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.
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 3041
Altec has learned that when the coolant-style oil heater on certain AH75B/85B100B aerial devices built from April 2021 to August 2022 is active, the operator has to turn off the engine in order to disengage the power take-off (PTO). Replacement of a wiring harness in the pedestal is required to resolve this issue.
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.