Hello. I have a Taylor THDH-350L that needs new mast pivot bearings. Pins and hangers might be bad as well. Won't know until we get it opened up. My local dealer wants a princely sum ($16k, including mast roller bearings and side bearings) to do the work. My in-house mechanics do most of the diesel and hydraulic work, but we have never attempted to remove a mast. Mast is about 10' tall to the top. I have an overhead crane I can use to pick it. It looks like the best method would be to remove the forks, secure the mast and diconnect the tilt cylinders and hydraulics. Pivot the mast down to the front, then remove the pins and remove from machine. If we had a procedure for doing it, i'm sure we could handle it ourselves. Thanks, Vince
You pretty much have the procedure down. I would add that sometimes it is easier to remove the carriage before removing the mast. If you don't just make sure to chain the carriage so that when you lay it down the carriage doesn't roll down the length of the mast and crash through the bosses office and the ladies room :beatsme . Figure out all of the parts that you plan on replacing, get pricing and deduct from the dealers quote. Whats left is what they are going to charge for their services. At a dealers shop this would be 1-1/2 to 2 days work tops, then you can figure the hourly cost. Make your decision from there, adding in a little for unseen things that may need attention. If your shop guys can do powertrain work they can do this, just keep track of the shims on the rollers and which rollers they were on, makes it easier on reassembly.