Important Tips to Maintain Heavy Construction Equipment

Maintaining your heavy construction equipment is a critical part of running a construction business. Prioritizing maintenance will save money down the line by preventing hefty repairs and replacements.

Maintenance is vital for all earthmoving vehicles, from bulldozers and excavators to luffing jib tower cranes and any other kind of cranes or other heavy-duty vehicles your construction business relies on to operate.

These essential maintenance tips will help you keep your construction company’s core equipment in excellent condition.

Maintenance Program Commitment

If you miss a single service, you might not notice any wear and tear. Preventative maintenance will extend the lifetime of your equipment and minimize the downtime experienced. Sure, you aren’t able to use your machine during a service, but like a car, a service will prevent future problems.

A proper preventative maintenance program is all-inclusive. Your program should include regular part changes (when necessary), total repair and maintenance agreements, and employee training.

Regular Cleaning

Mother nature can be unkind to your machinery. By regularly cleaning your equipment, you are preventing any buildup.

When arranging regular cleaning of your equipment, maintenance personnel will have better visibility of the condition of the machinery; this will allow problems to be caught promptly.

Regular Lubrication

Lubrication is the application of greasy or oily substances. Lubricants will form a thin film between moving parts of your machine to keep the machinery running efficiently.

Regularly greasing your equipment will prevent corrosion, reduce friction and prevent machine wear. This periodic oiling will extend the lifetime of your equipment.

Misalignment Inspections

Misalignment arises when two housings are in different center lines. The fickle nature of the terrain may force burdens on motor calibration.

The correct alignment will ensure leaks and vibrations are minimized. Accurate calibration in construction equipment will reduce friction, decrease equipment noise during operation and lower the operating temperature.

Uniform Leak Inspections

Before starting your equipment or routine machine cleaning, take a few minutes to check for leaks. Catching leaks early on allows for a faster repair time.

Leaks on heavy machinery can negatively affect construction equipment, leading to excessive maintenance and costs, poor performance, and a lack of reliability.

Service History Documents

It is impossible to effectively mentally keep track of the maintenance history for each heavy-duty vehicle. These records should have the service date, the type of service conducted, what parts may have been replaced, and when the next service is required.

This meticulous data is vital for your company and will support any warranty claims that may be disputed.

Keeping A Checklist

It is not always possible to recall every detail necessary. This guideline should have service dates, future parts that need to be ordered ahead of time, and anything you might have trouble recalling.

While going about your daily business, you should tick off anything that has been done and bring your attention to the next item on the list.

Follow the manufacturer’s guide for each vehicle and ensure your team of employees is adequately trained. If your employees know how to care for the machinery and heavy-duty vehicles, there will be fewer breakdowns and accidents.

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