Five maintenance reminders for excavators

From heavy to compact, excavators are designed to handle the worst conditions and perform the most difficult jobs. With rugged terrain, dirty dirt and year-round heavy-duty operation, you should maintain your excavator regularly to avoid unexpected shutdowns and maintenance.

Here are five reminders to keep your excavator running optimally year-round.
1. Maintain and clean the undercarriage
Working in dirty, muddy terrain can lead to landing gear deposits. Avoid unnecessary damage to your excavator by cleaning the undercarriage on a regular basis to remove stains and debris. When inspecting the landing gear, look for damaged parts and oil leaks.
2. Check your tracks
Check that your tracks are properly tensioned. Too loose or too tight tracks can cause excessive damage to the tracks, chain and sprockets.
3. Change the air and fuel filters
When operating an excavator outdoors, debris can build up in the equipment’s gas, fuel and hydraulic filters. Cleaning and replacing filters in a timely manner will help the excavator run longer.
4. Clear the water separator
Check that all water levels are at recommended levels daily. Check the engine oil and gear oil levels before using the excavator to make sure he works well throughout the day.
5. Drain water separator
Condensate often builds up in the engine when the excavator is out overnight. Please drain the water separator every day to avoid trapped erosion.