Loading trucks quickly, filling ditches skilfully or moving heavy loads skilfully around the site – wheel loaders are a powerful workhorse on any job site, and although most wheel loaders are built to withstand the toughest conditions, a little care and simple maintenance is the way to ensure that this robust machine remains in top condition for a long time a must.
To help you keep your wheel loader in top condition, we’ve put together these short tips on wheel loader maintenance.
It may seem counter-intuitive to suggest that you read something while you are already reading something else, but the wealth of information in the operator’s manual should not be underestimated. You’ll find maintenance schedules, insights into the machine and simple advice on how to run it most efficiently. The next time your machine is idle or you have a few minutes to spare, look through the manual and spend some time reading it. You will often find practical instructions in it that will extend the life of the machine and keep it running optimally.
If you’ve worked on a construction site long enough, you’ve probably seen an operator walking around his machine who found this special problem-detecting wand helpful in spotting problems before any mechanics did. The magic wand is set aside, a good walk around the machine, a few taps here and there and some keen eyes can usually spot a small problem before it becomes a real one.
When your machine is idle and parked in a safe place, take a few minutes to check the machine and carefully inspect (perhaps with a tap) areas that are known to loosen on their own, such as nuts and bolts or others that tend to vibrate and check the wear on the cutting edges and teeth. Often the smallest wear will multiply and worn parts will force the whole machine to work harder.
Many Doosan wheel loader manuals put it most succinctly: know your machine. While this usually means knowing the machine’s maintenance schedule and work limitations, it is equally important to actually become familiar with the particular machine. Expert operators can often intuitively spot small problems in their daily work and can help mechanics diagnose problems and implement fixes quickly.
Whether you run one machine a day or oversee a fleet of machines, making sure more than one person is assessing a machine is an easy way to spot problems that may have been missed. If you are checking your fleet, take a moment to sit in the cab and run the wheel loader through some simple tests to ensure the machine is working at its best and that nothing has broken down.
As some problems build up, it is often more difficult for the everyday operator to notice that the problem has gone from ‘barely noticeable’ to ‘requires immediate attention’. You may also find that a quick fix implemented at the site (perhaps holding something together with a small piece of tape) should be the focus of a better long-term fix. 4.
From hydraulic and engine oil levels to the amount of air in the tyres, regular fluid level checks will prolong the life of machine parts and, in turn, the entire wheel loader. You already know that a low oil level in the engine or hydraulic system can lead to a quick and catastrophic failure, but damage from dirty and overused oil can often cause problems just as quickly.
While tyres that appear to be “just a little low” are not a problem, under-inflated tyres will wear out faster and can lead to increased wear on axles and other components, or even safety problems when braking or carrying loads. Using a tyre pressure gauge for a few minutes will usually ensure that the smallest problems never become bigger.
Finally, even if your machine only works when the sun is shining, test your lights. Checking your lights regularly when you don’t need them is an easy way to ensure they work properly when you do.
Finding a problem or diagnosing the cause often seems like a game of hide-and-seek, but you can give yourself an edge in this game by eliminating locations that might be hiding the problem. Almost everyone finds leaks or cracks that have been expertly hidden under a layer of mud or grease, but you can reduce the likelihood of this by keeping the areas of your wheel loader that are particularly prone to failure clean and clearly visible.
Keeping the whole machine clean is ideal, but paying particular attention to hydraulic connections and articulated and moving part connections will help you spot problems that could escalate quickly. Frequent wiping of grilles and covers will also keep the air flowing smoothly, which has proven to be a 10-second task that can prevent 10 days of breakdowns.
Keeping your wheel loader running today is often not just about making sure the wheel loader is properly maintained – the person in the cab is just as important. On construction sites you’ll often find a ‘get to work, don’t complain’ attitude, and while no one can break it, sometimes you need to make sure that nothing is overlooked, and one area that is often overlooked is the cab.
The cab can almost be a second home for some operators and taking the time to ensure that hinges are lubricated, buttons aren’t worn and safety features don’t stop working can be a good way to ensure you pay attention to one of the most important parts of your job – your employees.
Keeping to the lubrication schedule
A well-built wheel loader can perform the toughest tasks day in and day out, but you can often extend its life simply by lubricating it according to the schedule in the operator’s manual. Although it is designed to last, the moving areas need a properly lubricated environment to ensure that the connections don’t wear out or even put extra strain on the whole machine.
A few important points to keep in mind when lubricating are
● Axles
● cylinders
● Pins and pivot points
● Articulated fittings and linkage connections
As mentioned earlier, your operator’s guide should be your go-to resource for lubrication planning, but if you don’t have it to hand but your grease gun is, take a step back and check to see if your wheel loader has any movement or pivot points or where two moving points intersect and you will likely find the required grease gun. Always wipe lightly with a rag before applying grease to ensure you haven’t pushed any bad stuff in with fresh, fresh grease.
Hopefully, with these simple tips you can extend the life of your wheel loader and ensure it works at its best. As leaders in the wheel loader maintenance industry, we often see how much of an impact a good maintenance program can have in extending the life of your machine. But in the end, no part lasts forever and if you do need to replace a wheel loader part, we’re always here to help. Our parts experts are always happy to help you with your search and find you the perfect part to get you back up and running quickly.