Daily Excavator Maintenance Checklist. Prolong the Life of Your Machine!

Table of Contents:

1. Your Excavator Preventive Maintenance Plan
2. Daily Excavator Maintenance Checklist
3. Periodic Maintenance Checklist
4. Cleaning Routine and Proper Storage 
5. High-quality Guarantees Equipment Durability

There is one thing we hate about excavators and any other type of equipment. We bet you hate it too. It is the moment when you must replace it. Unfortunately, equipment eventually wears and sometimes gets damaged. There is not much we can do about it... or is there? We cannot stop the process, but we can substantially prolong the lifespan of our excavators by conducting proper maintenance. Therefore, if you wish to save yourself a lot of time, money, and stress, read through the article we prepared below on the preventive maintenance of excavators.

Your Excavator Preventive Maintenance Plan

Your excavator is quite a complex machine. After all, it can deal with many jobs brilliantly, so it is no wonder it consists of many elements. Therefore, its maintenance plan will also consist of many points. We divided the activities into a few sections that will make it easier to navigate and not skip any crucial checks.

Daily Excavator Maintenance Checklist

An important part of the regular maintenance schedule of your excavator is daily checks. It is what you do daily that helps you avoid high maintenance costs later. Such daily inspection checklists help in identifying potential issues before they turn into bigger problems or malfunctions resulting in costly repairs. Your daily checks should consist of:

1. Fluid Levels - checking whether the levels of engine oil, hydraulic oil, and coolant are appropriate. This will allow your machine to perform at an optimal level and help you avoid excess wear to its components.
2. Leaks - identify potential fluid leakage through broken seals, hoses, or fittings. Oil leaks, hydraulic fluid leaks, or coolant leaks should be dealt with promptly.
3. Excavator's undercarriage - check whether the undercarriage tracks, rollers, idlers, and sprockets are intact. You should inspect not only what you see but also what you do not. Pay attention to missing bolts or components and replace them as soon as possible
4. Filters - clean and working fuel filters, hydraulic filters, and air filters are a must. Replace them if needed before starting operation to upkeep hydraulic efficiency and avoid engine damage.
5. Hydraulic belts and hoses - check whether the components do not have cracks causing leaks. Replace them immediately if needed.
6. Lights - check whether lights and signals work properly. It will ensure your safety during the operation.
7. Controls - check the condition of the elements of the control system (controls, pedals, joysticks, etc.)
8. Attachments - inspect the excavator's attachment and its components for wear, damage, or improper connections. Replace deteriorated components if needed.
9. Lubrication - make sure the appropriate grease points are lubricated to ensure smooth operation.

Periodic Maintenance Checklist

Apart from the ever-important daily checks, the operator should also perform some actions less frequently, to ensure their equipment is in flawless condition. However, bear in mind that 'less frequently' does not mean these activities are less important. They simply do not happen every time you use your excavator. The frequency of the performance depends on many factors but usually, the original equipment manufacturer's operation and maintenance manual and your observations are good enough indicators of when certain actions should take place.

Change filters

Daily filter condition inspection indicates to the operator when the replacement should happen. Usually, you should change air filters, hydraulic filters, and fuel filters between every 250 to 500 operating hours. Please note that the operator's manual may claim differently. That is why performing your daily checks is crucial in assessing whether your filters are still clean or not. Only the clean filters allow your excavator for optimal performance thanks to proper circulation and the protection of crucial components from contamination.

Lubricate 

Remember to grease such elements as joints, pivot points, and bearings every 50 to 100 operating hours. Proper lubrication is a crucial maintenance activity in minimizing friction and wear of the excavator's parts.

Replace worn parts

Many excavator components, for example, the attachment parts wear with time. Edges, plates, and teeth are not as sharp as they used to be when they were brand new. The manufacturer guidelines and your own day-to-day observations will indicate the best time for their replacement. Adequate replacement frequency ensures the proper efficiency of your excavator.

Change fluids

The fluids in your excavator should be periodically changed. The process involves draining the old fluids and replacing them with brand-new ones. For the engine oil, such a change usually happens every 250 to 500 operating hours. Coolant and hydraulic oil should be replaced every 1000 to 2000 operating hours.

