APPARATUS MAINTENANCE: A Priority, Not a Choice
MAINTENANCE
It used to be that the local service station could maintain and repair the community fire engine. However, as the fire service’s needs expanded, the horsedrawn hand pumpers gave way to front-mounted, 500-gpm pumps, and then to apparatus having 2,500-gpm, multi-stage pumps with relief valves, drafting devices, intricate control panels, foam eductors, automatic transmissions, air shifts, and a myriad of other mind-boggling, electro-mechanical features.
While these advances in fire service apparatus have helped make firefighting more efficient and effective, the question of “What if something goes wrong with the rig?” arises. The days of taking the fire truck to the local garage for repairs are slowly passing, if not already gone. “Who can we get to fix it? How long before it will be in service? Can we operate with it while it’s being repaired?”
Practically every fire department would prefer to do their own maintenance; but with budget constraints and cutbacks, it’s hard to justify the purchase of even tire changing equipment much less an entire apparatus maintenance facility.
Large cities have separate maintenance facilities to service fire apparatus. Other fire departments can utilize municipal service facilities for major repairs and overhauls. These facilities are provided for all city departments, police, sanitation, public works, etc.
Lacking both of these maintenance possibilities, smaller departments, which make up most of the American fire service, must take a large part of the preventive maintenance burden upon themselves; and when minor and/or major maintenance is required, decide which mechanic and/or repair facility is best for their individual department.
A basic, yet valuable area of maintenance that can be handled right in the fire station is record keeping. A folder, or, better yet, a bound book should be set up with an inspection checklist (see Chart 1 on page 38) and a data sheet to include the makes, models, and manufacturers of the various parts of the apparatus; and descriptions, catalogue numbers, and locations of all routinely replaced parts. Don’t forget to include here minor items such as all lighting, lenses, and bulbs (see Chart 2 on page 40). Keep a separate record for each and every truck.
The value of this record is realized if, for example, the tank valve leading to the pump was leaking. On the data sheet alongside “tank to pump line size” would be marked, for instance, three inches, and alongside “valve make” would be marked Akron swingout valve. This information tells the mechanic that the valve is an Akron 7830 and that the necessary repair kit is a 9139. This eliminates guesswork, makes the mechanic’s job easier, and reduces the apparatus downtime considerably.
The record book should also contain all maintenance records. A good mechanic will be able to check prior repair records to see if there might be a recurrent problem with a particular part, such as an impeller shaft packing that can’t be seated. No matter how many times you repack or tighten the packing, it will eventually leak. This could be a sign of a bearing failure or a bent pump shaft. (A shaft movement of 0.005 inch will cause the packing to leak.)
Also, by having this “history” of the apparatus, a mechanic may be able to spot a potential problem or trace a current defect to a source other than the immediate one.
Finally, the record of the data and repairs made to the apparatus should be kept in an accessible place at the station house or on the apparatus itself rather than with the person in charge of the rig.
If minor repairs are necessary, and there is no one in the station qualified to do them, a trained mechanic will be needed. To determine which mechanic can handle your particular needs, several questions should be considered:
- How much experience does the mechanic have? Not only general mechanical knowledge, but specialized, hands-on experience. Just because a person can rebuild a carburetor, it doesn’t mean that he can overhaul a fire pump.
- Has the mechanic been to any special school(s)? All pump manufacturers offer a repair school for mechanics. If you have a mechanic within your own department and he hasn’t attended any of these schools, maybe it would be in the best interests of your department to send him to one.
- Does the mechanic have any certification? Some states require that a mechanic be certified, others do not. There is a voluntary certification program offered through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (NIASE). NIASE offers certification and testing in approximately 25 different areas of mechanics (diesel engines, electrical systems, brakes, etc.). A mechanic must pass the NIASE test in each particular area in which he wants to be certified to work.
- Will the mechanic release references to you? Find out what his other customers think of him.
- Will the mechanic release all of the apparatus’s old parts to your department? You own all of the old parts, and you have a right to know that they were replaced. There have been cases where people were charged for parts that had not been replaced.
- Will the mechanic warranty his work? How long is the warranty good for? Does it cover both parts and labor?
These guideline questions can also be used to help you choose a repair facility in the event major mechanical maintenance is needed.
Repair facilities, like mechanics, are not all the same; and different problems may require different maintenance facilities. For example, if you have a problem with your chassis or engine, then a local dealership might be chosen to do the work. If it’s a pump problem, then perhaps the apparatus should be brought back to the manufacturer, or maybe the manufacturer could recommend a repair facility that has worked on their equipment before.
In any event, a few more questions need to be answered before leaving your equipment with a service facility:
- Who handles the transportation of the apparatus? In most cases, it will be up to your department.
- Can you inspect the maintenance facilities beforehand? Look for neatness, professionalism, and specialized equipment.
- Will the work be bid on, or will you be billed for time plus materials?
- Will the repair shop give you a signed estimate as to when the job will be completed?
- Will the repair facility release your department from liability while they have your equipment?
- Can you visit the facility and observe the progression of the work at any time?
- Does the facility offer complete testing to check the quality and performance of their work?
- Can the repair facility loan you fire equipment while yours is being repaired? In most cases, to fully protect your community, you may have to make mutual agreements to borrow equipment while your own is in the shop.
Continued on page 40
Continued from page 38
Some departments are in an area that is serviced by a portable repair unit (a mobile service unit that performs basic, minor maintenance, although some are equipped to and do handle major repairs). The mechanic comes to you. You may ask the questions suggested above to decide if you want to use this service. Also, if major repairs can’t be done at your station, is there a repair facility to back up the mobile service unit?
These are just a few ideas for getting proper maintenance for your apparatus. The chief, the mechanic, the chauffeur/pump operator, the manufacturer, everyone must work as a team to keep our equipment in the best operating condition in order to provide the best service to the public which we serve.
