- 1). Find a site to place the scale. It's important to find the best possible location for the scale since it needs to be on a level surface that's accessible to the trucks that will use it. Trucks need to have a minimum of 10 meters of straight driving clearance on each side of the scale.
- 2). Clear away any rocks or debris from the installation site. Rocks or tree roots that stick above ground level can interfere with the weighing process if they prevent the deck from depressing all the way.
- 3). Dig a small drainage ditch on either side of the installation site to prevent a build up of water during rain. The ditch should run away from the scale location.
- 4). Set up the support timbers that will hold the scale above ground level. The most common size of timber used measures 4 by 12 inches by 12 feet long, but this may need to be changed depending on the exact model you are using. Place two timbers side by side under each pair of load cells (electronic scale) or under each main lever (mechanical scale). This step won't be necessary for newer model portable scales that have their own support base plates.
- 5). Transport the scale to the site on a flatbed truck. Lift it in to place with a crane; making sure that it's properly positioned before lowering it onto the timbers
- 6). Backfill soil at both ends of the scale to create a ramp so trucks can drive onto the scale. The ramp needs to be at least as wide as the scale and level with the top of the deck. Run the backhoe over the ramp several times to compact the soil. This step can be omitted if the truck scale you are using has its own built-in ramps.
- 7). Connect the scale's wiring and calibrate it as per your model's manufacturer instructions.
- 8). Clean out the debris that builds up at the ends of the scale where it meets the ramps periodically. If the debris is allowed to build up, it will create bindings in the scale mechanisms and give faulty readings.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time
Prev Post
Next Post