How to keep heavy construction equipment in good condition

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Optimising the Use of Heavy Construction Equipment

Welcome to my blog. My name is Rick. I have moved a few times throughout the last few years and one of my biggest goals each time is to redo my landscaping and change up my lawn and garden. When I look at a piece of land, I can see perfectly how it could be developed and built upon. I have spent a great deal of time learning about earthmoving and construction. I have decided to start this blog so that I can share important information about heavy construction equipment and how it's used in landscaping and development. I hope my articles, which cover a wide range of industry topics, will answer any questions you may have.

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How to keep heavy construction equipment in good condition

19 December 2016
 Categories: , Blog


The progress of a construction project is heavily dependent on the quality and functionality of the equipment which the labourers use to do their work. As such, it makes sense to take steps to keep your rented construction machinery in good condition. Here are two ways that you can do this.

Establish a cleaning routine

Construction work is inherently messy; because of this, machinery tends to get incredibly dirty. Being continually exposed to mud, dust, grease and moisture can take its toll on equipment, resulting in poorer performance and, ultimately, a reduced lifespan; the accumulation of dirt inside electrical or mechanical components can affect a machine's functionality, whilst excessive amounts of moisture can damage protective paintwork, which can, in turn, cause corrosion.

Given that a damaged piece of construction equipment could cause serious delays to a building project, it's crucial to implement an equipment cleaning routine. Create a schedule and assign the washing of specific equipment to specific labourers. This methodical approach will ensure that every piece of machinery on site is kept in clean condition at all times.

It's best not to attempt to wash larger machinery by hand, as this is both inefficient and potentially unsafe. For tall, heavy-duty equipment, pressure washers are the best option; these will enable labourers to quickly and thoroughly clean away grime, grease and bird droppings.  

Perform regular inspections

Throughout the course of a building project, heavy construction equipment takes quite a pummelling. Daily wear and tear, friction, fluctuating temperatures, vibrations and heavy impacts can all affect performance and potentially lead to the complete breakdown of equipment. However, many of the factors which contribute to equipment failure can be avoided if you perform regular inspections.

For example, vibrations (which can result in components inside a machine coming loose and causing mechanical problems) are often the result of misaligned belts and gears. If these alignment issues are identified at an early stage during a routine inspection, they will be relatively easy to fix and will be less likely to damage to the machine. Likewise, the overheating of construction vehicles' engines is usually caused by low levels of engine oil. Routine monitoring of oil levels can prevent this problem from occurring.

The type of inspection work you should carry out will depend on the kind of equipment you are using for your project. Certain manufacturers may offer guidelines on how to maintain the machinery they produce. For example, Bobcat hire providers may give their customers specific instructions on how to monitor and maintain this brand of equipment. As such, it's a good idea to ask the rental equipment company you have chosen if they have any advice on how to look after the items they are providing.

However, as a general rule of thumb, you will need to check construction machinery's fluid levels (including engine and transmission liquids), the functionality of brake and electrical systems, as well as the general condition of belts, bolts, seals and paintwork. The frequency with which you conduct inspections should be based on the intensity of equipment usage, the environment that the equipment is being used in (for example, machinery used in severe weather conditions needs to be examined more often than normal) and the recommendations of the manufacturer.