Any construction company owner knows that maintaining their machinery is tantamount to the success of their project. Your machinery has to be in good working order so that you can complete the project on time, otherwise, you will lose clients and your income. But sometimes, you might not be sure how to continue with this maintenance.
By looking after your vital heavy machinery, you are ensuring that your construction projects will go off without a hitch. All construction equipment will need to be kept clean and rust free, no matter if it is heavy construction equipment or more simple machinery. If you want to keep your project up and running, read on below for some top tips on maintaining your heavy machinery.
Work in a routine
You don’t keep your doctor’s visits to only one per year, you keep yourself healthy by having regular checkups. And you should apply this mindset to your heavy machinery. Set up a routine of checking your machinery at least once every two weeks, especially if you are going to be working on a large project.
Your routine checks should look at both the exterior and the interior of the machinery, starting with the tyre pressure and ending with the driver’s seat. Catching minor problems early on means that you can easily fix them before they become major issues. Ask your maintenance managers to create a schedule that is easy to follow, that makes sense and that is thorough enough for all of your equipment to be inspected equally.
Keep it clean
Keeping things clean extends to your working environment as well as your machinery. You should be sure to inspect all seals and filters on your construction equipment so that there is no contamination of the fluids and so no dust can easily get in. If any of the seals are broken, be sure to replace them as soon as possible.
The area that the machinery is kept in should be dust-free and should not be close to any moisture sources, in order to avoid rust. Be sure to clean the area of all rubble and rubbish after you have finished working for the day, including all food wrappers and drinks bottles. Not only will this ensure that no rubbish can get into any filters but your clients will be impressed with your neat and tidy workspace.
Always use the right tools
One effective way to maintain your machinery is to ensure that you always use the right tools for the job. This way you will be able to fix your machinery correctly and will not battle with ill-fitting tools and incorrect equipment. Similarly, you will need to ensure that you use the right construction equipment for the job.
For example, you could not use agricultural backhoe loaders to help you dig a hole for a construction site. If you use the right equipment for the job, you will find that your maintenance needs go down. It will also make your schedule easy to stick to, as you will know exactly which equipment is being used when, and when you need to inspect this machinery. Ask your workers to keep this in mind when they start a job and work on a maintenance schedule.
Look out for wear and tear
If you would like to know what needs to be fixed on your construction equipment, you will need to be on the lookout for signs of wear and tear. This includes misaligned gears and belts which are causing the machinery to vibrate when in use,.Poor lubrication and old parts cause overheating and age causes warped belts and cracked seals.
Take note of how old the parts of your vehicle are and take steps to replace them as soon as possible. Your tyres will also need regular inspection for uneven wear, inaccurate pressure and the wrong alignment. The condition of your tyres can greatly impact the condition of your equipment engines and overall performance. Make a note of any tyres that need to be repaired and replaced and ask the manufacturer to do so, if you are still under warranty.
Keep good records
You might not remember what you had for lunch last Thursday, let alone which of your pieces of equipment need to be repaired. And this is why you need to keep good, clear maintenance records for every piece of machinery you use and own.
This way, you can quickly turn to the right page in your records to see how your heavy equipment is doing without having to guess. For example, you might not remember that your digger needs to have its tyres replaced because you did not make a note of it. This could be disastrous for anyone who has to use it urgently or who does not know that this replacement needs to take place. Ensure that all workers have a copy of these records to consult whenever they use any equipment.
