Key takeaways
- Make room to reach and work around every bore
- Clean the bores and surrounding area
- Block and support the machine so it cannot move
- Remove pins, bushings and anything in the way of the bar
- Provide power and lighting, and plan for weather
Portable line boring happens at your site, so a good part of the job is decided before anyone arrives. A machine that is cleaned, blocked and easy to reach lets the work go smoothly. This checklist covers what to prepare and what to send.
What does the shop need to know first?
A good first message includes photos of every bore from both sides, the pin or bushing size if you know it, the make and model of the machine and a short description of the symptom. If the machine has already had weld repair near the bores, mention it.
Send these through the quote request or call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. The shop reviews them and comes back with questions or a prompt estimate.
Access and space
The boring bar runs through the bores and needs room beyond each end. Make sure there is clear space in front of and behind the bores, and that nothing blocks the path of the bar. Level, firm ground under the machine matters, because the setup is only as steady as what it stands on.
If the work is on an arm or a frame that can move, plan how it will be held in position. Placing it on stands or blocking is better than leaving it on its own hydraulics.
- Clear space in front of and behind each bore
- Firm, level ground
- The part held on stands or blocking
- A plan for crane or lift access if parts must move
Cleaning, blocking and removing the pins
Dirt, grease and old paint in the bores get in the way of both weld build-up and measuring. Clean each bore and the area around it. Remove the pins and, where possible, the bushings, so the bores can be seen and measured.
Block the machine so it cannot shift. Isolate its power and hydraulics before anyone works near the bores, following your own site lockout rules.
- Park the machine on firm, level ground.
- Block or support the part being worked on.
- Isolate power and hydraulics under your site procedures.
- Remove the pins and, where possible, the bushings.
- Clean the bores and the area around them.
Power, light and hot work
Weld build-up and the boring equipment both need power, and the work is easier to do well with good lighting. Tell the shop what is available. Weld build-up is hot work, so clear flammable material from the area and have extinguishing equipment close. OSHA's general welding requirements, 29 CFR 1910.252, set out the fire-prevention basics.
Weather and who is on site
Reno winters and summers both affect outdoor work. Shelter or a windbreak helps, and so does scheduling around the weather. Name a contact who knows the machine and can authorize work at the site, so decisions are made when they come up.
For background on the process, see portable align boring and the guide on the signs a machine needs align boring.
