What are the most important points to keep in mind when it comes to maintaining your excavator? Find out below:

• Make it a point to read the manufacturer manual – excavators are vehicles, but they are also not your average vehicle: you should not be comparing their functions to that of cars or even lorries. They come with a vast variety of different attachments and operator controls, which means that you should not be under the impression that you can learn the controls on the go. Even if you are familiar with diggers, make it a point to flip through the pages of the manual you are provided to familiarize yourself with the machine – as you might find, there may be controls you have not seen on other diggers, or the setup might be slightly different as well.
• Look into the engine – as with any other vehicle, the engine is the heart of the excavator as well, and basic maintenance involves regularly checking up on the engine to ensure it is functioning smoothly. Always check the levels of the coolant, engine oil and hydraulic fluid levels before you get to work with your excavator: refill any liquids that are in need of refilling.
• Lubricate away – When it comes to diggers, most components, such as for example the excavator quick hitch, will need plenty of lubrication to facilitate the motions and also to prevent the wearing down of the different parts. Accordingly, do not forget to regularly apply lubricants and also to check on the different parts of the excavator to see if they are lubricated properly. Dead giveaways of improper lubrication would be friction or overly screechy noises when you are using your excavator arms or the like.
• Inspect the parts and extensions for wear and tear – despite the fact that lubrication improves and smoothens the movements of the different parts of the excavator, it cannot fully prevent these parts from being worn down over time. Not to add, the extensions of an excavator, such as the scrap shear and buckets, which constantly come into contact with hard substances as they demolish or dig away, will easily see their dents and sharpness dulled before long. Inspect your excavator for signs of wear and tear and make prompt replacements whenever it is necessary.
• Replace the filters timely – excavators come with a number of filters for the different systems of the vehicle, such as the engine, hydraulic, air and fuel systems. Each of these filters will eventually need replacement, but the lifespan of each filter can vary. An important mistake you should not make is replacing the filters before their time is up, as this can contaminate the systems. For more information, please click here.