Publication Date: 2023-12-22
The winter cold is good reason to make sure you and your operators are inspecting machines thoroughly each day and following proper operating procedures to prevent accidental wear and tear, or even downtime. If you plan to store machines during the winter, there are preventive measures you can also take. If you work in the colder northern city — or if temperatures are expected to drop significantly for a period of time — these construction equipment winter maintenance tips can save you money and keep you up and running more efficiently and safely. We got some tips for making sure your construction equipment is maintained all winter while maintaining uptime efficiency.
1. Read the heavy equipment user guides and manuals
The manuals that came with your machines are there for a reason. They give you information on using your heavy equipment, including guidelines for cleaning, maintaining, and correctly storing them. Spend some time reading the manuals – it won’t take you long. They are really useful, and you will be surprised to learn about the extra tips and pointers from the manufacturer.
2. Clean your machines at the end of the day. This includes the track, undercarriage, driveline, articulation joints and steer cylinders. If they get muddy and it’s below freezing, they’ll freeze overnight. Frozen mud is a lot like concrete — it’s much more difficult to chisel and pry out than ice. Frozen mud in the tracks can easily damage the tracks, pins and rollers if an operator tries to run the machine.
3. Protect exposed cylinders with protective spray to prevent corrosion. This applies if you have a machine you intend to store all winter. If it’s frozen and it’s not being run every once in a while, the chrome on the cylinder rods may become rusty and cause pitting which will damage the cylinder seals and cause oil leaks when the machine starts to operate again.
4. Protect yourself. Winter months mean darker jobsites, so be sure to check that all lights are in working order and your operators can clearly see everything around them. Also keep your stairs and walk areas clear of snow and ice to help prevent accidents.
5. Deal with heavy equipment repair work straight away
Repair any issues as soon as possible. Otherwise, the problem may get bigger & more expensive to fix, or lead to even more damage. Delaying repair work may leave you scrambling to find a heavy equipment mechanic when you need your machinery the most.
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