Tadano Precautionary Measure for Rough Terrain Cranes Applicable to Recall

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Dear Customer,

This letter is to acknowledge that you are the owner of a Tadano RT Crane model «CraneModel» with Serial Number: «SerialNo» .

This particular machine is part of a worldwide voluntary recall by Tadano , Japan regarding the correct usage of the “reverse steering switch” when the crane is in travel mode.

Attached is a service bulletin from Tadano outlining the correct usage of this particular operation when the crane is in travel mode. This letter is to serve as a precautionary notification on the correct usage depending on the model of crane.

Following on from this notification, once confirmation has been received from you or a designated officer from your company that you still currently have this machine in your fleet, a rectification procedure and parts required will follow to ensure that the current system will be “failsafe” for your future use.

We anticipate that the rectification process will take approximately two (2) hours depending on circuitry and your particular model. We will also be in contact with you when we have the correct procedure and sufficient parts supplied to us by Tadano to carry out the rectification at a suitable time.

The contact at James Equipment Pty Ltd (Australian Distributor for Tadano) for inquiries and notification of any changes of ownership of vehicles is:

Mr. Bob Laidlaw

Telephone: 03 9369 3499

Facsimile : 03 9369 1777

E-mail : blaidlaw@jamesequipment.com.au

Also visit our website at www.jamesequipment.com.au and click on the Tadano Service Information button which will have list of effected cranes and serial numbers along with precautionary service advice on the correct usage of the reverse steering function when in travel mode. There will also be an are where you can enter your correct and current details if you are an owner of an affected machine.

Regards,

Peter Shelton

National Operations Manager

James Equipment Pty Ltd

Rough Terrain Crane “Reverse Steering System”

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January 11, 2005

In relation to our Home Page “Announcement” dated on December 17 th 2004 , we would kindly ask Tadano Rough Terrain Crane customers with the following Model and Serial No. to contact us for the betterment arrangement and safety crane operation.

Part of Malfunction;

Reverse steering system

State of Malfunction ;

This reverse steering system is developed to help secure work efficiency on jobsites with the operator's seat turned in the rear direction of the crane. The reverse steering switch should therefore be turned “OFF” after completion of the reverse steering work on jobsites. The switch, however, was left in the “ON” position for some reason or other. In such conditions, the crane, if steered, may turn in the opposite directions of the steering direction in case the boom rear position detection switch fails.

Safe Crane Operation;

Be sure to RELEASE the REVERSE STEERING SWITCH “OFF” after completion of the reverse steering operation. No malfunction will ever occur provided the reverse steering switch is place in “OFF” position.

Betterment Measures;

(A) In those cases where customers do not or seldom use the reverse steering systems for their jobsite operations, we can invalidate the system itself by removing the reverse steering switch.

•  In other cases than (A) above, to prevent any miss operation of the reverse steering system (failure to turn “OFF” the switch), we have made modifications to the system circuit so that operation of the system concerned can be automatically disabled when travelling with the reverse steering switch left activated to keep the crane from falling into a reverse steering state even in case of the occurrence of a system failure of the boom rear-position detection switch, and further that an alarm buzzer can sound to warn the operator of the reverse steering switch being left in the “ON” position. The system of all the applicable models will be replaced with a new one.

In view of the time required for technical verification and parts supply in this relation, first we take the following measures and the new system will be provided as soon as possible after completion of the technical verification. To prevent miss operation of the system, we make the instructions for use known to every user.

Applicable model and serial numbers are as follows:-

(1) Japanese Model:

2) Export Model:

International Division

Tadano Ltd.

Sumida-ku, Tokyo

E-Mail: tdnihq@tadano.co.jp

TADANO SERVICE INFORMATION <GR-series, TR-series , AR -series>

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About the REVERSE STEERING SWITCH release when cranes travel on public roads

When an operator turned the steering wheel while travelling on public roads, the crane fell into a reverse steering state where it turns in the opposite direction form the steering direction , which resulted in a head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle causing a serious accident.

When the boom is directed to the front side of the crane, normally it will not go into such a reverse steering state, even if the operator failed to release the reverse steering switch. In case of the recurrence of an electric system failure, however, the machine may suddenly lapse into the said state.

* After completion of the reverse steering operation, be sure to RELEASE the REVERSE STEERING SWITCH.

* Check that the REVERSE STEERING SWITCH is RELEASED before travelling on public roads.

Reverse Steering Switch

(Two types are available, but the type of switch depends on the crane model.)

* The illustration given above may not coincide with your machine because of differences in models or specifications. Please refer to your operation manual for the details.

* REVERSE STEERING is optional equipment for most of TR-E-series and AR-200M-1

System of the Reverse Steering Device.

The reverse steering device is intended for use within jobsites to enhance work efficiency and prohibited to use while travelling on public roads

The reverse steering operations could be performed on sole condition that the boom is directed toward the over-rear side of the crane with the boom over-rear position detection switch activated and further that the reverse steering switch is put to “ON”. When the boom is swung back to the over-front side, the boom over-rear detection switch will automatically be off. However, in case of any electric failure of the switch the crane remains in a reverse steering state, unless the reverse steering switch is duly released, which is very dangerous.

TADANO LTD

Service Division