Heavy equipment is crucial to the success of many businesses. It’s essential to ensure that these pieces are in working order at all times, but too often, equipment maintenance is overlooked. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some equipment maintenance tips you may not have heard before.
The key to equipment maintenance is doing it early and often, which sounds easier than it is. To save yourself some time, in the long run, you should consider utilizing equipment maintenance software or apps that will allow for easy tracking of tasks during equipment inspections.
Maintenance conducted regularly can not only increase the lifespan of equipment, but it can also help businesses save thousands.
Keep a Maintenance Log
Keeping a maintenance log is an easy way to keep track of equipment, and by using equipment maintenance software, it’s possible to track equipment usage by date, location, and equipment type.
By noting equipment use, an owner can be aware if there are any patterns that might influence future maintenance needs for the equipment or other similar equipment located at alternate sites.
Something as simple as a regularly updated maintenance log can be a lifesaver to ensure that the equipment is regularly maintained. If the log is made digital, the information can be pulled across different sites and equipment, making it even more helpful than just keeping paper records.
Maintenance logs also have other uses, including being able to recognize patterns so if certain parts or equipment are wearing out at an increased rate compared with others, they will know ahead of time when replacement needs might arise. The use of preventative maintenance software helps simplify this process greatly.
Regularly Wash Heavy Equipment
Washing your personal vehicle regularly helps fight rust and keeps it in running condition. Similarly, cleaning heavy machinery regularly may not seem like it will do much, but it pays significant dividends.
This is even more important for equipment that spends a lot of time outdoors in the elements like construction equipment. Dirt, sand, salt, and other contaminants can destroy equipment faster than any breakdowns if it isn’t regularly cleaned off.
Washing your heavy equipment regularly is not tricky, but you also cannot simply use a car wash to do the work.
When washing equipment, use soap or detergent instead of acid-based products because they are less harmful if spilled inside a machines’ engines or electrical components. They are also more environmentally friendly than solvent-based cleaners that are not safe for reuse after cleaning spills.
Keeping equipment clean is an integral part of preventative maintenance. This makes it possible to identify problems with equipment as they develop and can also help equipment operators better see the area around them, which could prevent accidents on construction sites or in other environments where heavy equipment might be used.
Check Tires & Tracks
It’s a good idea for owners to regularly check on tires and tracks because this can give early warning signs for more severe damage that may happen further down the line if not taken care of immediately.
This is especially true for equipment that works in rougher environments, like construction equipment. Tire condition has been found to be one of the top three reasons excavators break down so paying attention to them during equipment maintenance is essential.
If equipment track has too much play in them, this could cause problems with the equipment’s ability to operate correctly and safely.
Adopt Preventive Maintenance
Preventative equipment maintenance can make equipment last longer by preventing breakdowns before they start or are severe enough that significant repairs are necessary, saving money over time on scheduling downtime for regular equipment service appointments.
It really comes down to identifying what causes of machinery failures might be occurring most often. Suppose you have a lot of reports about certain types of malfunctions happening regularly. In that case, it may be worth looking into preventative measures for those specific issues, so they don’t become more significant problems later on when something happens unexpectedly.
It’s also important to inspect equipment regularly for potential problems before they cause significant damage. Regular equipment maintenance goes beyond just fluids. Equipment owners should be checking for leaks, loose parts or belts that won’t stay tight. Many of these issues can easily be spotted with careful observation at regular intervals.
While some equipment will require more frequent inspections than others depending on how it is used, you should aim to do an inspection at least once every three months.
How Field Eagle can help
If you find yourself needing equipment repairs more often than expected, there may be something wrong with your plan for preventative maintenance. This is where construction equipment software like Field Eagle comes into the equation.
With Field Eagle, companies can track equipment issues across sites and come up with plans that work for their equipment and equipment use. It’s also helpful to keep a record of what you’ve done and when.
Making sure that the equipment is kept in good working condition may not be easy. If the log is recorded digitally using equipment maintenance software, it can be imported into Field Eagle, which helps manage the equipment lifecycle by monitoring concerns across sites throughout construction projects
Field Eagle helps inspectors easily track and record exceptions through its digital checklists, and by automatically syncing information with central servers, auditors and executives can quickly diagnose and report on common failures.
With proper inspection techniques like these, businesses will be able to identify causes for breakdowns early on so they don’t become major problems down the line or leave equipment broken down when it needs immediate attention.
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