Things You Need to Know About Gearbox Maintenance Before You Buy Heavy Construction Equipment

Posted on: 4 June 2018

Heavy construction equipment is a huge investment, and to reduce repairs and downtime, you need to keep an eye on the condition of your equipment. In particular, you may want to take special care of the gearbox. Here are some tips to help you.

Examine Fluids When Buying Used Equipment

If you're buying used construction equipment, take some time to look at the gearbox fluid. If possible, check under the equipment for leaks. Gearbox fluid tends to be sweet in flavour and orangish in colour. Also, take out the dipstick and look at the fluid. If it's clean, that's a sign that the previous owner has taken good care of the equipment. In contrast, if it's discoloured or filled with debris, that can be a sign that the owner didn't take proper care of the machinery, and you may want to look elsewhere.

Have Someone Inspect the Gearbox

Ideally, before buying used equipment, you may want to have someone inspect the gearbox. A repair professional can give you a sense of the equipment's current condition, and they can help you estimate future repair and maintenance costs.

Keep Your Equipment Lubricated

Once you buy some heavy construction equipment, keep everything properly lubricated. If you have a diesel electric hybrid, the lubrication prevents the gears and bearings from rubbing against each other, generating too much heat and wearing down. Alternatively, with a hydrostatic drive system, a pump moves oil over your parts. In this situation, you don't need to manually lubricate the parts. You just need to ensure that the following conditions are true:

  • The pump is kept full of liquid

  • The oil is clean

  • The pump is working correctly

Change Oil Frequently

To be on the safe side, you should change your oil frequently. Dirty oil can threaten the integrity of your system, and you shouldn't just top up the oil. Instead, you should remove all of it, flush the gearbox, and replace the oil on a regular basis.

Use Viscosity Modifiers as Needed

The outside temperature can also affect the condition of your machinery and your oil. If you work in a variety of weather conditions, you may want to use viscosity modifiers. This is an oil additive that ensures the oil doesn't become too thin in hot temperatures and too thick in low temperatures. Instead, the viscosity modifiers help the oil to stay about the same level all the time.

Schedule Routine Maintenance

You should also hire a gearbox professional to do preventative maintenance on your equipment. That can help you sidestep costly, unexpected emergency repairs, and it can save you money in the long run. To learn more, contact someone who does gearbox repairs on commercial machinery today.

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