Operating a motor grader in your construction project? It must be very frequent that it gets malfunctioned all of a sudden.
This is quite frustrating for the construction contractors to manage the damages that appear abruptly. This may actually drain the blood out of your veins when you are in the middle of your project completion and your grader fails to complete the work.
However, the modern graders are more advanced and come with features that tell you about their condition before it appears. All you need to do is to understand what your grader is telling you about itself.Â
There are certain indications that help to understand what exactly going wrong in your grade. When you understand and attend to these indications, you will better be able to keep your equipment maintained and in top condition.Â
Pay attention to the strange sound coming from your grader
While operating a used motor grader, it is very often that it makes noises. But all the equipment operator must know and be aware of the noises. Any unusual change in the sound should be spotted right away.Â
It’s obvious that something is wrong if you hear strange noises while using your motor grader, such grinding, knocking, or screeching.Â
These sounds may be a sign of worn-out parts, transmission troubles, or engine problems. Severe damage and operational failures can be avoided by promptly addressing these auditory warnings.
Avoiding and neglecting these noises can lead to the sever damage to the grader and make them more difficult and expensive to repair. A regular maintenance and inspection will give you an extra edge to stay at the safe side. You can detect the error earlier than it may happen.Â
When you find leaks in fluids
Leaking fluid from the equipment is a clear indication of a malfunction going to happen in your grader.Â
You must be mindful enough to know that finding fluid under your equipment is a major worry.Â
Coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid, or hydraulic oil leaks can cause equipment damage and reduce performance. Maintaining optimal performance requires routine leak inspections.
All the liquid and fluids in your equipment are in a separate compartment that must stay in its place.Â
When they mix together, they create issues in the equipment. The mixing happens due to the leakage of the compartment hence you need to be aware of the leakage in the tanks as well. As soon as you find the leakage in the tank, make sure to immediately fix it right away.
When performance and efficiency decrease
The performance and the efficiency of the grader are something that must be under consideration by the operator. When the performance and the efficiency are lowered, an experienced operator can immediately identify them and know how to fix them.Â
If you are unaware of the procedure to fix the issue, you should get assistance from the expert mechanic or take your grader to the service centre.
Addressing these problems right away will help you avoid further deterioration and expensive downtime.Â
Look at the warning lights and alertsÂ
Modern motor graders have diagnostic systems that show warning lights or alerts when problems occur.Â
These indicators should never be disregarded in road construction motor graders because they provide early detection of issues ranging from engine problems to hydraulic failures, and paying immediate attention to these warnings can prevent more serious malfunctions.
When there is abnormal smoke coming out
Exhaust smoke’s hue and consistency can tell you a lot about the condition of your engine. A lot of black, blue, or white smoke indicates issues such as coolant leakage, oil leaks into the combustion chamber, or incomplete combustion.Â
To prevent engine damage, these issues need to be diagnosed and fixed quickly.
How can you keep your grader safe from the sudden malfunction?
Consider using the following maintenance procedures to keep your motor grader in optimal condition and avoid the problems listed above:
Daily Inspections
To find any obvious problems like leaks, tire damage, or loose parts, do comprehensive walk-around inspections both before and after the operation.
Frequent Fluid Checks
Keep an eye on and maintain the right amounts of coolant, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and engine oil.Â
Testing engine oil on a regular basis, at least every 250 hours, can reveal information about the engine’s health and aid in the early detection of possible problems.
Lubrication
To minimize wear and avoid mechanical failures, make sure all moving parts, especially grease points, are properly lubricated. Proper lubrication of components such as front attachments, moldboard, and lift cylinders is crucial for smooth operation.
Track Tyre Condition
To guarantee stability and safety when driving, check the tread and tire pressure on a regular basis. Improved performance and fuel efficiency are two benefits of proper tire care.
Scheduled Maintenance
Comply with the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance plan, which should include component inspections, system diagnostics, and filter replacements.Â
Frequent maintenance increases the equipment’s lifespan and aids in the early detection of possible problems.
Endnote
You can make sure your motor grader stays dependable, effective, and safe by keeping an eye out for these warning indicators and making a commitment to a proactive maintenance schedule.Â
This will ultimately prolong its service life and increase productivity on the job site.
