what it sounds like to me. They're most likely on the top console in the same row as the little finger levers. If it isn't a Speeder and has purely mechanical levers, then it would be down low on the left side with the cutting clutches. Anyhow most dinosaurs like that have missing or unreadable control labels, but if you have found the dawgs and already tried to release them and still no go then they might be malfunctioning. Does it make any resistance sounds as you engage the crawlers? That would mean it's trying to move but held back. If not then the crawlers aren't being engaged at all, so you should to try is to see if the master clutch is in. On the LB Speeder's it's the long skinny lever on the floor, that you have on your left side by your leg, as you sit in the seat. If it's not pulled back towards the rear of the crane then the master clutch isn't even in at all. It's there in way to make sure the op kicks it out before getting out of the seat. If it's hoisting or booming tho you can rule that out.
Are you using all three travel levers? There are two short levers side by side that release the travel brakes and engage the jaw clutches (one for each track). There is another lever that engages the forward and reverse travel clutches. So to travel, you have to release both brake levers and engage the travel clutch lever. To turn, only release one travel brake lever, then engage travel clutch. Clutch lever should be second from left, and brake levers should be third and fourth levers from left. You say it is a LS, so it has the hydraulic speedomatic controls. Not sure if this helps, but if you have any more questions, I would be glad to help. I have spent alot of time on and around the 98s and 108s.
Eric,the two levers on the right hand side are the travel levers,theres also a short lever further to the right ,but that acts like a swing lock, the master clutch works fine, the hydraulic system was low i added oil ,but it seems there is a pressure bump in the pressure hose coming off the pump about every 10 seconds. I read here that the accumulator might not be charged properly. i moved those two levers up and down ,there seems to be only two positions, and at the same time moved the third lever in and out also nothing happening, there are the two short steering levers in the console, i actually only got the house to revolve once ,it seemed to struggle hard to swing but did not make the engine die down. it seems like i never got the travel engaged with all my antics !!!! a manual would definitely help!!! thanks. Don
It may not have independent swing and travel. If so there is a lever somewhere behind you on the right that switches it from swing to travel mode. On a non independent swing-travel machine, you switch the lever near your right shoulder and use the swing clutch to travel. How many levers on the control console?
That pressure bump is the accumulator needing recharged, but the machine should still function somewhat. Mine did that for awhile, but only was a problem on a heavy pick when I needed max capacity from the clutch.
Also, if it struggled to swing, the swing brake may be set. Not sure, just trying to narrow it down starting with the easy stuff. If the swing brake or swing lock are released it should swing very freely. The swing brake is up under the back center of upper revolving frame in between frame and circle. You can crawl under the back and see it easily. Check if this is releasing.
Eric, I'm pretty sure the swing brake is off,the house will try and coast around. as its setting there is only one section of boom on it, the rest is on the ground near by,the machine is not setting level the counterweight is on the low side so as you try to swing it you have to bring the rear of the machine uphill . i'm sure im just not doing something right ,like i say if i had a operators manual it would make things a lot easier !!! i would hate to cut the old girl up but if we cant make it function my boss will hae me at it with my shear !!! Don
OH NO!!!!!! Hate to hear that. lol All the old machines are disapearing one by one. I have bought three of them that were headed for scrap. It's kind of hard to compete with the scrap market though. I can see why they are all going away. Anyway, I have all the manuals for these machines. If it has sat for awhile the clutches may be rusty and possibley out of adjustment. That could be why it doesnt want to swing very good. As for the travel, if it does have independent swing and travel, you can engage the travel clutch without releasing the brakes and the clutches should spin the shafts going down underneath, just wont move the machine because the jaw clutches have to be engaged with the brake levers. I had my machine stripped down to the bare frame rails and completey rebuilt it from the ground up. I had all the swing and travel vertical bores,line bored and put in new bearings and seals. I wish you were somewhere closer, I could swing by and try to figure out whats going on with it.
Eric, It hasn't traveled much at all been on a barge on lake winnipasaukee for years ,thats probably the problem with it used clam shelling and pile driving. i'll keep dubbing around with it maybe something will happen, thanks for the help. the same outfit has a small unit crawler crane there going to get rid of i may buy that one for a flagpole !! Don
Its probably non independant. We rebuild these pretty regurly. Next to the gauge console is the house lock lever lock. This in so the house wont swing. Then in front of the hand throttle is the swing brake lever "top right corner of cab"release this brake then follow the cable down to the valve and linkage you will find another lever this one shifts the machine from swing to travel. Some times they have a third lever down there on side allso and this is the high low speed travel lever. Make sure it in one or the other then up on the operating console release the 2 travel brakes by pushing them forward then the lever next to them push or pull for forward or reverse you probably will have to move this to get the swing travel shifter and the high low shifter to cog in and out of there respective gears if a cranes been sitting for a while all this can get pretty stif and it sounds like you might be between swing and travel and not in either one. If you get it working shift the high low shifter into low and never let any body shift it out of low as running this unit in high can break and strip shafts if the operator doesnt know what there doing.