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After more than 30 years in the heavy equipment and aftermarket parts industry, American Crane & Tractor Parts has gathered innumerable insights which will now be made available to customers here.

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Heavy Equipment Blog

ACTP's Rebuild Shop Manager | Jerry Duxbury

Posted by Carly Wallace

Sep 26, 2018 4:42:23 PM

 

Tucked away in our Kansas City headquarters is the American Crane & Tractor Parts Rebuild Shop. Our shop's reputation in the heavy equipment industry is held strong by the 35 year veteran to ACTP, Jerry Duxbury. We decided to ask him a few questions about how he got into the industry and all about the American Crane & Tractor Parts Rebuild Shop. 

How did you get your start in the industry?

  "It all started back in 1973. I was 13 years old and I had started working at my dad's company, Construction Industrial Service. I guess you could say my job title was a belly boy or a mud dog, as in 'Get that belly pan off, boy.' They used boy so often I wasn't entirely sure that wasn't my name. After doing my time as a belly boy I eventually worked my way up to rebuilding engines, transmissions, and final drives. I even earned myself a new nickname, Chicken Scratch. 

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Topics: Aftermarket Parts, Heavy Equipment, Brake Systems, Pumps, Power Train, Bearing, Clutch, Carrier, Powertrain, Powertrain Components, Final Drive, Cup & Cone, Transmission, Torque Converter, Gasket

Power Train - FAQ

Posted by Carly Wallace

Oct 31, 2017 1:38:14 PM

 

Here at American Crane & Tractor Parts we pride ourselves on having an extensive knowledge of all things power train. We have 4 experienced mechanics that have a whopping 85 years of combined experience. We've had them gather up some of the most frequently asked questions they hear about power train.

How can I check my carrier for cracks?

 - Inspect your carrier for cracks by placing it in a parts washer at a temperature of 120 degrees or higher. Blow 

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Topics: Aftermarket Parts, Heavy Equipment, Brake Systems, Pumps, Power Train, Bearing, Clutch, Carrier, Powertrain, Powertrain Components, Final Drive, Cup & Cone, Transmission, Torque Converter, Gasket

Balancing The Heavy Equipment Needs Of The Mining Industry

Posted by Carly Wallace

Jul 10, 2014 4:11:00 PM

Lowell Snow, ACTP’s resident mining expert with over 40 years of experience in heavy equipment, has said, “Managing a fleet of machines in mining requires a balancing act between time, cost, and quality.  Everyone from the equipment operators, mechanics, and purchasing managers have to work hand-in-hand with one another to anticipate problems that could lead to downtime.”

The three factors Lowell describes (time, cost, and quality) are all interconnected. Let’s take a closer look:

wheel_loader_on_mine_site_optimized

Time

Machine downtime on a mine site reduces productivity of the operation as a whole until the equipment is up and running again.  Whether it is planned maintenance or an unplanned breakdown, with the size and complexity of the equipment it can take days to perform even simple repairs. 

When a machine (i.e. a wheel loader) becomes inoperable, the operation will see a significant decrease in productivity (and revenue) until it is back scooping and loading product. Since revenue is being lost for every hour the machine is not operating, fleet managers must try to minimize the amount of time to fix the machine.

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Topics: Aftermarket Parts, Mining, Haul Trucks, Operation Management, Heavy Equipment, Wheel Loaders, Wet Brake Applications, Productivity, Brake Systems

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