pony engines on buckets

baumeister

baumeister

New member
Location
New buffalo Michigan
Hello:

I am currently researching buying a bucket truck and am curious about pony engines. Do they save a lot of fuel and is it worth the extra cost on a remanufactured bucket truck? Aside from checking into the boom ser. number, dielectric testing and structural testing, what else do I look for. I have minor mechanical knowledge, I can compression test and give the truck a good test drive, but structurally on the boom I am a bit lost on how to evaluate. Any help?

Thanks, Christian.
 
Good thread! I've used both and I've always wondered what the differences were compared side by side.
 
sure you burn less fuel on 1 or 2 small cylinders than 8 large ones. look a the fiber glass for cracks or yellowing from the sun. the older ones should have a plastic cover or some thing to keep the sun off. look at the cables and chainsthat level the basket the should be oiley (sp?) not worn, loose, and no "jaggers" (little pokeys that would hurt if you slid you hand down the cable) sticking out of the cables thats all i can come up with at the moment
 
And i heard . . . . every lift over 15 years old? has to be totaly tore down and rebuilt! anybody else hear that?
 
Actually on the rear cables you can 6 fatigue breaks in the cable and it passes. If you have one valley break you need to have the cable replace. A valley break is more noticable it will really stick out. Check all the welds for cracks. Make sure the cables aren't pulling out from where they are crimped. You can do a drift test on it as well. Fly it from the ground rock it around and listen for scarey noises. Check the cylinders for any scaring. Some buckets used in utilty work will have aluminum stuck on the cylinders you can scrape off with a knife from rubbing on the wires that if not removed wears out the seals.
 
Thanks for all the great input. Couple more questions. I am looking at a 94 chevy chassis and a 1988 versalift boom that has been 'rebuilt'. Raymondbucketguys out of Raymond NH have rearmounted the unit on the new truck. They refurbished basket and control cover, new knuckle bushings and rebuilt upper cylinder with new bushings. New PTO w/new hoses from pump to unit. Unit has old hoses still. Hydraulics on outriggers are from old unit. All visually inspected with no leaks. The truck looks good, but I am a bit leary about the 88 boom. They are asking $49,000. The price seems a bit high. My questions are:

1.What concerns should I have on a boom that old. (was used by a local tree service)
2. What, if any, reasons would you have not to get this truck?
3. Has anyone had any experience with Raymond bucket guys? How has that been?

Thanks again, Christian
 
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