Tag Archives: Machine

Ensure the cooling system of your machine is doing well this summer

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Heavy equipment take quite a beating during the summer. It has been found that mostly the cooling system of the heavy equipment does not remain in order which is why the problem crops up and the entire machine goes out of service. Now after knowing the importance of heavy equipment in the construction business, it very unlikely that the owner of the construction company will take the risk to leave the cooling system of the machine unrepaired. Heavy equipment that work in states like Texas have probably experienced the worst heat and if the engine is not cooled at regular intervals, there are chances that the machine will break down every now and then. You start the engine for a couple of hours and it becomes hot like a volcano waiting to burst at any moment.

We will be speaking about some very generic cooling techniques that should be used to keep the machine going under any summer season.

The coolant technology should be checked regularly:-

Different heavy equipment companies have installed different types and different qualities of coolants in their machines. These coolants have an expire date and if they are not checked regularly then it only shortens the expiry date. Contractors are not even aware of any expire dates of the coolants and they believe that giving it to the mechanic means results to end of any and every problem related to the heavy equipment. Well, that is not the case. A mechanic only services the machine and if he finds anything that has gone wrong, he will inform you about it and only if you say so he changes the parts. Some mechanics do not bother to check the quality of the coolant as long as they are not asked to. Therefore, you should take the initiative and ask him to check if the cooling system in the heavy equipment is in place.

Make use of the right machine to complete the task:-

Though nowadays heavy equipment are multifaceted and are expected to do work that does not fall in its line of business. This has been a boon to the construction companies but at the same time when they try to make use of this boon more regularly, it may back fire. You can’t use a grader to demolish structures. Though you can use attachments to get some temporary work done but do not make it a routine. Other than that, the terrain where you want your machine to work can also be an issue. Not all heavy equipment are equipped to work on every terrain and incline. If you compel it to work where it is not meant to, then the chances of the engine heating up increases manifolds. You have to keep that in mind and ensure that you do not use your machine in places where it can’t work.

Do not overwork the heavy equipment:-

Heavy equipment has certain capacity to work and if it moves beyond the capacity the problem begins. You need to stop the machine right at the very stage where you see it can’t take any further. Also instruct the operator about it that you do not want the machine to be overworked at any cost.

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Want To Get Your Machine Repaired – Get Help Of An Expert

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Construction industry is heavily dependent on heavy equipment and one need to take utter care of his equipment; because if the equipment go wrong, he has no work to do for the entire day. More to this, the work pending for the day gets carried forward to the next day, which means that he has to complete 2 days work in a single day. This could be quite problematic for a company which deals with huge projects. A delay of work for a day can even lead to huge loses and can also tarnish the reputation of the company. Therefore, it is very important for them to ensure that they have all their machines in working order and if they feel that any of the stuff needs some repair, they should make the arrangements in advance and see to it that things are taken care of much before it goes out of hand.

Knowing the fact that heavy equipment are an integral part of the construction industry, many construction companies keep a team of experts whose work is to check the condition of the machines on a daily basis and if they find anything objectionable then they have to report it to the manager or to the person up in the rank. Once that gets reported, it becomes the responsibility of the managers to take a call on this and give direct instructions to the mechanics who will ultimately get the issue fixed.

Where do you find these experts:-  Finding the right person to do the job is in itself a huge task. We normally find many people who claim that they can do the job but eventually they all turn up to carry very limited knowledge about their domain and only possess the skill to resolve the issue temporarily and can’t provide a permanent way out  to it. In such a situation, it becomes very important to find people who can do end-to-end work for you. There are many educational institutions that train students on heavy equipment. The training ranges from a couple of years to 5 years of rigorous training where they learn everything in detail about heavy equipment. No doubt, that they lack practical application, however that vacuum is soon filled once they start getting some experience in their line of work. This is one place from where you can pick guys and make them as potential experts. The candidates should be thoroughly screened and all sorts of technical questions should be thrown at them. If only they are able to give satisfactory answers, they should be allowed a place in your organization.

