Agree with the comments from Justinn & Edward T. Would like to add a couple additional comments. When your in house maintenance personnel straigtened the bent rods by heat, not only will it weaken the rod but there is a much better than 50% chance the rods are not perfectly straight. The end results the rod will bend easier and seals will fail causing oil leakage and "excessive down time" especially on 15 year old units.

The pantograph of reach units are a point of high maintenance andis usually caused by operator errors or abuse. Newer units have been some what improved in this area but any "good" operator can take the machine beyond it's design limits.