Sticking with the old manual crane vs upgrading to a radio remote, glad I switched

After 12 years running a P&H overhead crane at the plant in Cleveland, I finally caved and let the boss talk me into a radio remote setup. I was stubborn, thought I could read the load better with hand signals and levers. First week with the remote was rough, kept bumping into stuff. But after about 3 months? I can't go back. Being able to walk alongside the load instead of guessing from the cab is a game changer. Anyone else make the jump and actually like it?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan3161mo ago

Tried the SAME exact thing at my shop last year, thought I was too tough for a remote and kept yelling at the foreman for hand signals. Ended up dropping a 500lb die right on my lunchbox during a sloppy lift from the cab. First few weeks with the remote I was a mess, nearly knocked over a coolant tank trying to feather the controls. But after 2 months I could walk the load like I was holding it myself, way better than guessing from up high. Now I just gotta learn how to keep the remote from falling outta my pocket when I lean over.

beth_hart681mo ago

Oh man @morgan316, dropping it on your lunchbox hurts just reading that, you're not alone there though.

henrygrant6d ago

Buddy of mine out in Toledo fought the radio remote for years, swore by his old cab controls and hand signals. @beth_hart68 he finally broke down and switched after dropping a load of steel tubing on a supervisor's truck. Now he says he doesn't know how he lived without it, even though he keeps dropping the remote in the bucket truck bed.