Contact your peers if they can help you out:-  If you have your friends who are also into the construction business, you might as well take help from them. Check with them if they know an expert who can fix problems in machines. If your friend is pretty old in this industry, he will certainly know someone who fixes his machine. So you might get some help from them.

Putting it on internet:-  You might also want to take help of internet by posting an ad there putting your requirements. You will be then contacted by an expert who will get the problem resolved.

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Ensure Your Machine Is In Order Before You Sell It

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Heavy construction equipment is one of those very few things in this world that are always in high demand. So if you have such equipment, and you are planning to sell if off, then it is always the right time. However, as there are many sellers who are opting for this scope of earning money, you must make sure that your product sells first. The buyers have become very conscious of their needs and they look for all their necessities in the product that they buy. So before you sell your heavy construction equipment, you will have to make sure that the equipment and all its parts are in proper order.

  • Apparent visual appeal:

The first thing that the seller must take care of is the visual appeal of the machine. Cleanliness is the key factor in respect to this. If your machine is not cleaned and there is mud and dirt all over it, then it will not please the buyer. Making sure that the color of the equipment has not come off is also very important.

  • Repair the damaged parts:

As the heavy construction equipment has to perform very tedious jobs the entire day, it is very likely that some of its parts get damaged due to work load and heavy pressure. If that is the case with your equipment, then you must repair it properly before putting it for auction. Hire a welder before hand and repair every single damage that has been caused to the machine. This is the key to create a good demand for the machine in the market that it has no flaws in it.

  • Engine condition:

Most of the time when the seller displays the equipment and the buyer starts the engine to take a look at its condition, the engine either does not start at a single try, or even if it does, it emits a cloud of black unhealthy smoke. This is absolutely against a good report of the machine.

  • Oil leakage and consumption:

A buyer of the heavy construction equipment looks for how much the oil consumption rate of the machine is. When you sell the equipment, you have to take care of the engine that it does not consume too much of fuel. A good servicing and a proper maintenance would take care of this. Not only the consumption rate, if there is a leakage of the fuel in the machine then it will definitely not please the buyer.

  • Papers:

Without the papers, no buyers would be interested enough to buy the equipment.

If you have looked after all these factors, then there is no chance that you do not get a high demand for the equipment that you are selling. Making a profit through selling the equipment will be very easy.

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Using Specific Machine For Specific Work Can Yield Good Results

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Have you ever wondered why there are so many heavy equipment in use in a construction site when the same machine has the potential to do multiple tasks? We see a backhoe loader, dozers, excavators, scrapers etc. and often think why they invest so much of money on heavy equipment when they can easily make use of one of their equipment into multiple purposes and get the work done. Well, the construction companies use so many machines for a specific cause adjoined to with and we would be highlighting on that cause.

Heavy equipment has its own intrinsic capability, though it is also potent enough to perform on other areas, but it makes more sense to use the equipment for the very purpose it was produced. For instance, one primarily uses an excavator to dig earth and remove the dirt and carry them from one place to the other. Now the same excavator can also be used to demolish a structure for which it is very much potent. However, you still use a bulldozer to get that part of the job done. This fact implies that though different heavy equipment has the capacity to do several tasks some which do not fall in their job area, it is better to restrict them from doing such tasks. The reason could be many. One of the important reasons is that it may not be much productive and may not yield desired results.

It becomes a big challenge for newbie to understand the role of heavy equipment in his business. Few are also of the opinion that they can do all the required work with the help of one machine and may not need any other equipment for other tasks.

What is rather advisable to guys new in this industry is that they first make their ground concrete by doing a thorough study on heavy equipment and understand the purpose of heavy equipment in their business. They have to get this pretty clear in their minds that single equipment can’t be used for all kinds of work. They have to invest more on equipment if they want to see their machines work for longer duration and also want to get the desired job done quickly.

