Wheel loader maintenance is important to keep your wheel loader in top operating condition. Routine maintenance can be very time consuming, especially if your business is booming and your schedule is very tight.
So it can be tempting to skip routine maintenance just to spend a few extra minutes and stay on schedule. However, if you regularly skip routine maintenance, you can end up having an impact on the performance of your wheel loader, which can ultimately affect productivity, uptime and fuel efficiency.
A routine maintenance programme for your wheel loader is therefore extremely beneficial in the long run.
Effective procedures for wheel loader maintenance
Routine maintenance of your wheel loader not only helps to extend the life of the machine and increase uptime, but also helps to increase productivity.
So, to maintain your wheel loader, follow these effective procedures.
Checking the tyres
Checking attachments
Maintain the brakes
Clean driveline seals and shafts
An experienced operator should be able to detect tyre damage and leaks. In addition, the operator should be familiar with proper tyre inflation.
Undetected leaks and improper inflation can lead to premature tyre wear and unplanned downtime. Over time, this can lead to tyre failure.
To avoid these problems, operators need to check tyre wear on a daily basis. In addition, proper inflation at the recommended psi will also help to extend the life of the tyre.
Loading and unloading materials throughout the day can lead to excessive wear on wheel loader attachments. After prolonged use they are prone to wear and tear.
To ensure that these attachments remain in optimum operating condition, the operator needs to visually inspect the attachments on a daily basis.
For example, most wheel loaders have buckets and the teeth of the wheel are one of the easiest things to damage. Therefore, be sure to check for loose, missing or broken teeth.
Another common type of wheel loader attachment is the pallet fork. With pallet forks, you need to check their hoses, tilt and lift cylinders, wear plates and attachment pins for any signs of damage.
The driving and parking brakes on wheel loaders should be maintained and checked daily. It is always one of the most critical procedures in wheel loader maintenance.
Most job sites are often crowded with other construction equipment and vehicles. In addition, there may be many quick stops in addition to normal loading procedures.
For these reasons, the operator must be able to stop the wheel loader when required and use the parking brake to hold it in place.
Wheel loaders are also used to work in wet conditions, such as those found in construction, agricultural and concrete plant environments.
This can lead to a build-up of material on driveline seals and axles, leading to potential problems that require repair.
Keeping these areas clean on a daily basis allows for better inspection to identify leaks and prevent unplanned downtime.
Proper maintenance of wheel loaders by properly trained operators
No amount of routine daily checks will help if the operator is not trained in maintenance methods and procedures.
If you intend to carry out your own wheel loader maintenance, refer to the manufacturer’s maintenance manual for advice on intervals and checklists.