Short answer: a mast climbing work platform is maintained on a fixed ladder of intervals. Each week grease and clean the pinions, racks and drive units. Each month check bolts, wall ties and limit switches. Add brake and roller checks every quarter, structural checks yearly, and a gearbox oil change every two years. Each interval includes the earlier ones.
ALPMAKSAN, an İstanbul-based manufacturer of mast climbing work platforms and construction hoists, publishes this schedule in the user manual of its P1500 and P3000 platforms. This guide turns it into a plain checklist for maintenance managers. It does not replace the manual for your serial number.
How often does a mast climbing work platform need maintenance?
The manual defines five intervals plus a storage routine. Each interval is cumulative: the monthly service also covers the weekly tasks, the quarterly one covers weekly and monthly tasks, and so on.
| Interval | Main tasks |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Grease pinions and racks (remove sand and dirt first), clean the platform and drive units, visually inspect the pinion-rack transmission |
| Monthly | Inspect guide rollers, fixings, brackets and bearings; check mast bolt torque; check all wall tie connections and retighten loose ones; test all limit switches; lubricate outriggers and pins of extending base frames |
| Quarterly | Inspect the motor brake; check guide roller clearance; visually inspect pinion and rack; on twin-mast machines, check the automatic levelling device |
| Annual | Check platform section connection torque; inspect rack welds; general check of paintwork, corrosion and welds |
| Every two years | Replace reduction gearbox oil (ISO VG220 grade or an equivalent) and regrease the gearbox bearings |
Grease and oil must meet the specifications given in the manual.
Why is weekly cleaning and greasing so important?
The pinion and rack carry the whole load of the platform, and debris on them accelerates wear. On sandy or dusty sites, remove the debris before applying new grease, otherwise the grease holds abrasive material against the teeth. Weekly cleaning of the platform and drive units also makes oil leaks and loose parts easier to spot. For wear limits on these parts, see mast climber wear limits and parachute brake replacement.
What belongs in the monthly check?
Monthly checks focus on the connections that hold the machine to the building and the devices that stop it. Mast bolts must be at the specified torque, wall tie connections must be secure, and every limit switch must work. Loose wall ties are retightened. If your wall ties were planned using the guidance in our tie-in spacing checklist, this is the point at which that plan is confirmed on the real structure.
What is checked quarterly, annually and every two years?
Quarterly work looks at the parts that wear: motor brake, guide rollers, pinion and rack, and on a twin-mast machine the levelling device. Annual work covers the structure: platform connections, rack welds, paint and corrosion. The two-yearly gearbox oil change and bearing regreasing is the deepest service in the manual.
Regulators and safety bodies expect inspection intervals to be set from a risk assessment, the manufacturer's manual and national rules. The UK HSE, for example, asks users to include everything in the manufacturer's maintenance and service schedule in periodic inspections, and to have checks done only by competent people. HSE safety alert
What about a platform in storage?
Before a machine goes into storage, carry out a full inspection and replace damaged parts. Clean the pinion and rack and apply fresh grease. Inspect mast sections, racks and welds, and check the bolts of the lowest mast section for corrosion. Cover the machine with a waterproof tarpaulin; at minimum, always protect the control box and limit switches. For long-term storage, ask the manufacturer or distributor. See also dismantling, transport and storage.
What are the maintenance rules that apply to every interval?
- Use only original spare parts supplied or approved by the manufacturer.
- If maintenance is interrupted or left unfinished, turn the main switch off, lock it and attach a warning label before leaving the platform.
- Keep a record of each service. Dated records make it easier to show that intervals were met and to plan spare parts.
- Run the daily inspection and brake test in addition to the scheduled service. They are not substitutes for each other.
Frequently asked questions
Is the monthly service in addition to the weekly one?
Yes. Each interval includes the tasks of the shorter ones, so the monthly service also includes the weekly tasks.
How often should the gearbox oil be changed?
The manual sets a two-year interval, using oil that meets ISO VG220 or an approved equivalent, together with regreasing the gearbox bearings.
Can I use any grease?
Use grease that meets the specification in the manual. Substitutes should be agreed with the manufacturer or distributor first.
Who should carry out maintenance?
Competent people trained for the machine. ALPMAKSAN technical service can support service planning for ALPMAKSAN machines.
Does a busy site need shorter intervals?
The manual's intervals are the baseline. Dusty, sandy or heavy-use conditions can justify more frequent cleaning and checks, set through your own risk assessment.
Talk to ALPMAKSAN about service
Contact us with your machine's serial number and site conditions to plan a maintenance routine for your platforms.
Sources
- HSE safety alert: mast climbing work platforms, mechanical failure in drive units
- OSHA eTool: Mast climbers
- ALPMAKSAN P1500 / P3000 user manual (maintenance chapter)
Updated: 2026-10-28
This guide gives general maintenance information. Follow the manual supplied with your machine and local inspection regulations.