They can research on the equipment using internet or joining forums where they can put up their questions and can expect to get expert comments. Those comments would turn out to be very helpful for a person who is new to this sector. Alternatively, if one can get some amount of experience by working in this industry for a span for few years, it would help him a long way. He would know more about machines and also which machine can get the work done faster without compromising the quality of its parts.

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Know about the machine Caterpillar D6K XL

Equipment are a very big investment especially if one is planning to buy heavy machinery for a long term use. Whether one is planning to buy an used machinery or a new one, it is always beneficial to learn about the product parts and usage in simple lay man language. Sometimes too much detailing makes can ruin the very purpose of reading. Here in a very simple language, we have made an effort to make one understand the purpose and capability of D6K XL tractor to the buyer. In our endeavour to make reading enjoyable and informative about Caterpillar D6K XL Specs, we have divided it into sections.

  1. 1.     Birth—The Caterpillar D6K XL was first introduced in the market in the year 2007 and it is manufactured only in France. Since then the machinery has established a trustworthy reputation. The product is present in the market in two types of configuration. It has standard low drive and has hydrostatic transmission. The best thing about the tractor is it is tough and suited for rough working conditions. It is very useful in the construction areas.

 

  1. Specifications—The XL is really large and its length with blade measures around 16.3 ft in, cab height to top is 9.7 ft, length of the track on the ground is 8.7ft, standard shoe size which can fit in 22in, it has ground clearance of 1.2 ft in. The Caterpillar tractor has a very commendable operating weight of 28409 lb and has a fuel capacity of 77.9 gallon. With 125hp, it can prove to be a very good machine for heavy work.
  1. Performance—The C6.6 engine has a very good track record and is quite dependable. In fact the electronic control module,  ADEM A4 can easily adjust parameters and optimize the performance. With advanced controls, efficiency of both engines and fuel maximizes and supports during troubleshooting as well repair.
  1. Ergonomically designed—The operator’s cabin is designed in such a fashion that it will not tire the person who is handling the extra-large giant. It is spacious and is designed in such a way that it provides clear focus and visibility of the driving track. Thus giving good efficiency and improving the work of the operator. For the comfort of the driver, it has extra leg room, air-suspended seat, electro-hydraulic controls, seat mounted controls and not to forget the instrument cluster which organises as well as simplifies the operation of the big equipment.
  1. 5.     Economical—The standard air cooling and its GPS comfortably brings down the operating cost. Further the fuel efficiency of the machine is worth a mention which can make the running smoother and cost effective.

 

The Caterpillar D6K XL is available online both for rental and purchase. Online research is the best way to get closer with the machine and acquire all the latest information regarding it. The tractor has received a favourable response from the users. Further it is very convenient to get the required support for the machinery from the company.

Check out eight important things before using a machine

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Check out eight important things before using a machine

Today’s life is totally machine dependent, we are helpless without machine. Growing technology benefited us in a way that without them we can’t even take a step. With advance technology you can make various shaped equipment (heavy), complicated designs easily. These help users to use machine smoothly.

While using a machine you should always be careful about certain accidents or any unwanted incident. Also to handle machine skillfully and to get great output you should know its proper usages thoroughly.  But sometimes some accidents happened with the users, especially when the user is a new operator. So, safety is a big issue while operating a heavy machine. However, you have to follow basic rules depending upon what machine you are using to avoid bad things or any kind of trouble.

At construction sites, heavy equipment like cranes or other giant machines should be handled carefully. Operators of these machines must have good knowledge and they must be well-trained at this field.

