Hi all

I have a question do any of you put anything over your Hopper to protect it from having crap fall in which in turn may plug you. After having that sledge hammer head go through my boom and possibly cause that double plug which in turn caused my burns on my legs. It seems for the past yr or so I have been getting the cream of the crop when it comes to mixer drivers not paying attention and allowing anything to come out of there drum to fall in with out saying f.... all to me even though I say to them please watch out for it.

Well anyway I was thinking that chain link fence would work and I tried it on Friday,worked like a charm and managed to stop some precast from falling in on my first try. With this funky weather we are getting here I dont want to have a boom party with -20 temps well I dont want another boom party who does.... I am just trying to lesson the chance of it.

If any of you have a better idea please let me know I would post a picture on here with this to show you but I dont know how but I have posted it in my pictures so please take a look.

Once upon a time

The hopper grates had bars running two directions, making the openings not slots, but squares. This was a good thing. I have seen photos of our fellow posters here that have that same treatment.

A hopper grate with square openings keeps out material that can now "turn sideways" and get into the system. so......

 weld some bars going the other way. ;~)

we have a great invention out here, it's called an oiler, has anyone tried using this device?

The "FENCE" photo is nice. Looks like an easy/good fix.

weld a few bars the other way like bob said it shoud be a more perminent fix that looks good though.

on my tk-40 i pulled off the hopper lid 40 lb and use a tarp. took the cut out switch and stuffed it under the frame to ride safe; the diconected wires are a total nightmare because of the operating loops. the rack was 3/16 in bar stock and i could put my arm in until i got to my elbow so i pulled that off at 70 lb. built a rack  on 1 5/8 centers that netted out at shy of 1 1/2 it weighs 30 lb and is removeable it also got powder coated. it was not an eazy build but if you want to add 1/4 inch round stock to your rack weld it on the under side; for your application i would guess at an equal square grid. just improvement not overkill

hey typesdubs you guys get oilers too? on what kind of pumps? we get them on 42m on up and when we have system.

  I welded half inch round bar going horizontal,, it works great I think.. You can still get a 4" slump through it as long as your not pumpin' insane fast.. When I get into that situation, I put the big 5" hose on and take off my homeade grate, and let er' eat.. No reducing hoses on my truck...

we have them on any size pump depending on the job, 75% of our jobs get an oiler