Heavy equipment is a heavy investment in capital that will serve your needs, but only when given the proper care and maintenance required to prevent breakdowns and to ensure reliable function on a day-to-day basis.
Below are five tips to help ensure that your heavy equipment has a long, healthy life.
1. Inspect Your Equipment Regularly
Inspect your heavy equipment periodically to ensure that there are no signs of damage or excessive wear, both of which can put the operators of your machines at risk for injury. Searching for signs of damage before something catastrophic happens will be ensure that your equipment has a chance to be repaired and reduce the overall repair costs.
During inspection, feel free to use a heavy equipment inspection checklist.
2. Make Minor Repairs Immediately
Minor repairs, such as fixing flat tires and replacing lost bolts, will go a long way to ensuring that nothing catastrophic happens to your machinery. Have your operators check daily for issues that they can have fixed before any work commences. This should include an inspection of oil, gas and coolant levels.
Any time you see fluid on or under the vehicle, this is a sign you should check for the source right away. Heavy machinery can be expensive to repair, but that price is nothing compared to the cost of a new machine. Too often owners and renters of machinery take the “run it into the ground” approach, which will virtually always catch up to you.
3. Inspect Hoses and Hydraulic Connectors
Cracks, leaks and loose connections are signs that your machinery needs to be serviced. Have your operators and foremen check for these problems before the equipment is put into use. There are obvious signs of hydraulic problems that when identified can prevent serious complications.
If a hose of hydraulic connection malfunctions or breaks during work, it can be a hazard to both the people involved with the machine and the equipment itself. Hoses and hydraulic seals are relatively simple to replace compared to other repair work, so save yourself a headache and catch them early.
4. Clean Your Machinery
Caked mud, dirt, clay and sand all work to wear down the life of your heavy machines. Ensure that the radiator, track rollers and top frames are cleaned out after every use of your machine to prevent problems down the road.
Keeping your machinery clean also allows your pre-operations inspections to be more accurate, as you don’t have to try to see through years of grime.
5. Lubricate Moving Parts
Parts like large gears, rollers and any other parts that move typically need to be lubricated to ensure proper function. Lubrication will also ensure that these parts last longer.
For a list of lubricants and coolants, consult the Eastern Oil Company’s services.
Proper Care Ensures the Long Life of Your Equipment
By taking proper care of your machines, you will ensure that they last longer with less need for major repairs and overhauls of hydraulic systems or engines.
