CAT 320 Excavator Boom Repair — Campbell River Logging
A Campbell River logging company brought in a CAT 320 excavator with a cracked boom — the kind of damage that stops an entire operation. The crack had propagated about 18 inches along the main boom plate, likely from metal fatigue and years of high-cycle loading in steep terrain.
We mobilized to their yard within 24 hours, assessed the damage, and developed a repair plan. The crack was ground out to clean metal, beveled for full penetration, and multi-pass welded with low-hydrogen electrodes. We then plated the area with 1/2" AR400 wear plate for added strength.
After welding, the repair area was NDT inspected using dye penetrant testing to confirm no residual cracking. The machine was back in the bush within 3 days of our arrival.
The Challenge
An 18-inch fatigue crack on the main boom plate was threatening to sideline the excavator during peak logging season, costing the company thousands per day in lost production.
Our Solution
Ground out the crack to sound metal, performed multi-pass welding with low-hydrogen electrodes, and reinforced with AR400 wear plate. Verified with dye penetrant testing.
The Result
The CAT 320 returned to full duty within 3 days. The reinforced repair area is now stronger than the original boom section, with no further cracking reported.
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