Safety Issues specific to AMF

[WI Adam]

Please add anything you can think of as far as safety issues specific to AMF (I'll just post the basics in general).... I'll just start this off with sugguestions to new mechanics....
First, and foremost... THINK SAFETY.... IE: Never reach into a machine that is running... I dont care if you're a mechanic of 2 days or 20 years, you can still get hit by a pin the same as the rest of us.... Older mechanics tend to forget this more than newer ones.... If you dont have to stand behind a machine, or lean into a machine, dont... Its asking to be hit....
Second, NEVER assume anything... just because its "off" doesnt mean its not powered... or that a bowler wont throw on that lane... just because its off doesnt mean someone else wont turn it on or throw on it.... If you have to enter a machine, drop the rake turn it off, unplug it, and flag it....
Third, if you dont know what it does, leave it be, or use caution if you MUST work on it... Just about every piece on these machines is either heavy, has high spring tension, or has a lot of force driving it.... I'm sure there are mechanics of many years that havent done *EVERYTHING* to a machine....
Last, but not least.... keep an eye on your hands, tools, and parts that you take into the machine with you, set on top of the machine, or set behind the machine... Not only could they get damaged/broken by the machine, or by someone stepping on them (or they could get hurt by them), but they can also injure you if you leave them in the wrong spot, or even just set them in the wrong spot (Spot cups springing backwords is a perfect example)...

As long as you are careful, this job should be pretty safe... but you have to look out for other mechanics, pin-chasers, and the all-too common idiotic bowler.... Good mechanics are rare enough, dont take another one out of service. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]

[poplarpetey]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Wear a hat or helmet. I've banged my head on the distributor too many times to count when climbing around in the pit. Now that my hair is "disappearing", it's easier to get cuts up there. [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

Pete

[Lampie]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

If I had a rake on my AMF machine I would turn it off(of the machine whaha hooh)..

I scream man.

[ModelTech]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Good points Adam,

Man, some have had to learn the hard way. Weldments are damn sharp, too, on the 8230. Watch out when you're cleaning! Carelessness while wiping with a rag, can get your hand laid open like a freshly filleted Red Snapper!

Sometimes you HAVE to work on the thing when it's running. Common sense, and experience comes into play here. No rookies allowed! Training is very important, and details!

You go, Adam!

Doug

[Mark Anderson]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

We had a Big Thread running for over a year on Safety Issues , Mostly AMF & Centre Safety , There was quite a few postings on Brunswick & Other machines to .

If you haven't read it , It full of Scares & Idea's to make life safer for US & our PATRONS .

Worth a Quick read if you haven't seen it , There hasn't been a post on it for 4 months , But I wouldn't mind seeing it back-up & live again .

Click Here :- Safety Issues

[vinson]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Here is an idea that I don't think has been brought up yet. A lot of the 70s that we have installed over the years have shown up with the guards not include. Go to your local Home depot or Lowes and buy a roll of the orange plastic webbing that you see on the construction sites-fencing, cut it to hang where the rear cover would be, covering the ball lift-paddle belts, works great. I also put magnets on the bottom to help prevent curling.

[ModelTech]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

[img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek.gif[/img]

Hey Vinson! Welcome back! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

Where ya been? Haven't seen ya post in a while! Still likin' the Via MC-2? Our's are great! Got my manual finally! Ya want to talk about funny stuff! The way they translate from Chinese to English...LOL!

I don't like the guards all over the MC-2. I've been around machinery enough to use common sense. It's the inexperienced pinchasers that need these guards up, but why would inexperienced pinchasers be unsupervised? An old saying states, "...the more you overwork the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain..."

That stuff has to come off, to do any serious work on the thing...taking up valuable time, and the league bowlers get disgusted. Doesn't make a brand new machine look good...so, if it were me in charge, OFF go the guards, and rookies are trained and re-trained for saftey! Simple common sense...

JMHO! [img]/content/btubb/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif[/img]

Doug

[Rep]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Thats how it is where I work stuck and I'm glad. Guards would just get in our way, when I was tried 5+ years back I was told about things and every area that a guard was was pointed out to me so I knew immediately what areas to watch. As long as you're careful and have some common sense as well as safety training I don't think they're really necessary. Just my $0.02

[macon]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Accidents will happen no matter how much training or common sense you have.

Is that one minute saved worth losing a finger or more.

my guards stay on

[ModelTech]

Re: Safety Issues specific to AMF

Macon's right. Some guards MUST stay on.

But I'm talking about those doors they put across the pin wheel opening, screen guards all over the front end, and sides. Rails all around the bin, making clearing a pin jam like walking thru a maze. All of it came off. Except the doors over the back. Machine won't run without 'em. It's a hassle. Some guards are part of the frame.

In fact, it's freakin' IMPOSSIBLE to use a pinfork to do a manual respot! I use the machine to do it, but not everybody knows that trick. So, one mech actually climbs down the front, reaches under, and spots the pins by hand. Machine on, and running. Brave? Ha, you won't catch me under there without it being off at the breaker!

Says, "...bowlers don't have time to wait."

Bowlers don't like me very much, because I'm not as quick as some. Guess what? I have all my fingers and toes (for now), and plan not to get hurt in front of a hundred people. That's embarrassing, and not professional-looking.

On the 8230, guards are in place so the sweep drive link doesn't cut your fingers off, if you happen to be supporting yourself, climbing into the adjacent machine. Toes are vulnerable, too, if you're standing there. Side guards on the end machines, and over the backend motors. Wooden guards (bright red) over our pin wheels. That stuff's gotta stay.

Thank you Macon! I had to "think" there a minute...

Woo... :p

Brain hurts, now...

Doug