5 Tips and Tricks for Maintaining Earthmoving Machinery

Earthmoving equipment such as excavators, articulated trucks or wheel tractor scrapers should be maintained regularly to reduce the likelihood of malfunctioning. Well-serviced machines also minimize the chances of job-site injuries. You also save money that would otherwise have been put to buying expensive spare parts. Furthermore, regular maintenance improves the bottom line of your business because you do not waste time and money as a result of job delays because your earthmoving equipment has broken down. Here are some tips to maintain earthmoving equipment.

Re-train Equipment Operators -- An unskilled operator can be a risk to themselves, the earthmoving equipment, and to other workers. You should retrain your machine operators to adapt to the changing technological innovations of heavy equipment. The person should be able to operate the equipment based on new industry standards. This way, you prevent incidences of injuries and damage to the expensive machinery. Refresher courses for current machine operators are ideal in this situation.

Meticulous Cleaning -- Earthmoving machinery work in different soil types such as loam, clay, and sand. Also, such soils may be wet and sticky, which makes the whole machine accumulate too much dirt over time. Ensure that you clean all these debris and dirt using a powerful hose or pressure washer. Dirt can cause you to incur heavy repair costs and replacement of damaged parts. After the end of the project, ensure that you thoroughly clean the machinery before embarking on another one.

Replace Damaged Seals and Filters -- Filters and seals are vital because they prevent dirt from entering the delicate earthmoving machine parts. Dirt and debris can accumulate on the filters and seals preventing their proper functioning. Eventually, these parts can break, allowing dirt to get into sensitive areas. What follows next is the breakdown of the entire earthmoving system. Therefore, have a qualified mechanic replace these seals and filters if they are worn out or clogged. As such, regular inspection is of utmost importance.

Sheltering Earthmoving Equipment --Shelter protects your equipment from elements like rain, wind, and sun, which can affect their smooth operation. Acidity and alkalinity found outside can cause corrosion and rusting of metal parts. Also, wind can escalate the rate of accumulation of dirt and debris, which contribute to the clogging of filters.

Proper Lubrication -- Most owners of earthmoving machinery incur damages that run into thousands of dollars because of neglecting this simple regimen of lubrication. Avoid headaches associated with buying expensive spare parts by regularly greasing and oiling parts as recommended by the manufacturer. Friction that is caused by moving parts generates a lot of heat, which can damage these parts if you do not lubricate them adequately. Also, ensure that you do not over-lubricate, because the lubricant can flow into other unwanted parts causing major damage to the engine.        

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