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For decades, our mobile cranes have been equipped with a central lubrication system in the superstructure as standard. This was not previously available for the chassis. However, we have recently started offering an optional central lubrication system for the travel gear. Tobias Baumann, group leader in our chassis design and development department, explains how this system came about and what advantages it offers.
The central lubrication system in the superstructure is absolutely essential, as the lube points would be difficult for maintenance personnel to reach. The chassis is different: The lube points are easily accessible and their number is manageable.
The suspension cylinders were converted to maintenance-free spherical plain bearings by our supplier back in the early 1990s. And from around 2006, the gear shafts in the drivetrain also became maintenance-free. Over the years, we have made our crane chassis more and more maintenance-friendly. Our aim was to avoid damage.
Tobias Baumann - Group leader crane vehicles Chassis design and development
Steering knuckles with lubrication line.
Optimally lubricated
Lifetime lubrication is only technically not feasible for the steering knuckles. They must be lubricated at two points each year. That’s four points per axle. Incidentally, looking at the crane from below from time to time during servicing also has a lot in its favour.
But with the development of a central lubrication system for the chassis, we simply wanted to create even more comfort for our customers and also ensure that the steering knuckles are always optimally lubricated.
Filling the central lubrication system takes just a few minutes.
Easily accessible
Added to this is the time saved for maintenance personnel: With a 9-axle vehicle such as the LTM 1750-9.1, there are a total of 36 lube points that are now managed by the central lubrication system. Incidentally, the new option has been very well received by our customers, as many of the new mobile cranes are now being ordered with it. The central lubrication system is now available for almost all of our LTM cranes and the compact LTC.
This article was published in the UpLoad magazine 01 | 2024.
