When in the dead of winter, it can seem as if the springtime will never arrive. At least that's the case for those of us living in colder climates like all of us at ConEquip Parts in Buffalo, NY. We know cold weather. We start dreaming about the spring in October. Although we still see a lot of excavators in action around our area, many more start digging again when the warmer temperatures finally arrive and the ground begins to thaw.
An excavator owner can't just fire up their machines and start rolling after sitting idle for a dozen or so weeks, instead there are some important tips to follow before digging.
Here are some important springtime start-up tips for your excavator.
- Check all the levels including the hydraulic fluid, engine oil and coolants. If they're low, fill them up. Replace all filters and grease all needed areas.
- Clean the undercarriage and check the tension. Also look for loose track pads.
- Inspect seals and replace ones that are damaged. Some seals will shrink in the cold and look damaged but they often expand and function again when the machine is warmed up.
- On the boom and stick, check for damaged lines and hoses and pins and bushings with excessive wear and replace them if needed. Don't cut corners with pins and bushings!
- When it comes to the engine, after doing the obvious and checking all the levels, make sure the belts are in good operating condition and are properly tightened. Check hoses for any damage including cracking, swelling or wear from chaffing.
- If there is still ice on the machine, don't operate it until the ice melts. Moving the machine with ice could tear seals and that can lead to bigger problems.
- Inspect the battery terminals and posts even if you removed it at the end of the season.
- Check items such as lights, wipers, heaters, air conditioning to make sure they're all operating properly.
A lot of this work can be helped by winterizing your machine before parking it during the cold winter months.
