Hello All,

First, thanks to everyone to replied to my first post. The information was very helpful. Now onto my next question..If you do not know by now...I am a newbie to pumping. But I love it and I am trying hard to get good and understand everything involving it...How do most operators start to unfold their boom (after the rig is set up and all)?  I am talking about the sequence of boom sections.  Do most people start with the first two straight up? Also, when pouring a deck or something similar, when needing to boom down or up, what is better to work off of the first sections or the end section (meaning closest to the hose)? Thanks in advance! 

Funny I never think about it I just do it....lol For me I raise the main when I can clear the deck with the other 3 sections I then open the 2nd a foot or so I dont hit the main cylinder and then the 4th a wee bit and then I open all 4 sections at one time but I operate a Z boom..... then I start to think about how many dumb mixer drivers I will have to deal with that day.

I think they should make a TV show Canada`s dumbest mixer driver.....lol after all there is Canada`s worst handy man and Canada`s worst driver....lol

Thats funny...Ok so there is no set pattern for opening (either Z or Regular)?

on a roll-n-fold, you might want to open the main to verticle and then open the 2nd, then 3rd and finally the tip...just until you're comfortable with where the pinch points of the sections are.  roll-n-folds will rub some of the sections if you open them too soon before they have clearance...same with folding up

Gotcha...Thanks!

First thing you must know is where each section may strike or rub another part of the boom when unfolding.I learned on a crane to always keep the load close to the ground in case some kind of rigging or outrigger failure.So basically do whatever is needed to unfold SAFELY.You will find all jobsites different,look up,make sure your outriggers are not "sinking" when each section is extended.

When I prime I have the boom in an inverted U shape. After priming if I will have to get pretty flat with the boom I go out with the second section as far as I think I will need to reach the farthest point. To go out and in I just use the 1^st and 3^rd sections. This is the easiest way to learn to run the boom as you only have to run 2 levers. You will also have to rotate the boom but until you have some practice you can move sections 1 and 3 then stop and rotate the boom. After some practice you should be able to do 3 functions or more at once. You did not say if you had a proportional or on/off boom. I actually think an on/off is easier to learn on.

hey 38zman, sounds like your mixer drivers are just as good as ours over in england. bloody hopeless. its so hard to pull that lever back and forth and not overfill the hopper. they ALL need hanging by the bollocks and shooting! sorry but its true they make my blood boil