10/14/2025
Hydraulic Service Call Report
Equipment: ALTEC AT200A Telescopic Aerial Device
This service call turned out to be both a repair and a humbling learning experience.
During inspection, it was found that the hydraulic cylinder responsible for leveling the platform (bucket) assembly was leaking. Further examination revealed that the valve manifold and fittings were severely corroded and damaged.
While removing the hydraulic cylinder from the boom assembly, I discovered that the cylinder gland was secured with a wire steel hook lock retainer—a type of locking system I wasn’t familiar with. To ensure proper disassembly, I reached out to a friend with extensive mechanical experience, who demonstrated how to safely remove the square locking retainer.
The cylinder was then fully disassembled, cleaned, and fitted with a new seal kit. I reassembled the unit and successfully installed the new square locking retainer myself. Final operational testing was performed, and the results were satisfactory. This hands on experience reinforced the importance of lifelong learning and the recognition that none of us know everything! Technical Assistance by . Hufford
