A Guide to Maintaining Your Excavator

Excavators are highly versatile tools in any operation that requires a lot of digging or the moving of loose materials. From the farm to the construction site, these powerful machines are moving incredible amounts of soil, gravel, sand, and more. However, they still require regular maintenance despite their durable construction, so we have put together some excavator maintenance tips in this guide.

Perform a Visual Inspection

Your first step here should be a thorough once-over to look for any visible signs of damage or excessive wear and tear. Check for obvious things like loose bolts, gouges, or holes in the undercarriage, debris caught inside the machinery, rust, fluid leaks, etc. Take the time to ensure the tracks have the proper amount of tension, or that the machine’s tires have the correct amount of air pressure.

Check Fluids and Filters

Like any other machine, there are a number of fluids and filters your excavator relies on heavily for proper function. Without them, your machine might overheat or just stop working altogether. The motor oil is especially important and it should be replaced as per the recommended maintenance schedule, though you should check its condition more frequently. If it isn’t amber-colored, largely transparent, and fluid, and is instead speckled, dark, or sludgy, replace it entirely and replace the oil filter as well.

Clean Your Machine

Obviously, your excavator is going to get dirty, so it’s essential to keep your machine as clean as possible. Letting dirt, mud, or debris build up on or in the machine can cause corrosion and other serious problems over time.

We hope these tips help you take care of your excavator! If you have any questions, need help with maintenance, or just want to check out our excavator inventory, contact us at West Hills Tractor in Jonesborough, TN. We welcome all our patrons visiting us from Johnson City and Greeneville.