There’s no doubt that technology has allowed excavators to evolve exponentially over the past decade, creating a longer lifetime and increased capabilities for this machinery. So how can your customers get the most out of the lifetime of their excavators? When making this kind of purchase, it’s important to help them understand the maintenance routines that should go into their upkeep.

In this piece by Total Landscape Care, they interviewed Tom Connor, Bobcat’s excavator product specialist, to better understand how to best maintain excavators. Check out some of his top tips below!

Look at the Manual!

Reviewing the machine’s operation and maintenance manual provided by the manufacturer should be your first step! This typically comes within the excavator’s cab, however if it’s been misplaced at any point, make sure your customers know that their authorized dealer can order them a replacement! Tell your customers they should make sure to become familiar with the machine’s:

• Safety features
• Instrumentations
• Controls
• Service schedules
• Maintenance points

The more familiar your customers are with the machine and its maintenance recommendations, the more likely they are to make the most of the excavator, so make sure they know this!

Check Fluids

Some of the top fluids a user should be consistently checking are coolant, hydraulic fluid, and engine oil. Urge your customers to not only monitor these fluids, but more importantly refill them with the manufacturers recommended type of fluid. Be sure to encourage them to pay attention to classifications and viscosities! Also, inspire them to keep these areas dirt-free and use clean rags when checking the levels of these fluids in order to prevent any type of contamination.

Another important factor to stress to your customers is that excavators are armed with various levels of emissions-compliant engines that may have unique lubrication requirements. More and more manufacturers are strategically matching oils to their advanced type of engines to ensure the proper operation of exhaust after-treatment systems.

Other fluid-related tips to recommend are regularly lubricating the machine at recommended intervals, taking into consideration the application and temperatures the machine will be working in. Also, recommend the use of a quality lithium-based multipurpose grease in order to lubricate all key pivot points, meaning cylinders, booms, blades, buckets, arms and slew bearing components.

Look at Undercarriage

Your customer will know that the most obvious wear item on the excavator is the track. Most machines have rubber tracks, where the life expectancy of the track is mostly dependent upon the environment and the user’s operating habits. The track should be examined on a daily basis and the customer should be looking for cuts, tears or areas that expose the steel imbeds.

Arguably, the most important undercarriage interval item is the track tensioning. A loose track is more likely to de-track and will be detrimental to its lifespan. The customer’s operation manual will provide the track tension ranges and correct way to position the excavator for making adjustments.

Not necessarily on a daily basis, but a regular one, customers should also be monitoring things like idlers, rollers and sprockets as well.

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Tom Connor and Total Landscape had several more tips, so if you want to read all of them to potentially provide as a resource to your customers, you can check out the article here.