 

Follow these rules before operating a machine:

  • Safety GearWearing: Steel-toed boots, masks, gloves, hats and glasses are safety gears. In minor work you should not be careless about safety gears, because in construction site heavy equipment generates so much pollution that can harm your skin, respiratory infections and can cause eye irritation too. Beside these, there are always some life risks as well. Therefore it is better to maintain this rule.
  • Inspect Machine Regularly: If the machine itself is not good then wearing safety gear will not help you at all. Visual and physical monitoring on machine is always needed even if the work is minor in order to avoid accident. Inspection needed after and before use of machineries. If any minor damage found, then it must be eliminated.
  • Acquiescing Instruction: you should remember one thing that every machine must have a certain capacity to bare load. Some heavy equipment are able to take certain loads, if it exceeds, accident can happened anytime. So, you should check out the capacity of heavy equipment before using it.
  • Signals and Signs: At construction sites high decibel noise and chaos are very common. So, it is impossible to hear each other’s word. But while using heavy machineries it is necessary to have good communication with other. So, there are set of signs and signals to communicate with other workers. Similarly there is warning signs to alert workers while working.
  • Wide berth: Every year many workers die on site, crushed by heavy equipment, struck by backhoes or pinned. So wide berth is needed for heavy equipment.
  • Double check: Double check is a good thing while working with heavy machines. You should double check your machine loads before lifting it; make sure it is not exceeding the limit.
  • Familiar partner: It is better to work with familiar people; it helps to understand each other’s signal easily which is very important at construction site.
  • Be observant: Crane operators and workers of load lift areas should be informed before operation start. Otherwise certain accident can occur anytime.

During Summer Give Your Machine the Coolant It Requires

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A construction site when it is in full swing is full of dust that forms a layer up to certain height. These dust particles enters the small pores which are left uncovered in the machine and when the dust gets accumulated in there, it causes problems to the machine. Therefore, there are various tools available which helps to take off the dust from the pores and keep the stuff working. Another major challenge which construction equipment has to experience is the scorching summer heat and on top of that, it is expected to work round the clock. This results in the machine becoming hot in no time and that eventually affects the life of the machine in a number of ways.

It is evident that we can’t do much about the summer heat but we can definitely fight it out to give more strength to our machine. There are number coolants available which if applied in the machine can help the engine to become cool faster and will thus help it to work for long hours. It will also prevent the equipment from getting shut every now and then which ideally happens when the engine becomes excessively hot and can’t take the heat anymore. Initially, not much mechanism was there to cool off the engine. However, the case is not the same any longer. The engineers of various heavy equipment manufacturing companies are producing machines where a set of coolants can be installed which will help the machine to cool off without interrupting the flow of the work.

We would also be discussing the various reasons why different coolants are required on heavy equipments.

To increase the life of the machine:-  Heavy equipments are highly priced items and it takes a good deal of money to buy a new branded equipment. Suppose, you have multiple projects in hand and for that you have allocated construction equipments accordingly at different locations. You would not want them to give up just because it does not have sufficient cooling systems in it. That would perhaps the last thing you would want to happen with your ongoing projects and that really hurts. Therefore, you might want to do everything possible to ensure that your equipment has the coolants to keep the engine buzzing and also that it continue to perform with the same intensity in the future.

Keep the atmosphere cool inside the cabin:-  Other than the engine, there is one more important place which always needs to remain cool and that is place in the cabin which is meant for the operator. Heat in the summer is killing and it can take its toll on the poor chap sitting inside the box operating the big gun. It is very important to ensure that there is proper cooling system installed inside the cabin which keeps the environment cool and workable. That will also lower the risk of accidents happening in the construction site.

A proper coolant can make life very simple both for the machine as well as for the one operating it.

Haulers – The Much Needed Machine in Construction Business

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Haulers – The Much Needed Machine in Construction Business

When you are in construction business, you need to have the best machines with you as it is only with the help of these machines that you can get the work done with less effort and thus also saves your time in doing something more productive. In this business, time is equal to money if not more than it and machines such as bulldozers, crawlers, haulers etc does everything to save time for you which eventually leads in making more money. These machines do the laborious work which otherwise takes good deal of time and thus they are considered to be the most reliable piece of moving metals in this industry. Out of the many machines needed in this sector, one machine that plays a pivotal role in moving big pieces of iron and other bulky items is the Truck Haulers.

We would be speaking about the features and different functions of the Haulers that make it an inseparable part of this business.

