A Daily Checklist for Equipment Maintenance in Alabama

Reduce downtime with these tips

When you have a heavy equipment fleet, your machines are your most vital assets. If you want to keep them running for the long term, it's important to have a daily checklist for equipment maintenance.

This daily strategy takes a team effort. Refer to the manufacturer's manual while also trusting the expertise of the team—operators, managers, and mechanics—who are your experts in equipment maintenance. Each person should be checking the fleet before and after use to ensure everything is up to the highest standards.

Equipment maintenance tips

When a massive failure occurs on an engine, it can cause a chain reaction of catastrophic events, resulting in other damaged parts and halting your work. At Pittman Tractor, we developed a daily checklist for equipment maintenance in Alabama to help reduce your downtime.

• Attachments--Attachments are as important to your heavy equipment fleet as the machines themselves. Inspect each attachment for signs of breakage or excessive wear, and sharpen bucket teeth as needed.
• Body--Conduct a daily walkaround inspection, look for damage to the machine's body like rust, dents, chipped paint, and scratches.
• Brakes--Examine the brake line fluid levels, filters, connections, and pressure for each machine in your heavy equipment fleet. The brakes are one of the most critical areas to keep an eye on. Also, check the health of the brake pads, drums, discs, and shoes. Observe the parking brake and fittings.
• Electrical lines--Mechanics should conduct tests for the voltage and amperage of the equipment's electrical lines while examining the cables and fuses. Look for exposed wires and ensure the insulation is intact.
• Fuel--Check that the fuel delivery system is functioning properly. Otherwise the machine won't run, and you'll have to bring it in for equipment service. Investigate the fuel lines and pumps, look at the fuel tank for dents and make sure the cap is on.
• Hydraulic oil--Look at the hydraulic oil level and top it off as needed. Check the hydraulic lines, cylinders, hoses, and fittings for leaks.
• Lift arms--If a machine has lift arms, check for leaking hydraulic lines, weak points, and rust.
• Lubrication--Consistent lubrication of the joints and sleeves is essential to prevent downtime for equipment service. Greasing the machine will lead to smooth operation and lessen any damage. Check grease lines for leaks.
• Suspension--Examine the springs, shocks, struts, and undercarriage of the machine's suspension system. Take note of its condition, looking for corrosion, wear, and damage. Inspecting the suspension is especially imperative in areas where salt is common.

Equipment maintenance in Alabama

At Pittman Tractor, we've been serving Alabama for more than 30 years with two hubs in Daphne and Montrose. Whether it's Hitachi, Dynapac, or Midland Machinery, we've seen what can happen to equipment when it's not properly cared for.

We've included this checklist to get you started with equipment maintenance.

Contact our team