How to maintain and service your machine.

If you choose to purchase a machine for your business; it’s important to protect your investment. Proper servicing and maintenance of machinery will extend its life and reduce the potentially damaging effects of day-to-day use. Let’s take a look at some basics of ongoing maintenance that apply to all machines.

Start by getting to know your machine

For any machine ownership, the most important first step is to understand what you own and how your manufacturer recommends you take care of it. Manufacturer’s guidelines should give you information on:

1. How often you should service your machine
2. What procedures you need to follow to take care of your machine
3. Recommended guidance for tyre pressure and maintenance or track maintenance
4. Preferred products to use with your machine, such as oils or grease
5. Recommended storage and care of your machine
6. Acceptable replacement parts.

Manufacturer’s guidelines are designed to give you the longest and most reliable working life from your machine. Following them is a good way to protect the financial investment you’ve made.

Keep track of how you care for your machine

From oil changes to greasing to tyre replacement and servicing. Every aspect of the maintenance you do on your machine should be recorded to give you – and your mechanic – access to that information at any time.

Keeping an accurate service and maintenance record is particularly important once you own multiple machines or if you own a machine for a number of years. If you decide to change mechanics and want a new person to start servicing your machine; your service record will help them to pick up where the previous mechanic left off. It’s also an important part of preparing any machine for sale should you decide to downsize your fleet or upgrade to a newer model.

Prepare a service schedule for your machine

As with all jobs it’s easy for other tasks to get in the way. That’s why being organised upfront is vital if you want to maximise the performance of your machine. Creating a diarised service and maintenance schedule will help you to make sure your machine is always in the best condition and you never miss an important piece of maintenance work that could cost you in the long run.

Clean your air filter every 250 hours, or if you’re working in dusty conditions, you may need to clean it more frequently.

It’s also a good idea to clean your machine inside and out before you take it in for a service or repair work. It’s easier for mechanics to spot issues that need attention on a clean machine and getting a repair done early could help you avoid a costly fix.

Before you carry out maintenance on your machine

Regular maintenance is an important part of owning construction or roading machinery. Before you carry out any of your maintenance tasks, it’s important to make sure you have made the machine safe to work on and that you have the right equipment to hand.

Making your machine safe for maintenance

Always make sure your machine is securely parked and all systems are turned off before you begin maintenance work. Many maintenance tasks are dangerous and require Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect you from hazardous chemicals or danger. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, check the packaging of the products you use for guidelines, and protect yourself by making sure you are properly prepared.

Use the right tools for the job

The wrong tool can quickly cause more damage than good. Always make sure you’re using the right tool for the job and if you’re replacing parts, be sure you’re using a manufacturer-approved replacement part.

Inspect and test all maintenance and parts before you go back on the job

From simple maintenance tasks to major repairs. Always take the time to check and double check your work and test all the machine’s systems before you return to operation. This will both ensure you’ve got the machine working properly before you go back to work, and is an important safety measure to protect you and the people who work around you.

How often should you carry out maintenance on your machine?

Your manufacturer’s guidelines will give you information specific to your make and model, but as a rule of thumb you can split servicing and maintenance tasks into those you should do daily, those that need to be performed weekly, and tasks that must be done every 250 hours of operation.

Daily service tasks

Performing these tasks before you operate your machine will ensure it’s set up to operate efficiently and minimise wear and tear.

• Check coolant levels
• Check engine oil levels
• Check hydraulic oil levels
• Check tyre pressures.

Hydraulic oil level, make sure when the boom of your excavator is stretched out to full reach so you can get an accurate reading of your hydraulic oil level. The level should be between the two lines indicated.

Weekly service tasks

These tasks might take a little more time but are an important part of machine maintenance. Set time aside every week to make sure you keep your machine in top condition.

• Grease pivot parts
• Clean the air cleaners
• Check the radiator isn’t blocked.

Every 250 hours

It’s important to change your engine oil every 250 hours so the moving parts of your engine stay protected.

5 minutes for maintenance – where should you focus?

Scheduling in maintenance tasks means they’re less likely to get bumped down your to-do list. Missing maintenance tasks is more likely to cost you in the long term. If you’re running short on time or something’s come up – try to prioritise greasing the hardest working pivot points or checking your oil levels. Both of these tasks can cause big repair bills if they’re not managed regularly.

Grease your pivot pins, very important to keep your machine in top condition.

What’s the best grade of oil to use?

Your manufacturer’s recommendations in the Operator’s Handbook are an important place to start when choosing oil for your machine. Here are our general recommendations that are suitable for excavators and other machines if you’re not sure where to start:

• Final Drives – SAE90
• Hydraulic Reservoir – ISO46
• Diesel Engine – SAE 10W30 CF

Do I really need to clean my air cleaner every week?

The recommended frequency for cleaning your air cleaner is every 250 hours, but we know from experience that it may need to be done more frequently. Especially if you’re working in dusty conditions.

You can clean your air cleaner by blowing from the inside of the filter with compressed air, which will provide a temporary clean. This should only be done a few times before you fully replace the filter because over time you won’t be able to completely clean the pores of the air filter.

What happens if I don’t clean my air cleaner?

Regularly cleaning your air cleaner is important for fuel economy. Failing to clean your air cleaner will mean you use more fuel and might result in black sooty smoke or less power as your engine struggles to breathe properly.

Equipment available to hire when you need it

Having a schedule for maintenance makes it easier to plan when your machine won’t be available. If that happens and you need to keep the job on track, you can hire the equipment you need from Allways Hire.

Allways Hire has a wide range of construction and roading equipment that’s available for hire in Hawke’s Bay. Whether you choose to pick it up or save time by asking us to deliver it direct to your worksite – we’re happy to help you keep your job moving. Browse our machines or contact us today.

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