Understanding Preventive Maintenance Schedules for Heavy Machinery

Understanding Preventive Maintenance Schedules for Heavy Machinery

Proactive maintenance can prevent operator injuries, equipment breakdowns, and project delays. To extend the useful life of your excavators, backhoes, and cranes, take an inventory of each vehicle and the systems that require care and attention. At PJG Services, we provide heavy equipment service in Philadelphia. Additionally, our technicians will help you set up a maintenance schedule that minimizes downtime.

How to Schedule Preventive Maintenance for Heavy Machinery

You’ll need to factor in vital parts that require inspection. Our checklists typically include steering components, tire tread and pressure, wheel alignment, the engine, the battery, and belts. We also check hoses to detect leaks and inspect filters, coolant levels, and dashboard readouts.

 

What does a heavy equipment maintenance check consist of? For every 500 hours on the construction site, check the following:

 

  • Check hydraulic lines for leaks and oil levels.
  • Test the hydraulic system.
  • If necessary, swap out old hydraulic filters.
  • Check engine oil and coolant.
  • Check all fluid levels and values.
  • Perform a careful check of the electrical system and determine voltage retention.
  • Test the brakes and brake lights.
  • Visually inspect all lights for functionality.
  • Inspect lift arms and other primary components.

 

The checklist varies somewhat for different heavy machinery. However, our team keeps your service records current to facilitate future maintenance. You can create a construction site maintenance list for operators to perform periodically. Include safe parking tips as well as the daily checklist required for smooth operations. Note that it’s normal to have daily checklists, monthly checklists, start/shutdown checklists, and other checklists in the owner’s manuals.

Benefits of Heavy Machinery Maintenance

To reduce fuel waste and catch problems early, it’s important to perform periodic heavy machinery maintenance. Without regular checks, underlying problems may otherwise remain undetected. Maintenance checks save time and money and keep your operators safe. By performing prompt repairs, you can prevent costly breakdowns and downtime.

 

Heavy equipment requires a lot of fuel to operate. That’s why it’s crucial to ensure fuel efficiency. It doesn’t take long for one inefficient machine to blow the fuel budget. Multiply that by every vehicle in your construction fleet. The costs can skyrocket quickly if you ignore your maintenance schedule and let your graders and bulldozers deteriorate.

 

What are the benefits of catching problems in the early stages? You can conduct service repairs rather than part replacements, saving time and money. A robust maintenance schedule will extend the useful life of your equipment. Most importantly, you can protect your employees and prevent accidents by properly maintaining your equipment.

 

If you want to attract and keep experienced operators, stay on top of the latest OSHA standards. You can beef up your checklists over time, customizing the schedule to accommodate new equipment and advances. Our team can accommodate your questions about these and other benefits of preventive maintenance of heavy machinery.

Contact a Heavy Machinery Maintenance Company

With PJG Services performing your heavy equipment maintenance, you can easily keep your equipment running in top condition. Our team is committed to exceptional customer service, and we’ll go above and beyond if we note any issues. As part of our holistic business model, we handle every aspect of your maintenance schedule with reliable heavy equipment repair in Bucks County, PA. Reach out to learn how you can rejuvenate your lackluster equipment and boost its performance.

 

Still unsure how to prepare for heavy equipment maintenance? Let the experts at PJG Service Industries help you! Contact us today to set up a comprehensive maintenance schedule for your construction equipment.