• Cover hydraulic couplers with protection
Summer Protection
Although heavy-duty attachments are designed to be able to withstand much of the sun’ s damaging rays, they still need to be given proper consideration in order to work efficiently and to extend their lifetime.
Prepare for the summer extremes before the season begins. Schedule a diligent inspection and maintenance routine just before the first heat wave is forecast. Grease and other fluids lose some of their lubricating ability in the heat, which can lead to unnecessary wear and tear. This in turn can result in unplanned downtimes and loss of productivity. Stay on top of this problem by bulking up the grease fittings and topping off other fluid levels that the component might have. Summertime is more humid in some places and hot fluids attract water, so keeping fluid levels up will prevent water infiltration.
Due to natural expansion and contraction caused by weather changes, rubber seals, quickconnect fittings, attachment hinges and even nuts and screws can become loose, potentially leading to leaks, rattles and inefficient functionality. Check these regularly during the summer and tighten, repair or replace, as necessary.
Storage is also an important factor to consider. Attachments that are not in use should be sheltered away from direct sunlight.
This might involve putting them in a storage room or at least covering them with tarps, umbrellas or other shading devices. An attachment should never be left sitting out in the weather for days on end during the summertime.
Winter Care
Frigid winter weather brings its own set of challenges to attachment maintenance. Although intense heat can wreak havoc on these tools, extreme cold can be even more damaging. What can be done to keep attachments in top shape even in the most inclement of winter weather?
We know that adequate warm-up procedures are necessary for machinery, but they are just as important for attachments. Damage can occur if these procedures are not followed. Warm up the machine as usual to bring it up to working temperature. Do
this before operating the attachment. Then, with the engine at half throttle, activate the attachment for five seconds and stop for 15 seconds. Repeat this cycle for two or three minutes before starting work.
Rubber components are as subject to damage during the winter months as they are in summer. Cracks and tears are not uncommon during these months. Although damage cannot be prevented entirely, it is prudent to keep a supply of spare seals, rubber mounts, hoses and fittings on hand so they can be changed out quickly.
As mentioned previously, many attachments are designed specifically for cold-weather applications, and these advantages should be exploited. Frozen ground is much denser and more compacted than thawed ground and traditional methods of earthmoving just don’ t cut it when www. attachmentconnection. com ATTACHMENT CONNECTION 2025 / 7