Equipment Tips

Securing the tong:
The tong should be secured for both make-up or break-out operation, by utilizing the snub line. If this is not done, the tong may be thrown against operator causing physical harm.

Be sure hydraulic connections are tight:
To be sure connectors are completely tight, first tighten them until travelis restricted and the end of the thread travel appears to be reached. Then try to tighten the connector further to be sure first restriction was not a false tightness. Then continue to tighten the fitting until connection is tight.

Keep tong throat area clean:
Be sure no part of the body or clothing is in tong head area and be sure no cables or equipment other than tubing are enclosed in the throat.

Mechanical shifting versus hydraulic shifting:
When using the mechanical shift lever to change speeds, the power tong must first come to a complete stop before shifting. When using tongs hydraulic shift two-speed motor to change speeds, the tong may be shifted “On the Run.”

Cross threaded pipe:
The backing pin may be left out of the backing pin hole during make-up operation to allow for quick tong reversal due to cross-threaded joints. It must be replaced, however, after each joint completion in order to align the door openings so the tong can be removed from the tubular.

Heads are not biting:
If the heads fail to bite, the brake bands probably need adjustment. Refer to your opeation manual concerning brake band adjustments.

How does a door interlock work?
The door interlock is a safety device that Eckel offers. The door interlock blocks hydraulic fluid from reaching the motor preventing tong operation anytime the door is open. Most customers prefer a series door interlock that only shuts down the tong motor allowing other hydraulic functions to continue to operate such as the lift cylinder and backup.