How to keep excavator equipment working as long as possible? Here are some tips on their maintenance and cleaning.
Excavators and attachments get dirty every day
We must start with the clear idea that all earthmoving equipment and attachments, as well as the guest machines on which they are installed, tend to get dirty.
Machines in the construction sector (excavators, skid steers, crawler loaders, tractors and more), but also in the agricultural sector, venture into the mud and earth every day when they dig, move in the bush and among the aggregates, also contaminating themselves with pollutants. Dirt does not stop at the external structure of the construction vehicle, but also reaches the cab, where the operator works all day: dust and debris dirty the windows, reducing the driver’s visibility.
Cleaning to keep excavator attachments working much longer
While on the one hand the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us how to behave in terms of sanitizing environments and equipment in the workplace (we also talk about it in this article), on the other hand the correct cleaning and maintenance of goods materials also benefits the latter in terms of wear. The best practice is that at the end of the day the excavator operators clear the cab of their personal belongings, clean the windows of dust, throw away the rubbish produced and clean the undercarriage with a pressure washer, freeing it from dirt, rocks and debris.
Large and compact machines need to be cleaned regularly to keep them in good working order. For example, at the end of each working day, operators of excavators and crawler loaders should take the opportunity to clean dirt, rock and debris that may have accumulated in the undercarriage.
Even attachments need to be maintained as well as the machines they’re attached to: attachments are invaluable to your work projects, because they enormously expand the capabilities of construction equipment, allowing even a small fleet to perform a large range of applications.
Tips for maintaining and cleaning excavator attachments
Usually, the maintenance of a machine or attachments involves a daily inspection, developed thanks to a specific checklist like this one. Maintenance has the objective of verifying several points:
– the presence of damage due to wear and tear on the most commonly used equipment (buckets, grapples)
– the correct installation of the equipment on the host machine
– correct lubrication of moving parts, bearings, cylinders, pins and fittings
– the presence of damage to the hydraulic connections or any interruptions thereof
– the correct hydraulic pressure
– the presence of leaks from pipes and valves
– replacement of damaged parts
– the correct tightening of bolts and other fasteners
Tecnoter attachments to reduce maintenance to a minimum
We cannot avoid suggesting also to choose robust, reliable and first quality accessories/attachments to minimize the risk of accidents and wear. This choice is fundamental: once mounted on the appropriate machine, the construction accessories can be used to increase the potential of the fleet of vehicles and of the entire company.
Tecnoter attachments are now renowned for the high degree of safety they are able to guarantee even in harsh working conditions. In the Tecnoter equipment catalog you can find auxiliary stick extensions, permanent hydraulic magnets, retrofit kits and even dust reduction systems for demolition.
Visit our dedicated page to learn more or contact us to find out more.