Old timer told me to grease the hook block every shift. I thought he was full of it.

Been running a Grove RT540E for about 3 years now. This 60 year old mechanic at the yard kept saying I'd burn up the sheave bearings if I didn't hit the hook block with grease each morning. I figured once a week was plenty. After I seized a bearing on my 9th pick last month down at the Port of Houston, I had to pay $400 for a replacement and lost a whole day. Now I do it every morning like clockwork. Anyone else had a cheap fix like that save their ass on a job?

2 comments

2 Comments

scott.mia3d ago

Had the same thing happen to me a few years back on a Liebherr. Old guy told me to hit the block every morning and I thought he was just being a pain. Then I had a sheave lock up mid lift on a transformer job. That repair bill was almost $800 with the downtime. Now I keep a grease gun in the cab and hit it first thing, takes 30 seconds. Makes you wonder how many expensive lessons come from skipping the small stuff.

foster.wade3d ago

Admit it, I used to roll my eyes at that stuff too. You're totally right though.