On target with Safety and Efficiency

I brought an Advanced Sourcing, Inc. ASI-3500-4 lifting beam to a remote area in South West Texas to demo on a 3516 ULB top end rebuild. The next morning the service team efficiently stripped the engine of all the parts that were going to be replaced and those parts that needed to be removed so you could get to the parts that needed to be replaced. The team worked separately, yet together, each contributing their part of the effort to reach a timely goal. It was an admirable team event, demonstrating steadfast experience through limited verbal communication, yet a great deal of synchronicity in work performed.

After some time it was time to "swing heads" - a term used to mark the point where the cylinder heads would be removed from the engine and typically placed by truck crane on a trailer, on the ground or in the bed of a truck. Each head was broken loose from the engine block to alleviate the stiction that exists between the head and block with an engine that has run many hours like this one has. With heads loosened, the ASI-3500-4 was attached to the truck crane and then to the group of four heads using the supplied handles.

Soon the heads were lifted free of the engine block and carefully guided with the use of tie lines to safely move the group of heads to a nearby trailer. The heads were removed from the ASI-3500-4 lifting beam and new (factory refurbished) heads were then attached. These new heads were cleaned and being made ready with new plugs and seals and roller lifters. Working in parallel, other mechanics were busy on the engine block, cleaning cylinder walls and starting to replace items like manifold gaskets that get replaced during a top end, preparing the block for the new heads.

The four refurbished heads were now lifted to the block, sensor wires guided into their channel and then the heads lowered into place. With the loosening of the ASI-3500-4 handles and a slight nudge,the heads slid cleanly onto the engine block pins. No hurt backs, no smashed fingers and only whispers of happy colorful language. The heads were now being torqued down, the manifolds attached, what was removed was replaced and this was repeated three more times.

This engine also received several other items such as a water pump, turbo and alternator. The compressor was also serviced. And before dark descended on us, the engine was back on line compressing gas, sending volumes of chemical energy down the line for America to consume.

I planned to take the ASI-3500-4 lifting beam back north with me when one of the mechanics said, "I hope you don't plan to take that with you..." Although I work in both an electronics and mechanical capacity at times, I do realize I work at a desk predominantly, and most of that time in the avionics field - aiding in the development and certification of leading edge glass cockpit instrumentation systems. This mechanic and his team are in the field, working with heavy tools and engine parts and sometimes in hostile environmental conditions and often away from home for long periods of time. There was a part of me that really wanted to make an inaudible whimper. Then, there is also the realization that there are very few holes around a skid pad to crawl into. But, the other part of me noted these were some of the nicest guys I have had the pleasure to work with, and with the little I did help as a grunt, I was sort of part of the team. Before I could muster a response, the team lead stated he would definitely buy the ASI-3500-4 and we would take care of business later. Inaudible whimper totally avoided.

This customer and most all of our customer base are repeat customers. Some even found us through the sharing of this tool with competing teams that had long-time friendships based on mutual employment in the past. Some have moved from large AMS teams to small startups and realized the value of safety and efficiency the ASI-3500-4 provided - meaning reduced personnel down time and high project turns.

If you would like to purchase an ASI-3500-4 for your team, send me a note and we'll welcome you to the team. See us at https://www.advancedsourcinginc.com