Vehicle report
Technical service bulletins are instructions a manufacturer sent its dealers about a known fault. They are not recalls and the work is usually not free, but they are the clearest signal of a problem the manufacturer already knows about.
SIL-3160
Altec has learned that the pole setter boss was not welded to specification on certain HD35A-22 units built from September 2008 to April 2024. This can lead to cracks in the pole setter tube outer weldment.
CSR 3083
Altec Industries, Inc. has received notification from Daimler Truck North America that a condition exists relating to motor vehicle safety, compliance, or emissions in certain 2019 through 2021 model year Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Business Class M2, Cascadia, Columbia, and Coronado model vehicles that is equipped with Altec equipment. On the affected vehicles, the drag link taper joint at the steering arm may not have been tightened sufficiently and may come loose. This may result in a gradual loosening of the joint, causing a loss of steering control, which increases the risk of a crash. A loose joint may be detected by pre-trip inspections, loose steering, wandering, noises or vibration.
SIL 3039
Altec has learned that the hydraulic ball valve on the hydraulic reservoir return line of HD35A pressure diggers built from September 2014 to November 2022 may not get returned to the open position after being turned to the closed position for maintenance. If the unit is started while the ball valve is in the closed position, the ball valve may become over pressurized and separate, emptying the hydraulic system.
SIL 3038
Altec has learned that output drive sleeve on certain HD35A pressure diggers built from May 2020 to January 2021 may fail suddenly during use, generating a large quantity of debris in the auger transmission gearbox. If the unit is not shut down immediately, if this failure occurs, this debris can contaminate other components throughout the hydraulic system, causing major additional damage. The customer should contact Altec Shop Service within 30 days of receiving this notice to schedule the output drive sleeve to be replaced as soon as this can be performed at an Altec facility. While awaiting the repair, advise all unit operators that if they hear any loud grinding or other unusual noises from the auger transmission gearbox or notice the kelly bar has suddenly started drifting, they must stow the unit immediately and take it out of service.
SIL 808
Altec has learned that supplier-provided auger transmission gearboxes for the HD35A derricks built from May 2020 to January 2021 have an oversized square-drive opening for the kelly bar in the output drive sleeve. This results in an improper fit with the kelly bar, which can lead to excessive wear on the lower packing seals and premature hydraulic oil leakage. Altec requires that the output drive sleeve be replaced no later than the next preventive maintenance interval. This repair is covered under the Altec Warranty Policy and must be performed at an Altec facility
Complaint counts are reports filed with NHTSA, not failure rates. A common model collects more of them than a rare one that breaks more often.