Slow movement from a boom lift can make using a crane frustrating, as it can lead to certain aspects of projects taking longer to complete. It is actually not a good idea to continue using an excavator that has a slow boom lift until it gets repaired. The reason why is because the boom can stop working altogether while someone is inside of the bucket and lifted at a high level. There are a few things that might need some attention concerning the boom of your crane. Below, you will gain more insight about common problems that can cause a crane boom lift to not function as it should.
1. There Isn't Enough Hydraulic Fluid to Lift the Boom
The simplest thing that could be causing your boom lift to move slowly is for the crane to be low on hydraulic fluid. You must understand that hydraulic fluid is the main thing that the boom lit must have in order for it to move as it should. Basically, hydraulic fluid is responsible for creating a high amount of pressure so the boom can move. When the fluid is low, the boom lift can begin to move slowly, and it will eventually not move at all after all of the fluid runs out of the crane. Buying more hydraulic fluid is the best way to resolve such a problem, and you can hire a professional to place it inside of the crane.
2. A Hydraulic Cylinder Isn't Holding the Fluid as it Should
Depending on the specific type of crane that you have, there are numerous cylinders on it. The job of the cylinders is to hold the hydraulic fluid so it can be sent to other parts of the crane when needed. For instance, when you are using the boom lift, hydraulic fluid flows out of the cylinders to keep it functional. However, if there is a crack in a cylinder, it can lead to the fluid leaking out before it is able to be used. Get your cylinders inspected by a professional to find out if they are in need of being sealed up, as all you will have to do is purchase hydraulic cylinder repair seals to fix the problem.
3. Hydraulic Fluid Has Become Contaminated with Debris
There might be contaminants in the hydraulic fluid that is leading to it not doing the job that it was designed to do. For example, rather than simply creating pressure for the boom lift to work, the fluid might have dirt or metal in it that is causing boom parts to stall. You will need to get contaminated hydraulic fluid flushed out of the crane, and then fresh fluid can be added.
