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Maintenance Tips for Heavy Equipment

Maintenance Tips for Heavy Equipment

Heavy equipment is expensive, and so are the repairs. Proper machine maintenance will allow you to avoid a hefty repair bill—or worse—buying all new equipment. Here are some quick tips on heavy equipment maintenance.

Regularly replace lubricant

Lubricant is key to maintaining your machinery’s health. It reduces friction and allows your equipment to function without fear of overheating or general machine failure. Choose the right type of lubricant and determine the correct amount, as this can make or break your machine. Your owner’s manual should have information on the right kind of lubricant for your specific machine. Be sure to check this out and follow its recommendations.

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) fuel is a special type of lubricant used in many kinds of commercial and industrial machinery. It helps reduce emissions from diesel engines, making them cleaner and more efficient. If you’re wondering where to buy DEF fluid, you can find it at various locations, including auto parts stores, truck stops, and some gas stations. It is available in containers of different sizes, so you can choose the appropriate amount for your needs. Always ensure that the DEF fluid you purchase meets the required quality standards to maintain the proper functioning of your diesel engine and emissions control system.

Clean often

Cleaning your machine is paramount to keeping up its health and functionality. Remove any mud or dirt off your equipment—this allows for a better line of sight to watch for fluid leaks. It also can slow down the aging process by decelerating the rusting process. Check your owner’s manual for more information on the cleaning process. For example, it may list specific steps on how to clean parts, such as a final drive or track motor. Stick to this schedule and make time for proper cleaning.

You can read more about hydro blasting to see if this technique is suitable for your machinery. It also can slow down the aging process by decelerating the rusting process. Check your owner’s manual for more information on the cleaning process. For example, it may list specific steps on how to clean parts, such as a final drive or track motor. Stick to this schedule and make time for proper cleaning.

Monitor for wear and tear

Every time you clean your equipment, take a few extra minutes to check vital machine parts for wear and tear. Parts wear out and easily become damaged due to regular use and can go unnoticed until it’s too late. As such, you should watch closely for imminent issues. Further, check your tires every day—it only takes a few minutes and can save you thousands in new tire bills. The goal is to fix the small issues before they become big problems.

Keep a maintenance log

Even if you strictly follow your owner’s manual on lubricant replacement, part replacement, and cleaning, it’s still beneficial to keep a log. The key to extending your equipment’s life is to stay on track with maintenance. Professionals need to make sure the machinery continues to function at its full potential. This will save a lot of time and money for years to come.

Train employees

Improper use of heavy equipment is a leading cause of machine damage and premature failure. Take the time to properly train your employees. Even employees with valid certifications could benefit from a refresher course and how-to of the specific machinery make and model you use. Provide them with tips you find in the owner’s manual and consider providing them with a copy to reference. While taking on additional training hours can seem tedious. It is worth it, in the long run, to save your equipment from failures.

Know the limits

Don’t overuse or push the limits of your equipment. Follow your owner’s manual and respect what the machine is meant to do. For example, when the manual states a forklift can only hold so many pounds, don’t exceed the amount. If you treat your equipment with care and respect, you will be able to use it safely for much longer than if you regularly exceed its limitations. Now you can also effectively sell equipment as a fleet manager now a days.

12 Comments

  1. Lyla Peterson on November 18, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    I like the idea you mentioned of keeping a maintenance log to extend the life of your equipment. My husband and I are starting a general contracting business, and we are thinking about buying our own heavy machinery. I will keep in mind to regularly document the maintenance, cleaning, and wear of the equipment.

  2. Thomas Clarence on April 30, 2020 at 1:55 pm

    I thought it was interesting when you talked about how it is important to clean heavy machinery equipment so that it can maintain functionality and health. In addition to that, I would think that it would be a good idea to have a repairman inspect the machinery on a fairly regular basis. It seems like this would prevent major mechanical issues from occurring.

  3. Levi Armstrong on June 9, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    My dad has small oil machinery equipment at his farm that needs fixing. He doesn’t want to buy a new one because he said it’s a waste of money since the old one just needs new parts. I’m actually helping him to look for an oil machinery part manufacturing service so we can buy the right missing parts to make his machine work again. I like that you said my dad should keep the machine clean to keep it functional and decelerate the rusting process. I’ll try to remind him to clean the machine often once we have it fixed, so we wouldn’t have to buy new parts for it again. Thanks a lot!

  4. Vacuum Packer Repairs NZ on August 25, 2020 at 12:40 am

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  5. https://www.tacomaheavyequipmentrepair.com/ on September 2, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    Our skilled team of diesel mechanics in Tacoma at On-site Heavy Equipment Repair Tacoma offers a full range of mobile heavy equipment repair services, including truck and trailer repairs, and can look after the repair and PM needs of your whole fleet.

  6. Jitendra on September 17, 2020 at 10:07 am

    Informative post thanks for sharing it.

  7. John Carter on October 12, 2020 at 4:36 am

    This excellent website truly has all of the info I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.

  8. Paul Langley on January 8, 2021 at 1:13 pm

    It’s great that you mentioned maintenance for heavy equipment. We have 3 trailers that need to be repaired. So maintenance will extend the life of the usage of the trailers. I’ll definitely start the plan on it!

  9. heavy equipment machine on May 31, 2021 at 4:55 am

    I totally agree with the regularly replacing lubricant in our heavy equipment machine. These machines have their owns limits so check them regularly and if it is time to replace them please do it to avoid accidents.

  10. Jennie Arjente on June 1, 2021 at 7:04 am

    I like how this post is very informative, making your machinery’s life last long and would not be abused. Especially the idea of keeping a maintenance log and training employees. I believe one of the keys to extending your equipment’s life is in the hand of the people who and how it is being handled. The Megawide CELS offers cost-effective services through an extensive roster of first-world equipment, and they also provide equipment leasing options to clients.

  11. ecmmaster on July 14, 2021 at 7:13 am

    Hey, Thanks for sharing articles your article is very interesting and very informative

  12. Syndicate Welding Services on May 5, 2022 at 4:07 am

    Hello
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