If you stay on top of the daily and preventive maintenance that can be handled at the landfill, you can help increase machine uptime and productivity.

By Eric Yeomans

One of the highest productivity machines working in landfill applications is the wheel loader. While more technical service needs will likely be fulfilled by a dealer or a service technician, there are many small maintenance steps that can be taken to help ensure larger repairs are fewer and further between.

wheeloader2Pre-Checks
For the machine to operate safely and at the lowest possible cost, it must receive thorough and complete maintenance, and none is more important than the daily pre-start checks because these will help ensure the machine is maintained and operated appropriately on a day-to-day basis. The Pre-Checks sidebar, page 62 shows an example of a pre-start check for a wheel loader.

Chief among them is operator walk-arounds. Wheel loader operators should conduct daily walk-arounds before starting the machine, checking the undercarriage and exterior for loose parts and looking at hoses to identify possible leaks. As part of that daily walk-around, operators should check fluid levels, including the engine oil, transmission fluid and hydraulics. To keep both the machine and operator cool, it is important to see that all radiator/coolers and the condenser is clean.

Greasing Frequency
Another maintenance item that is incredibly important, but is sometimes minimized, is greasing frequency. The individual responsible for greasing can obviously follow recommendations in their owner’s manual, but I recommend daily greasing. Daily greasing helps reduce component friction and ensures that the machine does not have to work harder than it needs to. Look for wheel loader manufacturers that double seal every pin and bushing on the wheel loader lift frame; this helps greatly protect against wear and tear on pins and bushings—extending the machine’s lifespan.

 

wheeloaderchart
Oil Analysis
Oil analysis should also be a part of any maintenance program to help identify maintenance needs as early as possible. Thorough oil analysis can give you great insights about your machine health and help you detect problems early. Among items that can be identified through oil analysis are abnormal wear, oil contamination, impending failures and more—all of which will help you avoid downtime and save money.
Before Shut Down

Before shutting down at the end of each day, top off fuel to help prevent condensation from developing, which can reduce engine life and poorly affect fuel consumption. Most of the contamination of different systems happens during filling up the different liquids. Ensure that the caps and filling equipment is clean before filling up.

Tires
Finally, while it is not part of the machine “iron,” tires are an incredible expense on landfill operations, so extending their lifespan is a great way to reduce costs. One way to do this is to ensure you are organizing your wheel loader traffic patterns to minimize the amount of reversing and turning necessary (especially on hard ground). A clear path for tires will help reduce wear and extend the time between replacement. It is very helpful if the operator looks for and avoids objects that can get stuck to the wheels and create damage on the machine.

There are times you will need to call in your dealer to service your wheel loader. But if you stay on top of the daily and preventive maintenance that can be handled at the landfill, you can help increase machine uptime and productivity.

Eric Yeomans is Product Manager, Wheel Loaders for Volvo Construction Equipment (Shippensburg, PA). He has spent more than 40 years with Volvo and Volvo dealers in a variety of roles. As Product Manager for wheel loaders in North America, Eric’s duties include providing product training, support and design input. Eric can be reached at [email protected].

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