We first need to understand what are haulers and the role they play which makes them so important in the construction industry. A hauler is a pretty heavy machine/truck that is designed to transport heavy materials or equipment from one place to the other. When we talk about materials, it can by anything ranging from huge iron rods to debris and it has the ability to move all of them at one go. Some countries have this law where the companies indulged in construction work can load stuffs in a truck up to a specified limit, if it’s anything over the specified limit, they have to go in for another truck. This obviously cost them money and can be a time consuming process as well. In such a scenario, it’s very much viable to get a hauler and get the work done. Tons of material can be dumped into it at a single point in time and can move off to another place in no time.

Hauler is a long trailer which has got many wheels to provide stability and it is pulled by a tractor which is quite strong to pull the weight of the entire machine. You may often see a hauler carrying big heavy equipments, tanks, prefabricated houses and so on. The stuffs loaded in the hauler are tied tightly to both its ends so that it doesn’t move to the other side while the vehicle is moving and thus fall off on the road. At times, you may also find escort vehicles drive simultaneously with the machine. They are used to keep other vehicles away from it and thus avoid any sort of mishap.

Nowadays, haulers are also used by many shipping companies as they need to ferry heavy piece of metal blocks and other shipping items from one dock to the other. Transporting such items is virtually not feasible in a truck as it may just not fit inside it and eventually one has to look for a hauler to get that transited.

Haulers are required in almost all big sectors, right from construction, mining and shipping.

Grease Your Machine Regularly to Make It Work Better

The heavy equipment that work for you all day long are prone to frequent break downs if proper care is not taken. One should service the machine on regular basis thus increasing the life of the equipment. Maintaining the machine is of utter importance as it not only gives it some air to breathe but also ensures that it works uninterruptedly for a long time. Ignoring this can result in frequent problems like the machine may all of a sudden cease to work. This will lead to further complications like calling a mechanic to get it fixed and keeping your fingers crossed on the fact that it may take good number of days to get it back up and running. You may also be asked to replace a part with a new one. At times, those parts remain unavailable with the dealer and they have to order it directly from the company. This means that you are without your machine for some more days. The delay in getting the problem fixed is causing you to lose money which no business person would like to tolerate. The complications could be endless and one might not want to taste any of it. Hence, it is prudent to grease the heavy equipment at on daily regular intervals
Since we have spoken about the ill-effects of not servicing your machine regularly, we would now be diverting our attention on the right kind of grease one should be using on their machine.
Let us first understand what this grease is made up of. It is a mixture of oil, thickeners and addictives. So if you want to grease for the engine of the machine, you may go for synthetic oil. This oil is a bit expensive if compared with other varieties but has the ability to resist oxidation in tremendously hot environment and in extreme cold temperature, they can give better mobility in the automatic lubrication dispensing system of the engine. The synthetic oil is till now the best engine oil used by users.
Molybdenum disulfide:- Molybdenum disulfide is grease that has additives in it. It’s also known as “Molly”. EP greases has around 3 to 5% of Molly that is used for high pressure applications. It helps in filling the microscopic machining marks found on the bushing and the pin and reduces the friction of these two items in the machine particularly when it’s on with some heavy stressful stuff. Having said this, not all EP greases have Molly in it. Various types of EP greases can be used for lubricating the machine which is with or without Molybdenum disulfide.
Using Thickeners:- Applying grease without thickeners can soon leave the machine without any lubrication. Thickeners are used in grease which is applied in the joint or bearing of the equipment. Well this doesn’t implies that one should be using too much of thickener in the grease. In cold weather condition, the less the thickener is used in the grease, the better grease may pump. This is completely on the contrary in extreme hot temperature or for high temperature applications. The thickeners which are most commonly used are lithium. It also has a mixture of aluminum and calcium soaps but the proportion is far less.
This is how one can use different kind of grease for different applications. One may also take help of heavy equipment manuals to understand the kind of grease that would work better on the machine.