Its crucial to ensure your mini excavator and attachments are ready to withstand the harsh winter months so they are ready to work come spring. Proper preparation extends the life of your equipment and minimizes costly downtime caused by unexpected repairs. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you winterize your machine and attachments so they are ready to go; when the snow melts, or when duty call. Whichever comes first.
Inspection and Maintenance of Attachments
Your excavator's attachments, like buckets, thumbs, and grapples work just as hard as the machine itself. Winter prep begins with a thorough inspection.
Check for Damage: Look for cracks, wear, or other damage that could be amplified by freezing conditions. Address these issues prior to the plunge in temperatures.
Lubrication: The colder it gets, the thicker your lubricants will become which can lead to accelerated wear. Ensure that you are using cold rated grease on pins and other moving parts if you are going to be operating in the cold.
Clean Thoroughly: Rust and corrosion can quickly take hold over the winter months. Be sure to properly clean your attachments before they hibernate to keep them free from dirt & debris which will only serve to accelerate depreciation of your assets.
Inspect the Chassis and Tracks
The undercarrage and tracks of your machine are especially vulnerable to winter conditions.
Clear Debris: Snow buildup can quickly turn to ice which can damage your tracks if not addressed.
Check Track Tension: Rubber tracks will expand with lower temperatures while metal tracks will contract. If you have rubber tracks you should tighten them to maintain traction in the cold, metal tracks should be loosened in the cold to prevent excess wear.
Inspect for Wear: Replacing worn or damaged components before the temperature drops will reduce the amount of time you spend freezing your hands off.
Preparing the Hydraulic System
Cold weather can be particularly hard on your hydraulics, follow these steps to keep these systems running efficiently.
Use the Correct Hydralic Fluid: Switching to a winter-rated hydraulic fluid designed to maintain the correct operating viscosity is recommended if you are going to be operating your machine in the cold.
Check Hoses and Seals: Identify and repair any cracked or leaking hoses before the temperature drops. Check O-Rings for integrity and replace any which are excessivly worn. This is especially important for your most commonly used connections.
Warm Up Your Machine: In cold temperatures one of the most impactful precautions that you can take to increase the longevity and uptime of your machine is to adequately warm up the hydraulic system before going to work. Allow your machine to idle until your hydraulic temps are acceptable, in especially cold environments consider "warming up" all the controls slowly. This allows the warmer fluid closer to the engine to work its way through the extremities of the machine before they are subjected to higher pressures and more demanding work.
Protect Your Engine
Your excavator's power unit needs some exta love as the temperature plummets.
Use an Engine Block Heater: If you're in some serious cold, using an engine block heater will make starting your machine much less stressful while also reducing wear and saving your battery.
Check the Battery: Cold temps are not friends of your battery's performance. Throw that trickle charger on before the snow falls, thank me later.
Replace Filters and Fluids: Check your fuel filter and consider replacing depending on it's condition. Fill your fuel tank to prevent condensation which can rust it from the inside out and in turn damage your engine and clog your fuel filter. Winter-grade diesel/gasoline is more resistant to gelling in your fuel system than the summer counterparts.
Storage
When your machine isn't in use, storing it properly will extend its useful life by reducing unnecessary wear and tear.
Dry & Covered Location: Protect your equipment from snow, ice, and freezing rain by ensuring it is adequatly covered and sheilded from the elements. This goes for your buckts and attachments as well.
Safety
Operating in the winter requires additional precautions.
Inspect Worksites: Clearing snow and ice wherever possible will mitigate sliding and general instability. Keep some sand, salt, or ice melter in the truck, you never know when it'll save the day.
Training Operators: Safe operation of equipment in the winter requires additional knowledge and training. Be sure your team has the knowledge to safely get the job done in freezing temperatures.
Monitor Conditions: Stay apprised of changing weather conditions and plan accordingly.
Winter Can Be Difficult, But Your Equipment Doesn't Have to Be
Winterizing your Mini Ex and attachments ensures that your investment remains reliable, efficient, and ready to tackle challenges down the road. Being proactive can help you avolid costly repairs and downtime further down the road, keeping your operation running smoothly.
Looking to acquire new buckets or attachments? Reach our today, we'd love to help!
Stay warm out there!
Keegan
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