When crane wheels wobble and rub against the rail, a common cause is a mismatch between the runway span and the crane span. In this case, ONVALLA’s engineers measured both spans on a customer’s 40- and 50-ton cranes and installed guide rollers to re-align the span, which greatly reduced the wheel wobble and rail rubbing.
The Problem
The customer’s existing long-travel units on 40-ton and 50-ton cranes showed two symptoms:
- Wheel wobble while travelling
- Rail rubbing, with the wheels pressing against the side of the rail
All of the customer’s cranes had been manufactured and assembled in-house by the customer.
How ONVALLA Diagnosed It
ONVALLA’s team surveyed the site and checked two key measurements:
- Runway span: the distance between the two runway rails
- Crane span: the distance between the crane’s wheels on each side
The Fix: Installing Guide Rollers
Based on the measurements, the engineers installed guide rollers on the long-travel units to set the span correctly. After installation, the wheel wobble and rail rubbing were significantly reduced. The customer was satisfied and praised the team for fixing the problem at its source and exactly as required.
Why Not Ignore Rail Rubbing?
Wheels that press against the rail cause extra wear on wheels and rails and uneven crane travel. Checking spans early helps avoid larger repairs later. Regular inspection is covered in our guide to crane preventive maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes crane wheels to rub against the rail?
In this case, the cause was the relationship between the runway span and the crane span, which ONVALLA found by measuring both.
What does a guide roller do?
A guide roller guides the crane along the rail and, in this case, was used to set the span correctly so the wheels no longer rubbed the rail.
ONVALLA’s experienced team handles installation, repair, consulting and after-sale service. Contact us if your crane shows similar symptoms.
