If you work with any sort of heavy machinery or construction equipment regularly, you’ve likely run into some technical difficulties with its function along the way. Nothing can get in the way of a task or job quite like your equipment breaking down. Check out these tips for repairing broken construction equipment, so you can DIY more fixes.
Identify the source of the problem
Trying to fix an entire machine might not be the most efficient or effective solution, so breaking it down and finding the source of the problem can save you tons of time and get your project back on track faster. Based on your working knowledge of the machine, try to take an educated guess as to what the source of the issue is and take the machine apart to reach it and investigate. Once you’ve identified the problem, you will know if it’s something you can fix yourself or if you need a professional’s help. An example of this is repairing a final drive; most often, this part should be left to the professionals, while something such as needing more fluids can be done quickly and easily by the operator.
Test the equipment after the repair
Whether you performed the repair yourself or have a professional do it, you should always test your equipment in a safe environment before getting it back to work. This can prevent further issues. It can also ensure the problem was actually fixed. It’s often difficult to decipher the exact root of the problem in heavy machinery, so a quick test to check that the problem was correctly addressed is important for the safety of the operator, surrounding people, and the machine itself.
Use the right tools
Before embarking on the repair journey, research what kinds of tools are needed for the repair. Using the right tools is crucial to the repair process, as having the wrong tools may hinder the process. If needed, consult a professional mechanic for a better understanding of what the repair entails. If you don’t have these tools readily available, consider either investing in them, renting them, or leaving the repair job to a professional.
