Manitowoc 18000, Service Maintenance Manual, Page: 14 / 316

Reference
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INTRODUCTION 18000 SERIVCE/MAINTENANCE MANUAL
1-2
Published 12-05-17, Control # 035-23
SAFE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES
Maintenance Instructions
To ensure safe and proper operation of Manitowoc cranes,
they must be maintained according to the instructions
contained in this manual and the Operator Manual provided
with the crane.
Crane maintenance and repair must be performed by
personnel who by reason of training and experience are
thoroughly familiar with the crane’s operation and required
maintenance. These personnel shall
read the Operator
Manual and Service/Maintenance Manual before
attempting any maintenance procedure
. If there is any
q u e s t i o n r e g a r d i n g m a i n t e n a n c e p r o c e d u r e s o r
specifications, contact your Manitowoc dealer for assistance.
Training/qualification of maintenance personnel is
responsibility of crane owner.
Safe Maintenance Practices
1. Perform the following steps (as applicable) before
starting a maintenance procedure:
a. Park crane where it will not interfere with other
equipment or operations.
b. Lower all loads to ground or otherwise secure them
against movement.
c. Lower boom onto blocking at ground level, if
possible, or otherwise secure boom against
dropping.
d. Move all controls to off and secure all functions
against movement by applying or engaging all
brakes, pawls, or other locking devices.
e. Stop engine and render starting means inoperative.
f. Place a warning sign at start controls alerting other
personnel that crane is being serviced and engine
must not be started.
Do not remove sign until it is
safe to return crane to service.
2. Do not attempt to maintain or repair any part of crane
while engine is running, unless absolutely necessary.
If engine must be run, keep your clothing and all parts of
your body away from moving parts.
Maintain constant
verbal communication between person at controls
and person performing maintenance or repair
procedure
.
3. Wear clothing that is relatively tight and belted.
4. Wear appropriate eye protection and approved hard hat.
5. Never climb onto or off a moving crane. Climb onto and
off crane only when it is parked and only with
operator’s permission
.
Use both hands and handrails, steps and ladders
provided to climb onto and off crane.
Lift tools and other equipment which cannot be carried in
pockets or tool belts onto and off crane with hand lines or
hoists.
6. Boom and gantry are not intended as ladders. Do not
attempt to climb lattice work of boom or gantry to get to
maintenance points. If boom or gantry is not equipped
with an approved ladder, lower them before performing
maintenance or repair procedures.
7. Do not remove cylinders until working unit has been
securely restrained against movement.
8. Pinch points are impossible to eliminate. Watch for them
closely.
9. Pressurized air, coolant, and hydraulic oil can cause
serious injury. Make sure all air, coolant, and hydraulic
lines, fittings, and components are tight and serviceable.
Do not use your hands to check for air and hydraulic
oil leaks:
• Use a soap and water solution to check for air leaks
(apply to fittings and lines and watch for bubbles).
• Use a piece of cardboard or wood to check for
coolant and hydraulic oil leaks.
10. Relieve pressure before disconnecting air, coolant, and
hydraulic lines and fittings.
11. Do not remove radiator cap while coolant is hot or under
pressure. Stop engine, wait until pressure drops and
coolant cools, then slowly remove cap.
12. Avoid battery explosion: do not smoke while performing
battery maintenance, do not short across battery
terminals to check its charge.
13. Read safety information in battery manufacturer’s
instructions before attempting to charge a battery.
WARNING
Importance of safe maintenance cannot be over empha-
sized. Carelessness and neglect on part of maintenance
personnel can result in their death or injury and costly
damage to the crane or property.
Safety information in this publication is intended only as a
guide to assist qualified maintenance personnel in safe
maintenance. Manitowoc cannot foresee all hazards that
will arise in the field, therefore,
safety remains responsi-
bility of maintenance personnel and crane owner .