Boom Lift Repairs
A boom lift earns its keep through movement — the articulation that reaches over obstacles, the telescope that extends to height, and the slew that rotates the whole upper structure. Those same movements are where wear and faults concentrate, so boom lift repairs are largely about keeping the articulation, telescope and slew working smoothly and safely together. We diagnose and repair across all three.
Knuckle and telescopic booms fail in characteristic ways: worn articulation pins and bushes that introduce play, telescope sections that stick, snatch or wear their slide pads, and slew drives or bearings that develop backlash or rough rotation. Each has its own symptoms and its own remedy. We work through the motion the operator is complaining about, trace it to the actual joint, section or drive at fault, and repair it so the boom moves the way it should rather than fighting the operator.
Built For
- Operators with sticking, snatching or drifting boom movement
- Fleet owners maintaining knuckle and telescopic booms
- Hire companies keeping boom lifts in reliable service
- Maintenance teams chasing play or backlash in the upper structure
- Anyone with slew, telescope or articulation faults
Equipment & Coverage
- Articulation joints, pins and bushes
- Telescope sections, slide pads and wear pads
- Slew drives, bearings and rotation systems
- Boom hydraulics and levelling systems
- Upper and lower control functions
The Process
Reproduce the fault
We work the boom through the movement the operator is reporting, because articulation, telescope and slew faults each behave differently.
Trace to the source
Play, snatch or backlash is traced to the specific joint, telescope section or slew drive responsible rather than treated generally.
Repair the mechanism
Pins and bushes are renewed, slide pads replaced, and slew drives or bearings repaired so the movement is restored to spec.
Function test
The boom is run through its full range and functions checked so the movement, and any safety interlocks, work correctly before return.
Compliance & Standards
Boom lifts are designed to AS/NZS 1418.10 and maintained under AS 2550.10, which cover the safe operation of the machine through its working envelope. Repairs to articulation, telescope and slew mechanisms restore correct movement, clearance and control function, and where a repair affects load-bearing structure it is verified by non-destructive testing. Function testing confirms the boom operates correctly through its range before the unit returns to service.
Why EWP Australia
- Articulation, telescope and slew faults diagnosed by movement
- Play, snatch and backlash traced to the actual mechanism
- Pins, bushes, slide pads and slew drives repaired to spec
- Structural repairs verified by NDT where load-bearing
- Full function test through the working range before return
Common Questions
Why is my boom sticking or snatching when it telescopes?
Telescope sections that stick or snatch are commonly caused by worn slide pads, contamination or hydraulic issues in the extend circuit. We work the telescope through its range to trace whether the fault is in the pads, the section or the hydraulics before repairing it.
What causes play or backlash in the slew?
Rough or loose rotation usually comes from wear in the slew drive, bearing or ring gear. We identify which part has developed the backlash so the slew is repaired at the source rather than adjusted around, which restores smooth, controlled rotation.
Do you repair both knuckle and telescopic booms?
Yes. Both types share articulation, telescope and slew mechanisms that wear in characteristic ways, and we diagnose and repair across knuckle and telescopic boom lifts of all makes.
Is the boom tested before it goes back to work?
Yes. After repair the boom is run through its full working range and its functions and safety interlocks checked, so the movement is confirmed correct before the unit returns to service.
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