Keeping Up With Excavator Maintenance

Of all the equipment that makes work easier on a construction site, nothing quite compares to the reliable power and durability of an excavator. From digging trenches to lifting heavy amounts of soil, excavators can easily take on a wide variety of tasks. However, if you don't take proper care of your excavator, all that heavy lifting starts to take a toll on its safety, power, efficiency, and overall performance.

At Burrows Tractor, we not only like to connect our customers with the right equipment, but we also like to help them with regular maintenance. Read on to learn how to perform DIY excavator maintenance steps to keep your machine in good shape. For all your excavator needs, get in touch with us at one of our locations in Yakima and Wenatchee, Washington, and North Plains, Oregon.

Read the Owner's Manual

Every excavator has a recommended maintenance schedule for changing the engine oil, coolant, filters, and gearbox oil, among other things. The owner's manual will provide key insights on what specific tasks you'll need to do, the timeline for the tasks, and whether there are certain types of products you need to use. If you follow the recommended schedule, you’ll avoid any costly repairs or even complete failures, which can cost you time and money.

Visual Inspection

Before you can begin to work on your excavator, take a moment to give it a good once over while looking for any obvious problems. Examine the undercarriage closely. Look for loose bolts on the track and tighten them if necessary. Clear out debris from the undercarriage and adjust track tension if necessary to avoid excess wear.

Inspect the sprocket and drive at the rear of the track for oil leaks and make sure that all bolts are tight. The propel gearbox is often overlooked but it’s a vital component of your excavator. Gearbox oil should be changed at approximately 1,000-hour intervals, depending on the recommended maintenance schedule.

Keep it Clean

Dirt, debris, mud, and sand will easily get caught up in your excavator’s undercarriage. Use a shovel or pressure washer after your day’s work is finished to scrape or spray off mud and debris from your tracks and the undercarriage. Inspect your excavator carefully after each ride and before you board it in the morning to make sure that no debris is clogging up your machine.

Fluids and Filters

Your excavator’s fluids and filters are essential to keep everything running smoothly. Overheating can seriously damage the engine, and without proper lubrication, all the working parts will strain and tear themselves up. Ideally, you’ll want to replace the fluids after 250 operating hours. Your oil should be priority number one when you hit this point. After about 500 operating hours, you’ll want to change the hydraulic fluid filter.

Check the radiator fluid daily and top it off whenever it’s needed. While you should experience gradual fluid loss, needing to replace the coolant every day is a sign there might be a bigger problem. If you think this is the case, take care to check periodically throughout the day, and if it’s clearly an issue, don’t hesitate to have the excavator serviced.

Swing Gear

Both the swing gear and bearing should have proper lubrication for their smooth functioning. Inspect the swing gear to make sure that enough grease is present and water hasn’t leaked into the compartment.

While performing these excavator maintenance steps, if you uncover the need for any repairs that you can’t handle yourself, contact our service department or visit one of our dealership locations near Kennewick, Ellensburg, and Richland, WA. Burrows Tractor proudly serves all those in Portland, OR.