That time I bought a $300 anti-two block sensor that didn't fit my rig

I picked up a fancy anti-two block sensor from a supplier in Houston last month, thinking it would swap right onto my older Terex. Turns out the mounting bracket was off by half an inch, and I spent a whole afternoon trying to shim it before giving up. Anybody else get burned by a part that said 'universal' but really wasn't?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantmartinez14d ago

Yeah, are we really surprised though? "Universal" is just marketing speak for "we didn't want to make different versions, good luck with the shims." I've noticed this pattern in basically everything now, not just crane parts. My buddy bought a "universal" phone mount for his truck that was supposed to fit any dash, and it barely stayed on. It's like companies know people will buy the cheaper option even if it means extra work. Half the time you end up spending more in labor and frustration than if you just got the right part from the start. The anti-two block sensor thing really grinds my gears though, because that's a safety item. You don't want to be guessing with that stuff.

henderson.oscar14d ago

Had a buddy buy a "universal" bike rack that promised to fit any car. Spent a whole Saturday with a hacksaw and zip ties just to get it to sit right without wobbling.

sullivan.spencer13d ago

Damn, @henderson.oscar nailed it about the safety angle. I've learned the hard way that if the mounting bracket doesn't line up perfect on day one, it's not worth the headache trying to fabricate it - especially for something that keeps your boom from smacking power lines. I just send those universal parts back now and fork over the cash for the OEM stuff, even if it stings a little.