Cat® mini hydraulic excavators are reliable workhorses that are a mainstay in construction, landscaping, agriculture and other job sites in Indiana and Michigan. If a Cat mini excavator is part of your fleet, being vigilant about maintenance is the best thing you can do to protect your investment. Even an experienced heavy machinery operator can get careless and make mistakes that have expensive consequences. Taking a few extra minutes to complete a pre-start checklist is time well-spent.
What Should Be on my Checklist?
Preventative maintenance and inspections should be a daily concern. Before you even start up your machine, there are important things to look for that can help avoid unanticipated downtime and expenses in the future.
In this video, we outline a typical pre-start checklist for a mini excavator or similar machine:
Video Transcription
Hey, I’m Colin and this is today’s Quick Tip.
Today I’m going to show you the steps you should take before starting your Cat Mini Hydraulic Excavator.
First, you should always conduct a machine walkaround.
Make sure that the tracks are free of large debris which could damage the machine.
When you enter, face the machine, and use 3 points of contact while climbing on board.
Once seated, and before starting the excavator, adjust the seat and armrests to your desired position.
Always fasten your seatbelt.
Make sure that the hydraulic control console is in the raised position and that the blade control lever and joysticks are in the neutral position.
Before starting the machine, check your surroundings to ensure that no one is in your work area.
Then set the engine speed control to medium idle position.
Now you are ready to start the engine.
As always, consult your operation and maintenance manual for more information.
That was today’s Quick Tip, thanks for watching.
Service Expertise
Ultimately, keeping any machine working its best requires an ongoing partnership between its operator, the fleet manager and the dealership that provides the service expertise. That’s where MacAllister Machinery comes in. Our service capabilities include factory-authorized support and exclusive diagnostic tools that are only available to us as a Cat dealer.
A pre-start inspection is an important first line of defense against damage to your machine. But there’s only so much it can tell you. To go deeper takes sophisticated tools. Let MacAllister Machinery put together a preventative maintenance package for you that takes advantage of the latest diagnostic technology, including:
- The Cat Scheduled Oil Sampling (S.O.S.) fluid analysis protocol, an exclusive system that measures and monitors the presence of trace metals in your equipment’s fluids to accurately estimate the condition and remaining life of wearable components.
- The Cat Product Link™ remote monitoring system, which transmits key machine utilization, location and health data directly to our service department, so we can identify broader asset management trends that cost you money.
MacAllister Machinery Keeps Your Equipment Running Smoothly
Ultimately, every fleet has different needs and different internal capabilities. We’ll work with you to provide a combination of services, products and training that helps your hydraulic excavators and other key equipment stay running their best.
Get in touch with a representative near you to learn more about our full service and support capabilities. Submit a form online or visit our Locations page for contact information.