Maintenance

Prevention Illustrated
How to Keep Your Rubber Tracks Rolling
Infrequent cleaning, lack of inspection, and poor operating techniques will undoubtedly lead to premature track wear
5/1/2009
By Andrew Baltazar, Associate Editor

A Mercenary Guide to Reducing Diesel Emissions
Contractors say automatic grade control, vehicle telematics, and fuel-tracking systems boost profits by cutting fuel use and improve air quality in the process
3/1/2009
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Equipment Manager
How to Make the Switch to Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel
Initial use of ultra low sulfur diesel in off road equipment may require more frequent fuel-filter changes.
2/1/2009
By Barbara Goodrich and Terry Oftedal

Reader Asset Report
Skid Steers Draw 25 Percent of First Cost in Resale Value
Managers spend only about 40 percent of a skid steer's original purchase price on repair parts and labor before replacing them
8/1/2008
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Management: Parts
How to Keep the Right Equipment Parts on Hand
Managers must determine adequate inventory without sacrificing cash efficiency
8/1/2008
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Managers Digest
Ten Tips for Tire Maintenance
7/1/2008
Staff

Reader Asset Report
Asset Pros Draw Line on Excavator Repairs
Majority willing to spend up to half of full-size excavator's original purchase price before turning over asset
6/1/2008
By Mike Anderson, Senior Editor

Equipment Manager
The Case for Fluid Analysis
Lab analysis of fluid samples helps reduce equipment downtime, increase productivity, decrease maintenance time and cost, and extend equipment life.
5/1/2008
By G. C. Skipper

Equipment Manager
Use Preventive Maintenance to Stop Recurring Failures
Four fleet managers find four approaches to fend off failures.
5/1/2008
By G. C. Skipper

Reader Asset Report
CE Advisors Spend 55 Percent on Crawler Dozer Repairs
Aggressive fleet managers get about 28 percent of their original investment back when selling used crawler dozers
4/1/2008
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Reader Asset Report
Fleet Pros Spend 44 Percent on Wheel Loader Repairs
Reader advisors recoup about 27 percent of their initial investment when selling used loaders
2/1/2008
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Application Ideas
Temp-A-Start Idling Reducer Keeps Machines Ready to Roll in the Cold
Temp-A-Start maintains wheel-loader block temperature and starting and charging systems, paying for itself in one Alaskan winter
2/1/2008
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Sutton Report
Emissions Uncertainly Reigns
1/1/2008
Rod Sutton, Editor in Chief

Maintenance Management
How to Troubleshoot Electrical Systems
Troubleshooting is a brain game; not a wrench-turning, meter-reading, parts-changing game
12/1/2007
By Dan Sullivan, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
Putting the ‘Green’ in Used Material Disposal
Disposing of material, including used oil, anti-freeze, oil filters,tires, batteries and even hazardous waste, has become increasingly important to today's equipment professionals.
11/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Great Managers
Absence Makes Fowler Fonder of Warranties
Living without extended warranties confirmed the contractor prefers living with them
10/1/2007
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Maintenance Management
Undercarriage Basics
A quick review of design, wear factors,maintenance practices, and operating techniques might help you extend track life for your crawler machines
10/1/2007
By Walt Moore, Senior Editor

Maintenance Management
Lube Truck Basics: Buy What You Need
Think analytically about the type and size of lube truck you need, and you might find it doesn't need to be three blocks long with 900 horsepower
9/1/2007
By Walt Moore, Senior Editor

