How to Ensure That Your Earthmoving Machinery Doesn't End up Costing You More Than It Should
Major construction projects such as the creation of a new road, or the clearance of undeveloped land for a new housing estate are usually accompanied by significant budgets and punitive contracts. Those organisations involved in providing machinery and equipment almost invariably have to commit to strict deadlines and the delivery of their work on time. To avoid harsh penalties, it is therefore necessary to ensure that every item of plant and machinery is well looked after, so that it does not fail and cause any delays. What do you need to remember when it comes to the maintenance of your earthmoving machinery?
Lubrication First
The types of machine needed at these very complex worksites are complicated, expensive and under significant pressure. It's not uncommon for tremendous forces to be created when these machines are in use and an excessive amount of friction can affect the internal components. This is why it's essential that a proper lubrication regime is installed and maintained. Otherwise, the moving parts will deteriorate more quickly, could fail in the middle of an important task and endure a much shorter lifespan. It's very important to ensure that just the right amount of lubrication is used, as well, as too much could cause seals to break, productivity to be slowed and inevitable damage.
Keeping Clean
While earthmoving machinery is inevitably used in areas prone to a buildup of dirt and debris, the machines themselves should always be kept as clean as possible. Certainly, the machines are designed to be tough, but many of the internal parts are still quite delicate. Filters and seals are not meant to deal with an excess of grime and dirt. Contamination should be avoided at all costs and each machine should be inspected and cleared at the end of each task. If at all possible, machines should be housed in a structure when not in use. This will help to avoid any leakage, or damage caused by standing water.
Maintaining Well
The manufacturers of heavy duty, earth-moving machinery will stipulate a specific maintenance schedule and will tell you how often a particular part needs to be inspected, repaired or replaced as needed. All of the degradable parts must be inspected on time and this includes belts, pulleys, seals and gaskets. No shortcut should be taken when it comes to this maintenance schedule.
Being Proactive
Also, the manufacturer will likely draw your attention to pieces of the machine that could, under certain circumstances, be more prone to wear and tear than others. If you're aware that particular pieces could malfunction, then you need to instigate additional inspections, to try and replace any components before they fail.
Your Eyes and Ears
Finally, ensure that all employees are highly skilled and trained in order to not just operate the machinery, but look after it. They should be motivated to be proactive, as they will often be the first point of contact when it comes to any potential failure and subsequent delay.
