Inspection and Cleaning Guidelines for Heavy Equipment Parts: Preventive Measures

Maintaining heavy equipment can enhance your productivity and improve work conditions for your employees and yourself. It can also help your equipment last longer and save money on replacements or repairs. To properly maintain your heavy equipment, you’ll need to inspect equipment parts periodically, and we’re covering everything you need to know to do so. 

Heavy equipment parts from Gregory Poole can help maximize efficiency, save money and enhance your work environment. 

What Is a Heavy Equipment Inspection Checklist Used For?

A heavy equipment inspection checklist ensures equipment and parts work effectively. Every industry that uses heavy equipment — such as construction — uses checklists to ensure safe working conditions and maximize efficiency. 

For example, machine operators can inspect the engine and check for leaks, oil levels and pressure. They check off each inspection point on a document or digital form and make appropriate notes. If a component is faulty or worn, they fix it, therefore mitigating potential injuries and malfunctions. 

Advantages of a Heavy Equipment Inspection Checklist

Using a heavy equipment checklist offers multiple benefits, including: 

• Preventing equipment breakdowns: Operators can identify and fix faults before equipment breaks down, avoiding downtime. 
• Avoiding injuries: Equipment faults can cause injuries. With regular inspections, you can decommission, repair or replace faulty equipment, safeguarding workers from accidents. 
• Improving workplace productivity: Identifying and fixing faults before they become significant enough to pause work can improve productivity. 
• Saving money: Performing inspections and maintenance can help extend equipment life span, saving money on costly repairs and replacements. 

How Do You Inspect Heavy Equipment?

Inspections are a form of preventive maintenance. Your equipment manufacturer instructions may list a suggested preventive maintenance schedule, usually organized by weeks, months or hours of use — such as every 500 hours. Common preventive maintenance tasks include:

• Changing engine oil and fuel filters. 
• Replacing coolant and cabin air filters. 
• Servicing the transmission. 
• Inspecting and repairing the radiator and hydraulic systems. 

In addition to what’s described in the manufacturer’s instructions, you can conduct your own parts inspections. Assessing each component separately is a great way to inspect heavy equipment. You can do various component checks before starting up your equipment and during the start-up process. You can check for faults and performance issues and schedule any necessary maintenance. 

Depending on the specific part and its service requirements, you may need to conduct daily, weekly or monthly inspections. The following inspections cover each stage of equipment use. 

Stationary Inspections 

You can perform these part inspections before starting equipment: 

• Engine: Check the engine components and ensure they are secure. 
• Cab: Inspect the mirrors, wiper blades and windshield condition. 
• Leaks: Check the engine and fuel system for oil leaks and any other wet spots.
• Wear: Inspect parts like belts, hoses and fan belts for cracks or other wear.
• Speedometer: Check that all gauges are working and that the speedometer is secure.
• Obstructions: Check for objects in the machine’s path. 
• Tires and Rims: Identify damage like wheel punctures, mounted screws and holes. You can also check rims for loose bolts and other damage. 
• Electronics: Inspect the battery and repair cables or battery if you notice wear or corrosion. 
• Seatbelt and steering wheel: Ensure the seatbelt is working and the steering wheel is not too loose. 
• Fuel capacity: Inspect the fuel system for leaks or faults by filling the tank. Ensure you can fill the tank to total capacity and that the fuel cap is screwed on tight. 

Start-Up Inspections

Start your equipment and let it warm up for a few minutes before inspecting the following: 

• Noises: Listen for noises coming from the engine, air filter and hydraulic systems. You can clean air filters if you notice any unusual sounds. 
• Oil and fluids: Inspect hydraulic oils and engine steering tank fluids.
• Alarms: Test reverse or backup alarms and the machine’s horn. 
• Brakes functionality: Test the brakes and pads and identify wear, such as leaks and holes. 
• Lights: Test brake lights, turn signals, headlights, high beams and reverse lights to ensure there aren’t any issues.
• Vibrations: Watch the suspension system and check if it vibrates. You can also listen for creaking noises when steering and driving.

How to Clean Heavy Equipment

Cleaning heavy equipment is a preventive maintenance task that can improve functionality and extend equipment life span. Cleaning your equipment can also enhance its aesthetics and improve driver working conditions. Follow these steps to clean your heavy equipment. 

1. Gather Your Tools and Products 

You’ll need specialized tools like the following to clean heavy equipment:

• Window cleaner
• Multipurpose vacuum
• Water cannon for cold water 
• Sponges and microfiber cloths
• Fabric or upholstery cleaning solution
• Pressure hose for high-pressure cleaning
• Wash pad for preventing chemical water runoff 
• Grease detergent or automotive cleaning solution 

2. Prep for Cleaning 

Protecting yourself is vital when cleaning heavy equipment. Using large quantities of water and specialized detergents and cleaning in narrow areas can come with various safety hazards. Wear protective gear like the following to prevent slips and scrapes:

• Specialized rubber boots to prevent slips
• Googles and face shields to protect your face and eyes from detergents and debris 
• Thick coveralls and insulated gloves to avoid hot water burns and cuts from equipment

3. Clean the Equipment’s Exterior

Here’s how to clean your equipment’s exterior: 

1. Remove and dispose of debris like mud and particles from the body and undercarriage with a metal scraper or shovel.
2. Use a water cannon and pressure hose to spray the body from top to bottom. Get into tight areas and remove tough dirt with the pressure hose.
3. Remove excess grease by hand, and apply a grease detergent or an automotive solution sparsely across exteriors while focusing on dirty areas. Let the detergents rest for a few minutes to soften contaminants.
4. Use the cannon to spray down equipment and create a soap solution.
5. Wash and scrub the exterior and detailed areas.
6. Hose and clean tires and rims with detergents and scrubbing tools.
7. Let the exterior dry naturally or use compressed air.
8. Apply wax for the finishing touches and shine.

4. Clean the Equipment’s Interior 

Here’s how you can clean the interior cab: 

1. Remove mats and other items, and hose and wash them by hand.
2. Use a vacuum to loosen debris.
3. Rub detergent or an automotive cleaning agent over the leather interior and wipe clean.
4. Scrub and mop the floor with detergent and a bucket of water. Replace water as needed. 
5. Dry seats with compressed air or multipurpose vacuum cleaner.
6. Disinfect the surface with disinfectant agents and a rag.

Purchase New Heavy Equipment Parts from Gregory Poole

When you need parts for your heavy equipment, turn to Gregory Poole Equipment Company. We offer new and used heavy equipment parts, including engine parts, batteries, filters and hydraulics. 

You can use our “My Equipment” feature to search for new parts using your serial number or verify that parts will fit your equipment. And when you’re looking for used parts, our team will work with you to ensure everything fits properly. We understand the importance of keeping your parts in good shape, which is why we offer product support after the sale to ensure parts meet your expectations. 

For more information on our new and used heavy equipment parts, contact Gregory Poole today.