ISSUE DATE: 01/06/2009 

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P09-01 

FROM: MARK E. SKILES

Director of Technical Support 

 

KEVIN G. STRICKLIN

Administrator for 

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

FELIX A. QUINTANA

Administrator for Metal and Nonmetal 

Mine Safety and Health 

SUBJECT: Potential Safety Hazard on J. H. Fletcher & Co. Roof Bolting Machines 

with Independent Left and Right Tram Levers 

Who needs this information?

Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel, underground coal mine 

operators, underground metal and nonmetal operators, miner's representatives, and 

repair shop facilities should have this information. 

Why is MSHA issuing this Program Information Bulletin?

This Program Information Bulletin (PIB) is issued to inform mine operators and users of 

a potential safety hazard on J. H. Fletcher & Co. (Fletcher) roof bolting machines with 

independent left and right tram levers. The hazard involves tram levers that stick and 

do not return to the center or neutral position when released. This can cause 

unintentional machine motion, resulting in a crushing hazard. Fletcher has reported in 

Information Bulletin No. 108 that this potential safety hazard is due to an incorrect 

tolerance between the spool and valve bore and has instituted a recall and replacement 

of the tram control valve. This PIB affects 259 machines, which are identified by serial 

number in the attached Fletcher information bulletin. 
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Information

What machines does this PIB address?

This PIB addresses machines manufactured by Fletcher equipped with independent left 

and right tram levers. 

The affected machines include the following models: 

Model Description 

RRII Roof Ranger Dual Head Roof Bolter 

CRRII Roof Ranger Dual Head Roof Bolter on Crawlers

DDR Angle Drilling Dual Head Roof Bolter 

CDDR Angle Drilling Dual Head Bolter with Crawlers 

HDDR Dual Head Roof Bolter with Walk-Thru Chassis

CHDDR Dual Head Roof Bolter with Walk-Thru Chassis on Crawlers 

DDO Arm Feed Dual Head Roof Bolter 

These affected machines may be equipped with potentially hazardous tram control 

valves manufactured from May 2005 through July 2007. The affected tram control 

valve part number is 148133-00. The tram control valve serial number follows the 

format below. 

H0505-XXXX 

Where: 

 

H 05 05 -XXXX

Valve Number

Year of Manufacture

Month of Manufacture

Location of Manufacture

 

The affected tram control valve serial numbers range from: 

H0505-XXXX through: H0707-XXXX.
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What is the potential safety hazard with these machines?

The continued use of Fletcher machines with sticking tram control levers could result 

in serious injury or death to personnel. 

This potentially hazardous condition will likely occur when the machine is being 

trammed. When the operator releases the tram levers, one of the levers does not return 

to center or neutral. The machine may then continue to move or pivot without any 

intentional activation of a tram lever by the operator. 

If the machine continues to move or pivot, the operator must immediately release the 

tram enable pedal and depress the emergency stop switch located in the tram deck. 

What action should be taken by owners, operators, and personnel working in the 

vicinity of the affected machines?

DO NOT use the machine if a tram control valve lever is sticking. 

Contact Fletcher for a replacement tram control valve or spool and follow the guidelines 

contained in Fletcher’s information bulletin. Anyone who operates, performs 

maintenance activities, or works in the vicinity of the affected machines should be 

notified and provided copies of this PIB and Fletcher’s information bulletin. 

If a Fletcher field representative has not contacted you concerning the tram control 

valve, contact Fletcher to arrange a time to replace the tram control valve or spools. The 

Fletcher contact information is provided in the attached Fletcher Information Bulletin 

No. 108. 

What action is Fletcher taking on the affected machines?

Fletcher issued Information Bulletin No. 108 in May 2008, to alert the mining industry 

of the potential safety hazard. The information bulletin also includes information 

regarding the necessary actions to be taken by the machine owners and operators. 

Fletcher will replace the tram control valve or tram control valve spools, free of charge, 

on all machines listed in the information bulletin. 

How are machines identified when retrofitted with new tram control valves or 

spools?

Machines that receive a new tram control valve can be identified as follows: 

1: The part number on the tram control valve will be 148133-11 instead of 

148133-00. Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 below. 

2: The date code in the serial number will be later than the population of suspect 

tram control valves (H0608-XXXX or later). Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 

below. 
4

Figure 2 (Identification Tag)

Figure 1 (Tram Control Valve) 

 Will be “11”

Machines that receive new tram control valve spools can be identified as follows: 

1: The new part number “148133-11” will be stenciled on the tram control valve 

body. Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 below. 
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2: If the original tram control valve tag is present, “11” will be stamped over 

 the “00” at the end of the part number. Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 

 below. 

3: The new spools are stamped with “159X” on the handle end of the spool. 

Reference Figure 3 and Figure 6 below. 

Figure 3 

(Tram Control Valve)

Figure 4 (Identification Tag) Figure 5 (Tram Control Valve Body) Figure 6 (Spool)

What is the background for this PIB?

Fletcher issued Information Bulletin No. 105, dated August 2007, to alert the mining 

industry of the potential safety hazard associated with the sticking tram control levers. 

At the time the bulletin was issued, Fletcher was investigating the cause of the sticking 

tram control valve levers. 
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Since Information Bulletin No. 105 was issued, Fletcher determined that the sticking 

tram control valve levers were caused by an incorrect tolerance between the spool and 

valve bore. Fletcher reported that it has been notified that five incidents of a sticking 

tram control valve lever have occurred after Information Bulletin No. 105 was issued. 

Fletcher also reported that no injuries to personnel have occurred as a result of a 

sticking tram control valve lever. 

What is MSHA's authority for this PIB?

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended, 30 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.; 30 

C.F.R. § 48.7; 30 C.F.R. § 57.14100; 30 C.F.R. § 75.512

Internet Availability

This information bulletin may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's home 

page at http://www.MSHA.gov and then choosing Compliance Info, and Program 

Information Bulletins. 

Who are the MSHA contact persons for this PIB?

Coal Mine Safety and Health 

Stephen Gigliotti, (202) 693-9479 

E-mail: Gigliotti.Stephen@dol.gov 

Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health 

Bill Wilson, (202) 693-9643 

E-mail: Wilson.William@dol.gov

Technical Support, Approval and Certification Center 

Steve Cole, (304) 547-2304 

E-mail: Cole.Stephen@dol.gov

Who will receive this PIB?

MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders 

Miners' Representatives 

Underground Mine Operators 

Manufacturers of Mine Equipment and Mining Products 

Mine Equipment Repair Shop Facilities 

Special Interest Groups 

MSHA:TS:ACC:SCole:10/30/08:304-547-2304 

DOC:T:/TSupport/Directives, etc/Fletcher PIB 6618309 10 28 2008 

TS-2008-342