Originally Posted by
underthetire
As someone who has prepped a LOT of machines for shipment, I can offer you a little info.
Grease or heavy oil all bare surfaces. I use the white lithium spray grease for short moves. No matter how nice the weather is today, the day the riggers show up it will rain. It's some kind of machine law I think.
Tape and strap anything that moves, doors, controls, whatever. Always some asian lady driving in front of the flatbed will cut them off, causing a panic stop.
Bracket from head to table is a must. Blocks work, just don't put the spindle nose on the block. Common sense right? Thats what I used to think to.
Every machine i prepped to ship, even a mile away, got plastic sheet over it. Along with the sheet, every machine got shrink wrapped, then packing tape around it to keep all the plastic on. Never failed, we'd get the oldest, leakiest line truck that blew black smoke like a locomotive. That S*it can be hard to get off. And it would help prevent tarp burns on the paint if they decided to tarp the cargo.
Try to be there when the riggers lift the machine. Seems they usually think the leveling pads are part of the floor. They show up about 50% of the time.
Seems like a lot I know, but repairs from transport are even worse.
:withstupi
That's a goldmine of info. It will help avoid costly mistakes.
Like when a machine gets moved about 500 yards to another building and is blocked down with a 4X4 right across the spindle so hard that the drive lugs are driven completely into the wood. Then a new spindle is purchased a few days later...
Apparently I don't know anything, so please verify my suggestions with my wife.