Equipment Manager
Preventive Maintenance Inspections Prevent Premature Failure
Preventive-maintenance inspections are simply a straight-forward, systematic approach to checking the condition of vehicles or equipment at planned intervals. They can be measured in several ways: by time, mileage, hours of operation, fuel consumption, or a combination of all four that best suits the needs of an individual fleet.
8/1/2007
By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
How Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel will Affect Fleet Management
The reason for lowering sulfur levels, of course, is to reduce environmentally harmful emissions. But the change-over has sparked apprehension among some fleet professionals. Justified or not, they fear that in solving one problem others have been created.
8/1/2007
By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Exclusive: Lifecycle Research
Graders, Scrapers, Track Loaders Stretch Component Life
Durability of major components keeps these earthmovers in primary production longest
7/1/2007
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Maintenance Management: Tires
Tread Gently When Choosing Tire Patterns
Application is only the first step to determining tire usage. Tread patterns offer various benefits.
7/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
Brake Air Dryers Prevent Downtime
Moisture in the air-brake system needs to be removed for dependable operation
5/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Managers Digest
Nine Tips for Tire Safety
4/1/2007
Staff

Managers Digest
Check Your Impact-Wrench Output
4/1/2007
Staff

Prevention Illustrated
How to Keep Wheels Tight
Although accurate torque is the solution, keep an eye on conditions that hasten the loosening of wheel nuts
2/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
Have the Right Parts on Hand
Managers must determine adequate inventory without sacrificing cash efficiency
2/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
How to Effectively Use Oil Analysis
Data should be integrated with other maintenance-management systems
2/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
How to Remove Water from Fuel
Fuel-water separators prevent corrosion and premature engine wear
2/1/2007
By G. C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Special Report
Auto-Lube Systems Gain Ground
Numerous benefits are building converts as technology proves itself
12/1/2006
By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Equipment Manager
8 Elements of Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance starts the minute a machine is purchased, and it doesn't end until disposal
11/2/2006
By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Managers Digest
Gain Maintenance Knowledge on Your Own Time
10/1/2006

Prevention Illustrated
Hydraulic Seal Replacement Prevents Leaky Cylinders
Controlling dirt and heat preserves seals, and that extends the life of cylinders and other hydraulic components
9/1/2006
By Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Prevention Illustrated
The Electrical Schematic Is Your Friend
Or...how to read truck and machine electrical schematics competently, even though others may accuse you of wasting time
8/1/2006
By Dan Sullivan, Mechanic, Teacher/Author and Electrical Troubleshooter

Managers Digest
Eliminate Hose-Maintenance Guesswork
1/1/2006

Prevention Illustrated
How to Analyze Oil Analysis
You have the report, but it's what you do with the information that keeps the machines operating
1/1/2006
By G.C. Skipper, Contributing Editor

Managers Digest
Focus on Casings for Retread Savings
12/1/2005

Managers Digest
Air up Safely
10/1/2005

Prevention Illustrated
The Basics of Diesel-Engine Coolant
Or, a few tips that may help you stay out of cooling-system trouble in a world that's working against you
9/1/2005
By Walt Moore, Senior Editor

Managers Digest
Cheap A/C Refrigerants Not Worth the Risk
6/1/2005

Managers Digest
Substitutes for New Hydraulic Pumps
6/1/2005

Managers Digest
Premium Oil Stops Ring Failures
5/1/2005

Managers Digest
Fuel Savings May Ride on Rubber
5/1/2005

Prevention Illustrated
Proper Torque Wrench Techniques
The torque wrench is a super tool - a precision measuring device, but with the brute strength to put the lock on big bolts
5/1/2005
By Walt Moore, Senior Editor

Managers Digest
Roadranger Library
2/1/2005

Managers Digest
LBX Selects ATS For Machine Monitoring
2/1/2005

Managers Digest
Beefed-Up Breather
1/1/2005

Managers Digest
A Quick Wheel-End Check
11/1/2004

Prevention Illustrated
Maintain Drill String for Optimum Uptime
Monitor the business end of your HDD system - pipe, connectors, transmitter, housings, bits and backreamers - with smart use and a discerning eye
9/1/2004
By Jeff Griffin, Contributing Editor & Larry Stewart, Executive Editor

Shop Report
Chemistry for Converting Antifreeze Systems
Shell says its new Extended-Life-Coolant Conversion Kit can be used to take over fully formulated conventional systems
9/1/2004
By Walt Moore, Senior Editor

Maintenance

Please visit these other Reed Business sites