Tips for Wheel Loader Operator Training

When you are operating heavy machinery like wheel loaders, you must be extremely careful. Sometimes even the most experienced and skilled heavy machinery operators can make mistakes that end up shortening the life of the machine. If the operators misuse some functions of the loader or operate the machinery without due care, they can increase the component wear and end up reducing the productivity of the equipment. 

Training the employees, you have onboard is extremely important, particularly when you add a new machine to the fleet. Letting an untrained employee operate new machinery will not do anyone any good as they will not even know when they are using the machine incorrectly. If the operators do not have the necessary knowledge about the features and technologies of the loader, they will attempt to operate the machine like how they operate other heavy equipment. For example, if the job requires the machine to work in tight places, choose a compact wheel loader instead of a standard one.

     Technology is changing so fast that attempting to use the machine without knowing the correct way to operate it will more than likely cause issues in the long run. If you use heavy machinery without knowing how to properly operate it, the risk of damage and wear to the equipment increases dramatically. 

Operator’s Manual

A great place to learn all that you need to about the equipment is the operator’s manual. When you pair what you have learned in the basic operator training program with the manual, you will be able to quickly learn everything and increase the productivity of your operations. Therefore, make sure to study the operator’s manual so that you can be informed about how to get the job done quickly and efficiently without endangering the equipment or the people on site.

The Buckets

On a wheel loader, the front pins, bucket, and bucket wear plates face the most damage due to lack of proper maintenance. Follow the daily service guidelines described in the operator’s manual to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear to the machine’s components. Keep an eye on the bucket and the wear plates and turn and replace them when necessary. If you do not do so on time and they are damaged severely, the bucket itself will start wearing prematurely. 

Another thing that impacts the wear and tear that the machine’s front end faces is the choice of the bucket. Ensure that you have chosen a bucket that can carry out what the job requires without any issues. If the bucket has trouble entering the material, it can cause stress on the front pins and the bushings where the attachments are connected to the machine. Unless you absolutely have to, try your best to avoid letting the engine RPMs run wide open and ramming into the pile too hardly. Doing that will also put stress on the front end of the machine, and this process also burns unnecessary fuel. 

Brakes

In-wheel loaders, the brakes work with the help of friction, and the friction, in turn, generates heat. Overusing the brakes can cause overheating which can lead to brakes failing earlier than they should if they are damaged severely. Sometimes, operators that have not had proper training can cause brakes to fail with mistakes such as going too fast and making short stops to prevent a collision. In order to prevent brakes from failing before their time, you should try to ensure that your operators are trained, so they know how to apply brakes properly. Learning this is essential not only for the longevity of the equipment but also for the safety of everyone on site.