Tips for keeping trenchers hard at work.
Published in: Public Works
Date: 11/1/1995
Trenchers, like any other machine, require regular maintenance and inspection if they are to perform at their peak level. The need for this has not diminished even if technology has increased the reliability and reduced the maintenance requirements of today’s trenchers. Trenchers should be inspected daily to determine if there are fluid leaks or signs of wear. Several other tips for the proper maintenance of trenchers are provided.
There are three good reasons for performing scheduled maintenance and inspections on trenchers, or any other machine, says Jerry Linden, Case Corporation (Racine, Wisconsin) product performance manager-trenchers.
“Maintenance protects the owner’s investment, helps keep the project on schedule, and helps ensure the safety of the operator and other workers,” he explains.
Fortunately, technological advances in recent years have improved trencher reliability and significantly reduced maintenance requirements while extending maintenance intervals to make the service manager’s job easier. “For example, the oil change interval on Case 660 and 860 trenchers is 250 hours,” Linden notes. “That reduces the downtime required for maintenance and saves money on oil and filters.”
Linden adds that Case trencher drive systems – both ground-drive and attachment-drive power trains – are fully lubricated in enclosed gear boxes for improved durability and long life. Plus, all Case 60 Series trenchers have heavy-duty, unitized mainframes designed to withstand the torsional twisting inherent in off-set digging.
Still Critical
“Even with all of these advances, proper maintenance is still critical to ensure excellent trencher performance and long life,” Linden says. “Before implementing any preventive program, always refer to your operator’s manual for specific recommendations for your model of trencher. And, don’t forget to lower attachments to the ground and place a ‘do not operate’ tag on the machine before performing any in-shop or in-field maintenance procedures.”
Linden offers the following trencher maintenance practices as a guideline:
Regular checks
* Perform a daily walk-around inspection, looking for fluid leaks and any signs of wear, or damaged, loose, or missing parts. Also check for proper tire inflation and for any signs of tire damage.
* Refuel the machine at the end of each shift. This prevents condensation from forming on the walls of the fuel tank. Never refuel in the presence of sparks, open flames, while smoking, or while the engine is running.
* Visually check the hydraulic oil level at the start of each shift. Hydraulic systems do much of the actual work of the trencher and must be full to perform properly.
* Check the engine oil and water level daily.
* Check the engine air cleaner at the start of each shift. All engines need great quantities of clean air; if dirt is allowed to contaminate the engine, it can cause premature failure.
* Check for loose ground-engaging components including digging teeth, rock, and frost bits. Perform this inspection daily or more often, depending on soil conditions. Look for overall condition of components, as well as mounting-bolt tightness. Make any necessary adjustments.
* Check to make sure chain tension is adjusted properly before each shift.
* Lubricate pivot/wear points as recommended. Certain moving parts and linkages require daily attention either because they are moving all of the time or because they are down in the dirt. Refer to your operator’s manual for specific service recommendations.
Operating practices
* Do not try to do too much too quickly. Working too fast for conditions can overload the machine.
* Make sure the digging teeth you are using match ground conditions. If they do not, install the proper cutting teeth.
Practices to avoid
The following practices are virtually guaranteed to lead to problems. Avoid them at all costs.
* Letting engine oil run low. Allowing engine oil to reach dangerously low levels can cause engine failure. Repair after failure is an expensive proposition in terms of parts, labor, and extensive downtime.
* Allowing the cooling system to become clogged. Operating a trencher with a clogged radiator or blocked air passages can lead to overheating and extensive component damage. When working in trashy conditions, it is especially important to frequently clear the cooling system of debris.
* Neglecting lubrication points. Metal rubbing on metal leads to rapid wear. That is why it is essential to grease lubrication points such as control linkages, bearings, axles, and various other wear parts at recommended intervals.
According to Linden, following the practices outlined here – and the more specific recommendations in your operator’s manual – will help ensure safe, dependable trencher operation. “The improvement in productivity alone is worth the amount of time you’ll invest in preventive maintenance,” he says. “Add to that fewer repairs, less downtime, and the higher resale value you’ll get for a well-maintained machine, and there’s no reason not to perform regular maintenance and inspections.”
COPYRIGHT 1995 Public Works Journal Corporation