While the warming days may feel far off given the current low temperatures, spring is on the way, and it’s important to be ready to strike off into the season on a good foot.
Some things to look out for:
After sitting idle for a season, an excavator can’t just get up and go at the first thaw. To avoid a delay due to part failure, it’s important to check your machines before the season starts and address any problems now.
- Hydraulic fluid, engine oil and coolant levels
- Track tension and loose track pads
- Damaged seals
- Damaged lines and hoses
- Wear and tear on pins and bushings
- Tension on the engine belts
- Check for cracks, swelling, chaffing on other hoses in the engine block
- Inspect the battery terminals, even if you removed the battery at the end of the last season
- Check items such as lights, wipers, heaters, and air conditioning to ensure they're all operating properly
- Clean and maintain your undercarriage
Even if these tasks were checked at the end of the previous season, it's important to do a once over before you get going. An inspection now may prevent an issue on the job and keep you working rather than waiting for repairs
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What to Look Out for In Spring
As the season ramps up, there are other tasks to keep in mind while on site. With melted snow comes soft, muddy ground. The kind of ground that has claimed many an excavator and gummed up tracks and jobs as a result. When inspecting a job site, keep an eye out for pooling water or soft earth, and mark it accordingly. A wider-tracked machine will fair better on soggy ground. Wide track shoes will increase traction and grip while reducing ground pressure. Another option is mud mats, which are typically heavy wooden boards that can withstand the weight of the machine. The operator moves them into position on soggy or dangerous ground to reduce the chance of getting stuck.
And just as maintenance is important before you hit the site, it’s just as important at the end of the day. With muddy ground mucking up your machines’ treads, it’s paramount to knock mud off throughout the day and to do a through clean at the end of it. Cleaning doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. Much of the mud can be knocked off by putting the bucket down on the side and lifting the opposite track, rotating it while it’s in the air. This should knock most of the mud free from the treads. At the end of the day a dedicated worker can use a pressure washer or a simple shovel to clean off the tracks fully.
Before You Dig
One of the first things you learn on the job is to know where your utilities are before you start digging. Calling 811and requesting that all gas, electrical, and water lines be marked is a no brainer, but in muddy spring conditions it becomes more important. If a machine becomes stuck in the mud over one of these essential lines, they could become damaged in the attempt to unstick the machine. Knowing where these lines are, and planning excavator routes and mud mat placements will ensure that nothing is damaged. Preplanning these things can be the difference between smooth digging and a major headache.
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