A Quick Easy Lesson on How to Erect a Lattice Boom Crane *Completed*

Erecting a lattice boom crane is one of the most dangerous jobs in the construction field: The parts are heavy, the parts are hard to manipulate into position, with large cranes, and a second crane is required to lift and position parts. The crane erectors who put the booms together must be ever watchful of their workplace surroundings and the whereabouts of each other. On April 10, 2017, a large Bigge lattice boom crane, along with five (5) trucks carrying large boom sections, arrived at the construction site. The crane will be on site for approximately five (5) weeks to perform the heavy lifting required as the rebar foundation mat is nearing completion. The first task for the large lattice boom crane is to lift from the pit the two (2) heavy hydraulic telescopic boom cranes that have been crucial in constructing the rebar foundation mat. The tall lattice boom crane will also be used to complete, from grade, the rebar mat foundation project, which includes the last two (2) concrete pours. The first photograph in this section shows the Bigge lattice boom crane lifting from the pit one of the Bigge hydraulic telescopic boom cranes. The rest of the section illustrates how a one-hundred-foot lattice boom crane is transformed into a two-hundred-forty-foot (twenty-four story) crane.

Watch this youtube video on how the Liebherr crawler crane LR 1750 is assembled: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2s72ovGDcM

04.11.17 – 1
With one crane up on grade, the last is carefully maneuvered over the red k-rail barriers. This crane will be used to put the big boom pieces together.

 How to Transform a 100 ft. (10 Story) Crane to a 240 ft. (24 Story) Crane

In One Easy Lesson

04.11.17 – 2
The process begins with the crane operator Geno discussing location with one of the cranes erectors. Once the best location is determined,
the crew will measure from the Boom Stop to the tip of the Jib. Geano, the crane operator, having arrived on site the site the before had to
pause and take a look at the life-flight helicopter coming in for a landing on the north helipad. Two others in the photo turned to look
after the photo was taken.

04.10.17 – 3
The yellow line depicts where the lattice booms will be laid out to attach to the main boom heel section. The crane will be located at the bottom of
the photo and the Jib will be located mid frame.

04.11.17 – 4
It takes a crane to lift and maneuver the heavy lattice booms. In this case, it was the crane that got plucked from the pit that did the assist work. In
this photo, the crew is walking the Jib back to the end of the line.

04.11.17 – 5
With little room to spare the Jib rests at the end of the line.

04.11.17 – 6
Next, comes the Boom Tip Section, which attaches to the Jib.

04.11.17 – 7
Maneuvering Boom Tip Section to slide into the slots of the Jib.

04.11.17 – 8
Placing these two pieces together is very important inasmuch as the Jib Mast or Gantry rises at the junction where the two parts are pinned.

04.11.17 – 9
Once the Boom Tip Section is properly connected to the Jib, the pendants must be aligned and pulled tight. 

04.11.17 – 10
Maneuvering a 30 ft. boom section into the Boom Tip Section.

04.11.17 – 11
Using a sledgehammer one of the crew inserts one of the bottom pins.

04.11.17 – 12
At this point of assembly, the smaller crane lifts the Jib Mast to tighten the Jib forestay pendant. To get a perspective of the size mast, it is
approximately 40ft. tall.

04.11.17 – 13
Maneuvering the last boom section into place.
04.11.17 – 14
Prior to maneuvering the main boom heel section to attach to the assembled boom extension, the white main boom tip section must be removed.
Prior to removal, the boom pendants (the tight cables) must be loosened, which is a very time-consuming process.

04.13.17 – 15
The head of the boom tip sheave, which stands nearly seven feet tall

04.13.17 – 16
Geano, the crane operator shouts instructions to the truck driver as he slowly positions the truck closer to the boom.

04.11.17 – 17
Once the main boom tip is removed (see the white boom tip behind the main boom heel) and the boom pendants are slackened the crane
operator can move forward to join the boom sections together.

04.11.17 – 18
At this juncture in the erection process, a lot of major pieces come together: the main boom heel must be pinned to the final boom addition, the boom
pendants must be attached, all of the pendants must be checked, cables threaded through the flywheels and checked.

04.11.17 -19
By law, a light and flag must be attached to the Jib. The yellow ball, which weighs in at 1150 lbs, is called a headache or overhaul ball with a hook.

04.13.17 – 20

 The headache ball and hook have been sprayed with a fresh coat of yellow paint to make it more visible in the pit.

04.11.17 – 21
The crane operators are positioning the crane booms so that the smaller crane (left) can remove the multi-sheave crane block with the hook

prior to removing the main boom tip.

04.13.17 – 22
For the work required by the lattice boom crane, this multi-sheave crane block with a hook was replaced by the headache ball.

04.11.17 – 23
Once the flag and light have been installed and the assembly has been checked, Geano, the crane operator slowly lifts the boom a few feet off of
the ground to check the cables, pendants and run out the main line so that the yellow headache ball with a hook can bee attached.

04.11.17 – 24
Slowly the boom assembly is raised.

04.11.17 – 25
After the boom is up, the crane operator, Geno, standing by the cab must wait for the final safety check.

04.12.17 – 26
Putting it all in perspective from Anderson Street: The wheels of the crane rest on pavement that is approximately 20 ft. below street level. The
top of the crane is approximately three stories above grade. Rumor has it that the two cranes that will erect the steel are “monsters” compared
to the cranes that are on site now. The cranes will be approximately 30 stories tall having a reach of approximately 280 feet.

04.12.17 – 27
Putting it all in perspective from tower one of the Medical Center: The crane towered (no pun intended) over the Medical Center and the
surrounding campus.

04.13.17 – 28
A view of the cranes at the construction site as seen from the south Loma Linda Hills.

04.13.17 – 29
The crane as seen from the Stater Bros. parking lot at the corner of Barton Road and Mt. View Ave.

04.13.17 – 30
A view of the lattice boom crane from the southwest corner of the pit.