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Readying Heavy Equipment for the Spring

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Now that spring is on the way, construction’s busy season is just around the corner, too. Construction equipment maintenance is key to getting your business off to a great start in Lexington, OR. The rain, snow, wind and ice can take their toll on your machinery. You’ll need to do some preparation to get it ready for your next job. Whether you take care of your equipment maintenance yourself or leave it to the experts at Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc., make sure you make it your top priority.

Here’s a guide to getting your fleet ready for the jobs on your calendar this spring.

Why you need to perform spring maintenance

Pre-season maintenance is important for a few reasons. First, you need your machines to be ready for the first jobs that come along—if they’re not well maintained, you could miss out on income. Second, failing to perform this maintenance doesn’t just mean your equipment might not be up to the task. It could also be a serious safety hazard, affecting your workers, the property and bystanders.

Cold weather, ice and snow can wreak havoc on your machinery. Seals can break, fluid freezes and metal can crack. If you winterized your equipment before the inclement weather set in, you’re less likely to have problems—but you still need to perform spring maintenance to ensure everything is operating smoothly.

Getting equipment ready

Here’s a closer look at how to get your heavy equipment prepared for springtime jobs:

  • Perform spring maintenance: Your spring maintenance can be done in-house, or you can hire a professional team to whip all your equipment into shape. Basic tasks like changing fluids and filters and cleaning up the interiors are easy to do on your own, but if you run into any issues, you’ll probably need the help of a heavy equipment repair service.
  • Keep a maintenance log: As you or a professional service are performing maintenance, make sure to keep maintenance logs. They should note the serial and model number, hours of service, date of maintenance, repair history and other important details about each individual vehicle.
  • Organize your paperwork: This is also a good time to get out your equipment paperwork, including insurance documents, warranties and your professional licensure. Having these documents handy will help in case of any issues.

Inspection tasks

After your spring maintenance is complete, perform a thorough inspection. Before you take your equipment out on the job, check of all the following components one more time. If any of them are malfunctioning, have them repaired before you need to go out on a job. (This is another reason it’s smart to take care of your spring maintenance as soon as possible—you don’t want a job to be delayed because of a malfunctioning part.)

  • Brakes
  • Lights and flashers
  • Hoses and seals
  • Engine belt
  • Tires
  • Boom and arm
  • Battery
  • Warning stickers

Once your fleet has been brought up to speed and inspected, you’ll be ready for another successful construction season.

Why not let the pros take care of your spring heavy equipment maintenance in Lexington, OR? Call Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. today to learn more and schedule service.

How Often Do Hydraulic Fittings Need Maintenance?

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Safety is always important in the workplace, especially if you’re working around heavy machinery all day. Many machines use hydraulic hoses to move liquids under very high pressure, and these hoses can potentially pose a safety hazard if they’re not properly maintained. A solid preventative care program in Lexington, OR should always include a thorough inspection of your hydraulic fittings. Here are three key things to know about hydraulic fitting maintenance.

Know when to inspect hydraulic hoses

You should regularly inspect every part of your hydraulic hoses to keep up with preventative maintenance. As a general rule, you should inspect any stationary equipment around every three months. The general three-month rule also applies for mobile equipment, except you also need to evaluate exactly how much you use the equipment. When you’re close to hitting 400 hours of use, it’s time to do an inspection.

You also need to take some other factors into account as you plan a preventative maintenance program. Consider your location—if your equipment is operating in extreme temperatures, make it a point to examine all components of your hydraulic hoses on a more frequent basis. Always keep a detailed log of all inspections and repairs so you’re able to monitor maintenance trends and general problem spots.

Recognize the signs of hydraulic hose failure

Pay attention to how your equipment sounds, looks and feels as you’re using it. Since you likely use your equipment frequently, you’ll be able to detect if something’s off. Rely on your eyes, ears and nose to be your inspection tools. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, it’s best to consult the professionals. An experienced technician is able to spot early warning signs of hydraulic hose failure. A technician should inspect hose covers and connectors to look for any damage and perform a complete hose and hydraulic fitting inspection. This should be part of your regular preventative maintenance plan, helping you identify any issues or weaknesses before a failure.

Take a close look at the fittings

Your hose connectors play a vital role in keeping you safe as you use heavy machinery. During hydraulic fitting maintenance in Lexington, OR, a professional technician performs a hydraulic fitting inspection to check your hose connectors for cracks, corrosion and any other damage. A damaged connector will inevitably lead to leaks—or worse, to a burst hose—which is why you need to spot and address these problems immediately. Keep in mind that stretching a hose too tightly can cause the unit to burst at the fitting—perform a careful inspection to make sure this never happens.

Working with heavy machinery can be dangerous, but with the right care and maintenance, you’re able to safely go about your day-to-day business. Even during economic downturns, you should never skimp on preventative maintenance—it can actually save you money in the long run. If you stick to a regular inspection and maintenance schedule and rely on the help of the professionals when necessary, you can feel confident that your hydraulic hose systems are safe and efficient.
To schedule an appointment for a hydraulic fitting inspection in Lexington, OR, reach out to the team at Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. today.

Five Common Vehicle Issues When Trucking Long Distances

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If you’re a long-haul truck driver, you know that time on the road equals money. A semi-truck is just like any other vehicle in that it’s prone to breaking down. Sitting on the side of the road waiting for a repair truck isn’t just annoying, it also keeps you from making the most of your time. Keep an eye on these five areas so you can avoid common tractor trailer breakdowns in Lexington, OR.

Brakes

When you’re considering what commonly breaks down in a tractor trailer, start by looking at the brakes. It’s not just corrosion you have to worry about when it comes to your brakes—they wear down quickly without proper maintenance since they’re exposed to consistent heat, friction and pressure. If you’re driving in colder climates, you also need to be aware of internal water contamination that could cause air line freezing.

Alternator or battery

Common tractor trailer breakdowns on the road can also occur as a result of a bad alternator or battery. Luckily, if there’s a problem with these parts, there are usually some early warning signs. One thing to look out for is if your lights flicker as your vehicle idles. If your battery is having difficulty turning over, this is another sure sign that there’s an issue. Again, truck drivers who work in cooler climates need to take temperature into account. Although most batteries last between three and five years, driving in cold climates reduces your battery life, requiring more frequent replacement.

Fuel system

The easiest way to prevent a fuel system issue with your truck is by monitoring your diesel and diesel exhaust fluid. How can you spot when there’s a problem? If you notice a sharp reduction in your MPG and there aren’t any engine concerns, a fuel system leak is the likely culprit. Fortunately, this is completely preventable as long as you monitor your fluids.

Engine

Engine issues are a fact of life when it comes to any truck, especially if you’re driving an older model. Standard maintenance helps to prevent damage to engines that experience overuse. If you’re wondering whether your engine has any performance issues, pay attention to your gas mileage. If you see a big reduction, it could be a sign that your engine is in need of repair.

Electrical system

How do you know if you have an electrical issue? When you’re on the road and you notice flickering, dim or no lights on at all, you know your truck has an electrical issue. Another sign is a clicking noise from the engine block or console, which tells you that you have damaged wiring and bad connections.

If you want to make sure your truck is road-ready whenever you start it up, you need to keep it properly maintained to avoid these common causes of tractor trailer breakdowns. The first step is knowing exactly what repairs you need to make. Not all repairs need a professional touch—replacing seals, topping off fluids and fixing broken headlamps are all jobs you can likely do yourself. For everything else, rely on a professional mechanic in Lexington, OR to keep you rolling. Contact Bailey Heavy Equipment Repair, Inc. today to schedule an appointment.