Common problems:
1.) Air is leaking from the cylinder
2.) My hook(s) is slow
3.) My hook gets stuck on the crossbeams
4.) One hook opens faster than the other
5.) My PowerGrip is seized and will not open or close properly
6.) I have overtorqued the PowerGrip what to do?
7.) I cannot fit the shaft through the central sleeve seal
8.) What kind of grease should I use with the PowerGrip?
9.) My Drivers keep damaging the hooks what can I do to help?
Answers
1.) Air leaking.
Most commonly it is because the piston was not properly greased and the o-ring or the piston plastic ring has been
damaged due to being run dry or from debris that may have interfered with the pistons movement and broken the rings.
If the system is not properly maintained (ex, cleaned and greased regularly) debris can become fused to the cylinder
walls. In this case the piston o-ring or piston plastic ring will have to be replaced. And, always remember to clean
the system regularly.
2.) The most common reasons for a slow operating hook are:
A. Hook Slippage: in the case that the hook has slipped or slackened from the shaft it can be repaired
by loosening the hook (slacking the spring) repositioning the hook in its proper position and retightening the hook bolt.
As a result of resetting the hooks position the system will have to be retorqued (please see retorquing instructions in
your owners manual or on this website) this problem will only occur with PowerGrip models previous to the PG-102 as the
newer models come with an anti collision shaft pin that will retain the position of the hook at all times.
B. Torque: the PowerGrip spring will hold its torque for an average of 6 months after that you must
retorque the spring so that it will continue to operate at its peak tension level. Be very cautious not to overtorque the
spring as it may become deformed or damaged and will not operate. Before retorquing the spring it is very important to
loosen the bolt on the hook allowing the spring to be in its most relaxed position before retorquing. (See retorquing
instructions in manual or on this website)
C. Grease: your PowerGrip may be running slower because the system needs to be cleaned and greased
Any mechanical device with moving parts requires regular cleaning and greasing, neglecting to do so will cause the moving
parts to seize or run slowly because the internal parts are not adequately lubricated.
3.) If your hook gets stuck on the box:
Although the PowerGrip works effectively on almost all boxes there are always some boxes that are
very irregularly warped, damaged, or not commonly used as regular roll-off containers. If the PowerGrip system gets
stuck on the box and will not deploy it usually suffices to "shimmy" the load by shaking the box. If that
is not effective you may need to tap the hook with a crowbar or hammer (do not whack it with a sledgehammer. That won't
help!)
4.) If one hook opens faster than the other:
There are three causes for this problem to occur:
A. If there is a difference in the length of tubing from the brake relay valve the hook with the shortest
tube will deploy faster than the hook with the longer tube since it takes longer for the air to reach the piston. To remedy
this problem simply measure the tubing so that both sides are an equal distance from the brake relay valve.
B. Another cause for a hook to operate slowly is that it may have some dirt or debris in the cylinder
or just lacks grease. Simply open the cylinder and ensure that it is clean and greased it should operate smoothly at that
point.
C. If one of the springs needs to be retorqued it will operate slower than usual simply follow the
retorquing instructions in your manual or on this website.
5.) If your PowerGrip is seized:
The only reasons that can cause your PowerGrip to seize or cease functioning are poor maintenance. It is
imperative that the system is cleaned greased regularly. If the unit is seized then you must remove the air hose from
the cylinder, remove the cylinder and properly clean all the dust and debris from the cylinder and from the internal parts
of the system. Once the internal parts are cleaned and greased you will have to retorque the system (please see retorquing
instructions in your manual or on this website) if the cylinder has been recently cleaned and greased yet still ceases to
function, it is most likely that the system has been overtorqued. (Please see "I overtorqued what do I do?")
6.) Over torquing the PowerGrip:
If you have overtorqued the powergrip the first thing to do it to loosen the hook bolt and allow the PowerGrip to
be at its most slack (rested) position. Remove the cylinder and then the spring. After removing the spring you must inspect
that it is not either broken or deformed before attempting to retorque it again. If the spring is damaged then it will
have to be replaced through the PowerGrip parts dept. (we cannot over stress that when you retorque the system, you can
not exceed 1 ¼ to 1 ½ turns going in the opposite direction of the curvature of the hook. Failure to do so will again cause
damage to the springs. Great frustration will ensue.)
7.) Fitting the shaft through the central sleeve seal:
If you are having difficulty with sliding the shaft through the central sleeve seal then you are putting it
through the wrong way! The seals within the sleeve are designed to keep moisture and debris out. The shaft must be
inserted from the side that the cylinder bolts on towards the side of the frame that the hook operates on. If you
insert the shaft the wrong way it will damage or dislodge the seal from the sleeve preventing the seal from doing its job.
8.) Using the right grease:
It is important when maintaining your PowerGrip to use the right kind of grease. WD40 is not sufficient
lubrication for your PowerGrip neither is gun oil or margarine. We strongly recommend that you use the best grease
possible to lubricate your PowerGrip such as white or pink mechanic grease commonly used on most truck applications
(ex. Brakes, hoists etc.…)
9.) If Your drivers are constantly damaging your system:
It is our experience that when a driver damages the system it is usually due to poor maintenance on behalf of the
mechanic. It is absolutely imperative that the system is properly maintained allowing the driver smooth operation. If the
driver is found to be careless with the operation of the system you may want to consider the In-cab Driver Warning System
option (DWS-100) which will assist you driver by alerting him/her of any hook malfunctions before releasing the container.
The driver is alerted via an electronic buzzer and a LCD display in the cab. We have found this to be a very effective
remedy in these situations.
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