Inspect parts

A thorough inspection of all parts of your excavator should be performed every 300 to 500 operating hours. Only such inspections can allow you to avoid malfunctions and consequent downtime, simultaneously ensuring your safety.

Take care of the undercarriage and tracks

Special attention should be devoted to the inspection of your excavator's undercarriage and tracks. These are the parts that stabilize your machine and enable its movement. Therefore, make sure that you clean all debris, check track tension, and change old and worn components, such as idlers, track shoes, and rollers. Pay attention to the track alignment too and adjust it if needed. Such thorough checks should usually be performed every 300 to 1000 operating hours.

Cleaning Routine and Proper Storage

Excavator maintenance also consists of an appropriate cleaning routine and storage of your equipment. Therefore, below you can find good practices and tips in the matter.

Efficient cleaning

1. Start with rinsing - clean water, preferably used with the pressure washer is the first step to cleaning your machine. It will get rid of excess material, such as debris, mud, or dirt. It will also minimize the potential damage to the surface during manual cleaning.
2. Perform undercarriage cleaning - dirt tends to accumulate undercarriage, therefore, use high pressure and manual cleaning to remove debris and dirt from this area.
3. Be careful with chemicals - harsh chemicals can easily damage the paint and cause corrosion. Using harsher agents does not mean the excavator will be cleaner! Mild agents, detergents, and cleaning products, especially those recommended by the manufacturer, are the best choice.
4. Only scrub with soft brushes and cloths to avoid causing damage to the surface. Remember to also clean the joints, crevices, and other areas that are not easy to reach.
5. Remember about cleaning the attachments - if your excavator has attachments the only way to clean them properly is when you detach them. You also prevent cross-contamination.
6. Dry the components - leaving the machine to dry on its own is not the best idea. Too much moisture may lead to excessive corrosion. Towels and appropriate air drying are key to corrosion-free equipment.

Appropriate storage

1. Select the appropriate location - your equipment should be kept in a covered area where it is dry, and the weather conditions cannot affect it. Ideally, you should use a storage facility.
2. Keep attachments at the ground level - it will reduce possible strain and stress caused to the hydraulic cylinders.
3. Secure the equipment - do not forget to use the parking brake, wheel chocks, or track blocks to protect your machine from unwanted movement.
4. Ensure proper lubrication - exposed surfaces need protection from corrosion even if they are stored indoors. Use dedicated lubricant to protect them from damage.
5. Disconnect batteries - your excavator may go through periods of prolonged inactivity. In such times, it is advisable to disconnect their batteries to avoid draining;
6. Follow the excavator’s manual - if you are ever in doubt regarding how to store your machine or its component, refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding storage and cleaning. It will also ensure you align with the warranty conditions.

Maintenance records

The last part of your excavator's recommended maintenance schedule is keeping its records. Why is it so important?

Keeping track of your activities

If you record what has been done to the machine and when you can refer to it whenever your memory fails or when more people are using the same equipment. You can also notice the patterns of failures. For example, it might be high time to replace a part when the problem with it reoccurs. It will also help you anticipate potential problems, prevent them, schedule maintenance tasks, and replacements, and therefore minimize the risk of unexpected malfunctions.

Warranty claim documentation

Maintenance records proving following the necessary maintenance schedules are one of the main pieces of documentation needed in the warranty claims validation process. If you want to ensure warranty coverage, you will not be successful if you do not keep an appropriate maintenance record.

Equipment value

If you plan to resell your excavator, having proper documentation of your maintenance activities will raise your equipment resale value. Prospective buyers will be more likely to purchase equipment that was well looked after by its previous owner.

High-quality Guarantees Equipment Durability

Maintenance tips are only as effective as good your equipment is. If you purchase high-quality equipment and follow a thorough maintenance schedule you can expect a payoff in the form of great durability. A trusted supplier like Skidsteers.com not only offers you a wide range of excavator attachments. We also offer support in any uncertainty you might face regarding excavator maintenance or any other query regarding your heavy equipment. Get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable support for more information.