5 tips to avoid needing to repair your heavy equipment and When does your heavy vehicle need an auto electrician?

 

When a piece of heavy equipment needs to be repaired, it can be a pain for your business, employees and of course, you! Heavy machinery isusually specifically designed to carry construction tasks, earthwork operation or any other task that involves intense power and heavy materials. This is why when it needs to be repaired and is down for a significant amount of time, your business can suffer. It’s worth keeping in mind that eventually, heavy equipment will need to be repaired, however, what you should try to do is reduce the number of times it needs to be repaired and unnecessary or avoidable repairs. Believe it or not, this is possible. It comes down to proper training, maintenance and control.

Should I avoid repairs by reading repair and training manuals?

A common question that many business owners have is whether simple reading their manuals is worth it. While it is advisable that business owners and managers read their heavy equipment’s manual before operation, especially because its information will play into many of our tips (explored later in the article), it is also not the only factor that contributes to your heavy equipment’s ‘health’.  

However, the repair and training manuals of heavy equipment contain important information that managers and owners tend to overlook. When this information is overlooked, the machine can be used and maintained poorly which then makes it susceptible to and causes repair issues.

In this article, we’ll discuss tips that you and your employees can take to reduce the need for repairs to your heavy equipment.

5 tips to avoid needing repairs for your heavy equipment

Develop a maintenance plan

A proper maintenance plan is one of the most important things you can do to avoid unnecessary repairs in your heavy equipment. A mobile auto electrician will ensure that your fluid and oil levels are up to par and check your equipment for any small cracks, chips or deflated and low-pressure tires. Regular maintenance translates to preventative maintenance as it prevents your equipment from incurring future damage or worsening any current issues.

To develop a maintenance plan, contact your equipment manufacturer or a heavy equipment repair electrician. He or she will be able to let you know how regularly you should have your heavy equipment serviced, according to your type of business, how often the equipment is used and its manufacturer.

Monitor your equipment for signs of wear and tear

If you own your equipment for a significant amount of time, it is most likely going to show signs of wear and tear. Even if it is seldom used (opposed to regular use), time causes deterioration in equipment. This is inevitable. The easy way to mitigate this and the fall out from unattended wear and tear is to monitor and regularly check your equipment. This will allow you to spot signs of wear and tear such as cracking, chipping, rusting and others and take corrective action. If you think that your equipment has drastically deteriorated or you notice significant issues, then we recommend that you immediately take it to your auto electrician or call a mobile auto electrician.

Check the lubrication levels of your equipment

The lubrication levels of your heavy equipment are extremely important in ensuring that your equipment runs smoothly and does not prematurely deteriorate or damage any of its internal components which can eventually shorten the time it takes for your equipment to fail. In addition to check the level of oil and hydraulic fluid, ensure that there aren’t any leaks in your equipment as well. Leaks will cause your fluid levels to rapidly drop without you noticing, causing eventual deterioration.

Don’t be tempted to overfill your lubricant levels as this can also cause issues such as grease buildup, clogs and decreased performance.

Don’t work your machine past its limit

Every machine has its limitations, even heavy equipment. This is usually included in the owner’s manual. It’s important that you and your team are aware of the limits of the machinery. If you regularly exhaust your heavy equipment capacity, its power will eventually start to deteriorate and it can experience premature wear and tear.

In short, if you’re interested in a long and healthy life with minimal repairs for your heavy equipment, then do not overwork it.

Ensure that your employees know how to operate your equipment properly

Along the same vein is ensuring that your employees and anyone else who may operate your heavy equipment is briefed and regularly trained on how to operate the machine. While initial training is important, so is regular training. Heavy equipment usually receives software updates that may change how it needs to be operated or maintained. Additionally, regular training sessions ensure that new team members are also briefed on how to use the machine. This is why it's important to fully and regularly train your team.

Owning and maintaining a heavy vehicle can be tough work, especially if it is your first time. Heavy vehicles are also an incredible investment that need to be properly maintained and operated in order to retain its value. While maintenance of value comes from proper operation and maintenance at one’s business, it also means that the heavy vehicle should be serviced and carried or checked by an auto electrician regularly and when necessary.

If it’s your first time owning a heavy vehicle, or if you’re just not familiar with the needs of a heavy vehicle, you won’t know when it’s appropriate to solicit the services of an auto electrician. However, it is key that you know this, as failure to provide your heavy vehicle with the right auto electrician services can result in unnecessary repairs, premature wear and tear, malfunctioning of the vehicle and a need for replacement parts.

In this article, we’ll discuss why your heavy vehicle will need an auto electrician.

4 reasons why your heavy vehicle will need an auto electrician

Maintenance/Servicing

General maintenance services are incredibly important for the upkeep of your heavy vehicle. Over time, your heavy vehicle will experience wear and tear, drops in its fluid and lubricant levels and many other issues that develop as a result of time and use. With servicing, an auto electrician will check your vehicle and replenish and repair its vitals. Where there are leaks, scrapes and cracks, he or she will repair and replace parts, to ensure that your heavy vehicle is performing at its best and to minimise the risk of breaking down or malfunctioning in the future. Generally, this service lengthens the life of your heavy vehicle.

Mobile breakdown services

Unfortunately, heavy vehicles, like any other vehicle, are prone to breaking down. The difference between a heavy vehicle break down and a car break down is that one is much harder to move and will likely cause more financial damage. A mobile breakdown service is offered by many auto electricians. With this service, the auto electrician will come to your broken down vehicle and repair it on site. This doesn’t just save you the hassle of having to move your vehicle to a shop, but it also saves you money by shortening the time that your heavy vehicle is broken down. Bear in mind that if there are more serious problems with your heavy vehicle that require special equipment, then it will need to be moved to the auto electrician’s business.

Battery replacements

Like any vehicle, batteries on heavy vehicles will eventually need to be replaced. This is usually more difficult than a car and thus, you will require the services of an auto electrician. An auto electrician will source the batter that is right for your heavy vehicle according to its manufacturer.

Air conditioning repairs

Often, heavy vehicles are working in extremely hot and humid conditions, making the air conditioning system an important part of an employee’s comfort. When the air conditioning system breaks down or malfunctions, it’s important that you do not neglect it. Apart from distressing your employee, it can also cause further damage to your car. With air conditioning issues, you should immediately contact your auto electrician. He or she will not only be able to repair the issue, but they will be able to tell you if your air conditioning malfunction was a symptom of a much larger issue.

If you require the services of a heavy equipment electrician, then you’re in luck! Several companies in Sydney will be able to service your heavy machinery and ensure that it functions properly.