For many businesses a bucket truck is an essential piece of equipment. If your workers regularly need access to elevated areas then a bucket truck is a necessary part of your working plant. When your bucket truck breaks down it can result in lost income and frustration, so keeping your truck in tip top shape is a smart business practice. Here are some tips for ensuring that your bucket truck keeps on doing its job.
Regular Servicing
Having your bucket truck serviced regularly is essential to its continued operation. If you are lax in your servicing schedule then poor lubrication can cause unnecessary wear and tear, and small problems that can easily be fixed can be overlooked – resulting in them becoming much larger problems that can affect the reliability of the truck as well as being a safety risk. Also, make sure that you use an experienced mechanic for your servicing and repairs. An incompetent mechanic can end up costing you far more than you may save in their labor costs.
Keep Good Maintenance Records
Good record keeping will allow you to keep track of what has been done to the truck and what needs to be done in future. Without good records, some maintenance jobs may end up being forgotten, which can result in small maintenance jobs turning into large repair jobs and downtime.
Check That The Hydraulic Boom is in Good Working Order
The part of the bucket truck that you will rely on most at the worksite is the hydraulic boom. If this fails then it can result in injury to workers, damage to the work environment, and lost income due to downtime. Inspect the hydraulics regularly. Check for leaking seals, cracked hoses, cracks in the rams and cylinders, and low oil in the hydraulic reservoirs. Examine the boom framework to check for cracks, warpage, and general wear. Make sure that the bucket is a safe environment for your workers to work in.
Regular Lubrication
Make sure that any parts of the bucket truck that need to be greased have a good layer of grease on them at all times. Once metal starts working against metal, the metal parts can weld together and cause pitting.
Ensure The Tire Pressure is Correct and The Tires are in Good Shape
The stability of the bucket truck at the worksite and on the road is essential. Regularly check that the tire pressure is correct for all the tires and that the tires do not have excessive wear.
Make Sure The Stabilizers are Working Correctly
Regularly check the stabilizers to ensure that their hydraulics are working correctly, and that there is no metal fatigue, warpage, or excess play. If the stabilizers fail while the boom is up then the truck can potentially tip over.
Clean The Truck Regularly
Keeping the bucket truck clean will prevent grit from working its way into areas where it can cause abrasion and other problems. Grime on the metal parts of the truck may retain water, which will cause the metal surface to corrode. Lumps of mud and muck can also fly off while driving on the road, potentially causing an accident. Keeping the truck clean should be looked on as an investment, as it prevents issues which will affect the resale value of the truck.
So, keep your bucket truck properly maintained and check it over regularly. By giving it regular attention you ensure that it can keep on earning you money as well as keep you and your workers safe while using it.
