How many of us really sit down and read our operation manuals everytime we get a new or new to us concrete pump, this should be the first thing we as operators do , all equipment is different and most have different operation guidelines , be truthful do you or dont you ?

We only run Putzs now, so they are all basically the same.
But I still read them from time to time when I'm bored, especially between loads on slow pours...

i was trained on schwings and befofe the first time i ran a putz i took home the book and read through it.

I always read the OEM manuals, I keep the spare manual beside the thunder mug at home, along with the ACPA magazine and other equipment periodicals.

 Whenever I get a new machine or one that I'm not familiar with I like to study the manual. Every brand is different and has its ins & outs. A few times I had the manual before I ever saw the pump. I got collection of them at home.

mmmm,not sure how to answer that one pudg.

So many times getting even a new machine (17 years for 1st) you got it the night before or that mourning and shazzam.I worked for a big outfit and they kept secret till the very last moment who got what.It was a big last minute scamble to change out pumps.All the incoming pubs went inside the shop,you know that ultra top secret place Mr Hinz created.

My 1st new pump was a 36x and what a sweetheart it was (#377).My official training was about 10pm on the washrack with non other than Tom Anderson from schwing.Now that man really cared and spent enough time with me where I got the basic's.Sure enough an e-stop startup got me,thanks Tom that time really sunk in.Some 70 miles from shop it was sink or swim,thankfully I swam.

That's the short version of what I experienced.

my training to sum it up was day 1 42m r&f advance pump on stadium seating.afternoon on putz 28z inside walls.day 2 36m r&f putz with 300ft of system slab on grade inside building.afternoon 39m schwing caisons with 50ft crain assist trimmie.did not touch remote.day 3 back to 36m r&f outside slab.afternoon 20 ft wall same pump.day 4 230 ft system with 28z putz.afternoon 32m r&f putz 72yd footing.day 5 fri thank god i thought; 28z putz inside wall again,and rest of footing.mid afternoon 32m r&f putz on resi footing.afternoon same pump on 20ft wall and then a last minute resi footing.done at last for the week i thought not hardly::::sat day 6 32m r&f 483yd slab moved pump 6 times.and finally done for the week. day 7 mon 32m r&f was assigned to me training was over i knew it all right? wrong . was not trained on prox switches and took a hyd fluid bath;and as you well know was a very hot bath.do not remove prox switch with pump engaged,best lesson to date but far from over.i learned fast all i could about pumps and pumping .i read over all the manuals for each pump but was totaly overwhelmed by all the suggestions and do's and don'ts and lititure to much in to little time.well to sum it up read all you can about what ever you run,you will never know it all.and one day you can pass it on to another wannabe .

about forgot; to date schwing has one of if not the best procedure booklet i have read from a to z about pumping.really lernt alot from it. 

 i alwaysread the manuals on new trucks, and chuck is right the schwing book is much better than putz