If you are just hiring your excavator, you can skip this article, because the plant hire company you are using is more than likely going to include maintenance in the list of services that they provide. But if you are taking the leap and hiring your excavator, then this is an article worth reading.
To ensure that the excavator that you have bought stays in tip top shape and is more than capable of providing you with continuous, safe use, routine maintenance is of utmost importance. When you are dedicated to your maintenance, you will be giving your machinery a longer lifespan which will, in turn, give you a greater return on your investment. Properly working equipment is also a must if you are looking to guarantee safety on your worksite.
Machine maintenance doesn’t have to be a complicated or time-consuming task when you familiarise yourself with what it is that you are doing. Most machinery that you buy should come with the proper manual and with our tips, you can easily get started with a safety plan.
Tips you need to know when planning your excavator maintenance
- Have operator procedures in place
The best way to set up routine maintenance plan for an excavator, is to get your operator involved. Since the operator is the person who will be using the machine the most, having them give the machine a quick once over each time they are getting ready to use it, is the easiest way to ensure the machine is always in the best working order. Set up a proper procedure for the operator to work with each day, and make sure the operator has read any manuals that have come with the machine.
- Have regular training classes
Knowing how to correctly use the machinery is just one part of making sure that the machine is correctly operated. Correct use of the excavator can guarantee that the machine stays in a good condition while it can also mean that should the machine develop a fault, it can be quickly picked up before there is a problem.
- Check the undercarriage
Often too much emphasis is put on the parts of the excavator that can be seen, that the undercarriage of the machine is completely forgotten. Make sure that each time the operator starts a shift, they check the machine tracks to make sure that everything is looking good and working just as it should.
- Check for leaks and cracks
Cracks in any part of the machinery as well as leaks can lead to big problems. It is important to always keep an eye out for this and to never operate machinery with either of these issues, as it can be incredibly dangerous.
- Don’t forget the attachments
All excavators come with various attachments and just as you need to maintain the actual machine, you will also need to make sure that the various attachments you have are also kept properly maintained, so that they continue to work just as they should.
