5 tips for maintenance to extend heavy machinery and equipment life

Heavy machinery and equipment are an integral part of mining, farming, and industrial processes among many other applications. To get the best return on investment (ROI) from this equipment, it is important to keep them in the best working conditions possible. Poor maintenance will lead to low efficiency and could incur significant breakdown costs. Faulty heavy machinery also poses significant safety hazards to the user.

Below are five important tips to help you maintain your large machinery in their best working shape:

1. Constantly check for signs of wear

In heavy machinery, wear could be as a result of vibration from belts and gears that are unaligned, shock from poor operating techniques or accidents, high temperatures from friction, poor lubrication, and extended use, and even age which results in the warping of belts, loosening of bolts among many other problems.

If you discover any signs of wear and tear on the moving parts of your heavy machinery, it is best to replace them to prevent the breakdown of the equipment.

2. Frequently test and add lubricants

Since friction is a major cause of wear in the moving parts, lubrication will effectively help to extend the life of your machinery. Things to check include signs of excess grease or oil which build upon pistons and leaks around the oil seals. Using the right kind of lubricant as advised by the manufacturer also ensures your moving parts are well protected from wear.

3. Conduct constant operator training

Poor operation of equipment increases the chances of breakdown and accidents which could result in injuries. This calls for constant operator training to ensure the pieces of machinery are operated correctly. The best way to ensure the operators are up to speed with the best practices is to constantly revise the operator manuals to ensure they are specific to the work environments and that they are in a language that is easily understandable.

4. Keep the machinery and the working environment clean

Heavy machinery has filters and seals to ensure the working parts are kept free of any contamination. These seals and filters should be inspected and changed regularly to ensure they are in good condition. The breathers should also be kept clean to prevent contaminants from being sucked into the cab.

For storage, the equipment should be kept in a shed where possible to ensure they are shielded from weather and wind which could result in rot and rust.

5. Keep a good repair and maintenance schedule

In general, equipment and machinery require constant checks in order to carry out preventative maintenance. The tracks, tires, fluids and electrical systems need to be inspected on a regular basis if maintenance is to be successful. This requires a schedule to be put in place and followed to make sure no components requiring attention are neglected as this could result in a breakdown.

Following the above tips, you will be able to extend the life of your heavy machinery and equipment, ensuring they provide you with a good return on investment. Despite the best maintenance practices, wear and ageing are eventually inevitable. Therefore, there could come instances where you need to replace your machinery with either used or new equipment.

If you need either new or used equipment to replace some of your own, we got you. Browse our website for the best deals on new and used heavy machinery for sale.