INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TONG
1. Always wear eye protection prior to replacing dies.
2. Clean dies with wire brush daily to prevent damage to outside of tubing.
3. Inspect and change worn dies periodically to prevent slippage and damage to tubing.
4. Remove jaw and bushing from tong before changing dies.
5. Install dies correctly to ensure gripping on tubing. Dies must be installed with the teeth
facing the direction of rotation.
6. Roll pins in jaw and bushing must be installed correctly to prevent dies from falling down
well when operating tong.
SUSPENSION OF TONGS IN DERRICK
1. Suspend the tong in the derrick with as long a line as possible, at a height to grip the tubing at
least 6” ABOVE THE UPSET. The angle of hanging line from vertical when tongs are on
tubing MUST NOT be great enough to pull the tong off the pipe.
2. Attach Back-up line.
a. A Back-up line, automatic or retraction, is attached to the Back-up Ring. The Back-up
line must be of sufficient strength and be properly secured. BACK-UP LINE MUST BE
HORIZONTAL TO TONG: THAT IS, IT MUST NOT PULL UP OR DOWN ON THE
TONG WHILE IN OPERATION. For correct torque readings, the Back-up line MUST
BE ON A 90 ANGLE WITH THE TONG.
b. Westco International recommends the use of a safety sling to prevent injury of personnel
caused by failure of the main Back-up line or stiff-arm assembly. The safety sling
attached to the safety eye on the back of the tong and fastened to the rig or to a secure tie
down.
NOTE: A Back-up line must always be used, with or without the coupling Back-up
assembly.
9. Connect hydraulic hoses and start power unit.
10. Swing tong on tubing joint. Advance the throttle enough to take the slack out of the Back-
up line. This will put the tong in a level position.
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