Description

Aichi SP18AJ, SP21AJ, ISP60J, ISP70J Operators Manual – OEM Factory Specs

You have a $150,000 aerial platform sitting in your yard, and you are expected to put a guy in a basket 70 feet up. But you pulled the manual and got a third-party reprint that skips the pre-start checks and uses generic torque values. That gets people killed. The Aichi SP18AJ, SP21AJ, ISP60J, ISP70J Operators Manual from the factory is 81 pages of exactly what you need to keep your machine safe and your operator alive. I have torqued enough lift equipment to know that skipping the OEM manual is a liability. This is the one.

Operator Qualifications and Pre-Start Checks – Page 1 and 10

Section I lays out who is allowed to run this machine – not your new guy with a forklift license. Read it. Section V (page 10) gives you the pre-start check sequence. Check the work range limit system before you move. I have seen a boom hit a power line because someone skipped the limit system check. Do not be that guy. The manual tells you exactly what to look at: hydraulic oil level, wire ropes, tires, function tests. Follow it.

Control Panels and Operating Method – Sections IX and X

Two control stations: lower (ground) and upper (platform). Section IX breaks down every switch and indicator with pictorial symbols. If you cannot read a hydraulic symbol, you learn here. Section X covers engine start from both stations, boom raising/lowering, telescoping, rotation, emergency stop, emergency pump operation, and bleeding air from the platform leveling system. The foot-switch on the upper control is a deadman – you let go, everything stops. That is covered on page 49. Do not bypass it.

Lubrication Intervals and Daily Care – Sections XIV and XV

Page 66 lists recommended lubricants. Page 67: grease every 100 hours or one month. Change hydraulic oil every 1,200 hours or 12 months. I have pulled transmission parts out of gearboxes that were run dry because someone used the wrong oil. Section XV covers hydraulic oil replenishment, gear oil for rotation and travel gearboxes, engine oil, wire rope inspection, fuse replacement, and hydraulic hose checks. You want your machine to hit two thousand hours without a major rebuild? Follow these intervals.

What Does the Safety Devices Section Cover? – Section VIII

Safety devices include the work range limit system, tilt sensor, emergency stop, and the emergency pump. The manual dedicates a whole section to how those devices interact. If the limit cancel switch is engaged, you have to know when it is allowed (page 48). Modifying or bypassing safety devices voids the manufacturer’s approval – this is stated in the introduction. Aichi Corporation in Ageo, Japan, designs these machines for specific stability margins. Do not guess.

Why OEM Documentation Matters for Aerial Platforms

Third-party manuals use generic diagrams and often skip the periodic inspection intervals. This is the factory document printed from the original PDF. Every torque value, every lubricant spec, every control sequence comes from Aichi. Need to tow the machine? Section XII covers towing procedure – wheel type, so you have to disconnect the drive chain or you will tear up the travel gearbox. The manual tells you how. Transportation section (XIII) includes loading ramp angle and hoisting points. You will not find that in a reprint.

Related manuals you should have on the shelf: Aichi SP18AJ/SP21AJ/SP25B Parts Catalog – OEM 398-Page Factory Specs for the exact part numbers when you need a new hydraulic hose or control valve. Aichi SP21AJ, SP18A, SP21A, SP25B Parts Catalog – 673 Pages covers older variants. Aichi ISP60J ISP70J SP-18A ISP60 SP-18AJ Parts Catalog – 363 Pages OEM for the ISP-series machines.

If you are new to operating a self-propelled aerial platform, reading the Manual Transmission section in the specification chapter will help you understand the drive system. For the travel gearbox, refer to Manual Transmission fundamentals – but always use the OEM oil viscosity from page 66.

Question 1: Does this manual cover the ISP60J model?

Yes. The title includes ISP60J and ISP70J alongside SP18AJ and SP21AJ. Introduction on page 2 confirms it.

Question 2: How often should I grease the boom and where can I find the lubrication points?

Section XIV, page 67 lists every 100 hours or one month as the standard interval. Lubricating points include boom pivot pins, turntable bearing, and platform leveling cylinders. The manual provides a diagram with grease fitting locations. Do not grease over old grease – wipe the fitting first. The recommended lubricant is lithium-based NLGI No. 2. Using a different grease can cause incompatibility and premature wear. I have seen a boom seize because someone mixed EP grease with standard lithium. Stick to the spec in the table.

You need this manual on the machine, not in a drawer. Access the Factory Manual and print it. Put it in a weatherproof binder. Your operator’s life and your equipment investment depend on following these procedures.