Pit & Quarry, February 2017
EXCAVATING inspected every 10 hours Dont skimp on the grease Its cost effective preventive maintenance that helps keep bushings bearings and pins operating smoothly Ignoring track tension can also be harmful Loose tension can lead to excessive bushing and sprocket wear and overly tight tensions can cause stress on the undercarriage At the end of each day along with cleaning and greasing fuel up to avoid getting condensation inside the tank that can damage the fuel system and result in significant repair costs Beyond daily maintenance the operator should also be trained to use the machine in a manner that doesnt put it through unnecessary wear and tear For instance running the hydraulic cylinders to their limits should be avoided If the operator can hear the cylinder hitting every time the bucket is curled in that is causing undue stress on the machine Most machines will provide operators with alarm codes or maintenance reminders Train operators to let managers know when those alerts and reminders appear so you can stick to the machines preventive maintenance schedule as well as avoid unplanned downtime and more costly repairs REDUCE IDLE TIMES Training operators to reduce idle time can slow depreciation and reduce maintenance costs While it is not uncommon to have idle times as high as 50 percent it is possible to cut that idle time in half to 25 percent in many cases a reduction that could have an enormous impact on resale value FLEET MANAGERS ROLE While a well thought out operator training program provides a huge opportunity for cost savings its only as effective as its ongoing oversight by the fleet manager A good operator training program is one that includes ongoing monitoring to track progress of the operators improvements Telematics can play a strong role in comparing the behavior of operators side by side from average fuel burn to average idle times allowing the fleet manager to pinpoint areas of continued training with operators No matter how you do it theres no doubt that investment in operator training can have a high return on investment for a quarry P Q Information for this story courtesy of Volvo Construction Equipment www volvoce com Trimble connects people with payload and productivity data across the quarry Optimize payload and gain total visibility of your costs with LOADRITE productivity management tools Connect the new LOADRITE haul truck monitor and LOADRITE loader excavator and conveyor belt scales across your operation For more information contact your local dealer today 18005285623 aggregates@ trimble com aggregates trimble com P Q 02 17 The Connected Quarry See us at CONEXPO booth 12067 26 PIT QUARRY February 2017 pitandquarry com
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