Had to pick between a new pump or a full ladder rebuild on the old Erie Dredge 12.

The main ladder was shaking pretty bad, and the pump was losing about 15% efficiency. Budget only let us fix one thing right away. We went with the pump because we figured keeping the cut moving was the priority for the Lake Erie project. It worked, but now the ladder noise is a constant worry. Anyone else had to make a call like that on an older rig?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee58215d ago

Totally get picking the pump, that's the heart of the operation. You made the right call to keep production going. That ladder shake will just wear everything else out faster though, like the pins and bushings. I'd start setting aside any spare budget now for a rebuild kit, because that noise is basically a countdown clock. Been there waiting for a part to finally give out, and it's stressful as hell lol.

kevint4715d agoMost Upvoted

My old neighbor ran his lawnmower with a bent blade for two months. The vibration wrecked the wheel bearings and cracked the engine mount. It's always the secondary damage that gets you, isn't it? You fix the main thing but the shake from the problem takes out three other parts quietly.

shane_morgan15d ago

Honestly that "countdown clock" feeling is the worst, like my car's weird rattle that just got louder for months.