It’s hard to imagine a building jobsite without lifting equipment. But that’s not just about making the job easier for construction workers; it’s also about making those workers exponentially more productive.
With its ability to deliver the lifting power necessary to move heavy material loads to elevated heights, the telescopic handler is a perfect example. At the same time, like all machines, to operate efficiently and safely, a telehandler needs regular servicing.
“It’s critical to maintain your telehandler,” Tim Palosaari, product manager at Pettibone/Traverse Lift LLC, said. “To ensure the machine will operate safely and efficiently, and to keep costs down, equipment owners should have service technicians follow OEM recommended service intervals and make sure operators perform daily pre-operation checks.”
The typical user’s manual for a telehandler outlines comprehensive lists and instructions for routine maintenance, safety and trouble-shooting, Palosaari related. Simple daily procedures like checking engine oil, transmission fluid, air filters and keeping the machine greased greatly help ensure its safety, longevity and avoid more serious and costly repairs, he noted.
Palosaari said that the boom should be lubricated every 30 hours or every week. “There are several grease points for the boom, all of which should be greased to prevent friction that can wear out pads more quickly,” he explained. “Without adequate grease, the boom gear can become sticky or noisy and the load may not move efficiently.
“Everyone who operates a telehandler needs to be trained to do visual inspections before starting work,” Palosaari continued. “Be alert to leaks, rust, damage, fluid levels, safety guards, secure clamps and anything else that doesn’t appear to look right. Tires should be inflated to the proper PSI and inspected for damage.”
Palosaari also advised that even something like filling the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank – for telehandler models with enough engine horsepower to require it – can easily be overlooked by the user. “Make sure to keep the DEF tank filled because without it, the machine can shut down, and a service tech will need to be called in to reflash the ECU,” he said. “Jobsite delays like that can be very costly.”
In addition to daily checks, other recommendations from Palosaari included that simple visual inspections between jobs can ensure proper and safe operation. For example, make sure the wear pads are in the correct spec to ensure smooth boom travel and check hydraulic hoses for leaks.
Telematics
Like it has within many equipment categories, telematics has emerged as a key technology for telehandlers.
“This has been an important development for monitoring anything service- and safety-related on the machine,” Palosaari said. “Equipment owners can use readily available data to address immediate safety concerns and assess daily or long-term maintenance needs.
“By connecting to the engine control module (ECM), it’s possible to pull up almost any type of engine data,” Palosaari continued. “The amount of information generated can be overwhelming, but it’s also simple for different users to focus on only the data points they deem necessary and take advantage of that knowledge as they see fit.
“With real-time access to the status of a telehandler, many potential issues can be caught and avoided before they can become serious safety or operational issues,” Palosaari explained further. “Maintenance alerts can cover anything from notifying you that it’s time for a 2,000-hour inspection, to checking battery voltage, to remotely diagnosing an engine error code.”
Certain issues can be remotely troubleshooted using the telematics dashboard on a computer or smartphone app, Palosaari related. “This is particularly helpful when a telehandler is on a remote jobsite,” he said. “Instead of needing a service technician to drive out to check on an unknown issue, the problem can potentially be diagnosed and solved with a few taps on a screen.
“In other situations, an equipment problem may require an on-site service call, but the field technicians responding will have more information about the problem,” Palosaari added. “In fact, depending on the affected components, telematics can even let you know the exact part number that needs replacing. That way, technicians will already have the necessary replacement parts and tools before traveling to make the repair, which saves a lot of time and frustration.”
Designed for Safety
The key for telehandler manufacturers is making maintenance easier to complete. Telehandler designs that promote easy service access are naturally better suited to being attended to regularly. Additionally, Palosaari noted that those types of designs can serve a dual purpose in enhancing user safety.
For example, telehandlers with a side-mounted engine compartment offer better accessibility for daily service checks. The best-designed machines will situate the side-mounted engine in such a way as to allow increased curbside visibility as well, making it a safety feature as much as a service one.
In addition, a telehandler boom with a bottom-mounted external extended cylinder location provides easier service access to internal boom components. “Certain designs can help significantly reduce the load on wear pads, so they don’t have to be changed as often,” Palosaari said. “Telehandlers with wear pads that don’t require fasteners provide another advantage toward simplified service.”
Certain jobsites are more likely to experience dirty or dusty conditions that dictate cleaning equipment from time to time as well. According to Palosaari, if the telehandler cab features an all-steel dash, then all that’s needed is to simply pressure wash any mud or dirt out of the interior without fear of damaging cab components.
The Bottom Line
Most contractors are very cognizant of the money that stands to be lost, and the safety risks posed, when a telehandler isn’t properly maintained, Palosaari related.
“Do the little things on a routine basis, and your maintenance program will go a long way for both uptime on individual projects and for your overall equipment longevity,” Palosaari said. “Effective maintenance maximizes your investment and helps ensure a safer work environment at all times.”
Lift & Access is part of the Catalyst Communications Network publication family.
