Pit & Quarry, July 2009

MAINTENANCE TIPS FROM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS AND OUR READERS BY TERRY BEACH F ront end wheel loaders are some of the most crucial pieces of equipment on any site Loaders are the workhorses They make money by keeping things moving and if a loader stops the revenue stream slows to a halt Ultimately the more productive a sites loaders are the more productive and profitable the site will be When it comes to wheel loaders there is one common problem that can seriously plague their productivity That same problem area if properly understood and managed can also make highly productive loaders Loaders are only as good as the tires they ride on Good site operators or equipment managers are aware of the importance of regular tire maintenance There are a few key considerations that can help maximize the use of a loader while getting the most life and performance out of its tires While keeping air in earthmover radial tires is important keeping the right amount of air in these tires is just as critical to the vehicles performance This is especially true of loaders Because of a loaders configuration loader tires require extra attention and care to properly maintain and ensure that the loader will operate as effectively and productively as possible Over inflation In many cases radial tires on loaders are inflated to the same pressure all the way around the vehicle In actuality there are few loaders where that is the recommended practice As a whole radial tires on the rear axle of loaders are over inflated One reason for this error is that many in the industry are still using tire practices from bias ply tires which need to be inflated to high pressure levels to maintain a rigid form and a stiff sidewall When fully loaded a radial tire should exhibit what is called the radial bulge in the sidewall If a radial tire is fully loaded and does not have the sidewall bulge it is very likely just from a visible inspection that the tire is over inflated Over inflated tires are more susceptible to damage from impacts or cuts in the tread and sidewall areas They also deliver less traction through increased wheel spinning which makes getting a full bucket more difficult and leads to lower productivity Under inflation If tires are under inflated especially those on the front axle of a loader the machine could exhibit a number of detrimental effects The loader may experience stability issues when fully loaded and be susceptible to tipping Along with instability the tire will fatigue much faster because of heat buildup due to excessive flexing in the sidewall An under inflated tire especially on loaders that produce significant torque also runs the risk of indexing which is when the tire actually spins on the wheel assembly These outgrowths of under inflated tires Keep on rollin Maximize your loaders with proper earthmover radial tire pressure and more www pitandquarry com July 2009 PIT QUARRY 27