It's been a while since you've seen the Franna... and there's a good reason for that.
Now that this crane no longer has to fit its original purpose, everything has changed. Instead of simply finishing a restoration, we're asking a much bigger question... if we could build our ideal Franna from scratch, what would it look like?
Before we get carried away with the big ideas, there's still some unfinished business. We finally complete the front bumper by cutting fresh sections with the oxy torch, fitting new end plates and fully welding everything into place before tidying up the front end.
Then it's time to share where this project is really heading.
The current boom sits far too high, so we're planning major modifications to lower it by changing the mast, relocating the boom pivots and shortening the boom lift cylinders. We're also looking at shortening the boom itself because it's simply too long for a 14 tonne crane.
The biggest idea of all is lowering the entire crane.
To find out whether that's even possible, we position both differentials under the chassis and start working through everything that stands in the way. That quickly uncovers some challenges, from lifting the front differential and modifying the chassis, through to the far more complicated rear suspension and drivetrain layout that could ultimately mean relocating the engine and swapping to an Allison transmission.
This project has officially become far more than just rebuilding an old crane. It's about building the Franna we've always wanted!
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We're a down-to-earth, real-life machining and fabrication workshop on the Gold Coast, Australia. We specialise in helping mining and earthmoving businesses keep their machines running smoothly, and we love working on broken parts, the bigger the better! As well as our customer repair work, we also share the big workshop projects, restorations and custom shop-made tools we get stuck into, like the Franna crane project and our heavy duty parts washer build. New video every second Friday. Subscribe to follow along.
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