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Your Equipment Inspection Guide

Nov. 17 2021 Maintenance By Gary's Power Equipment

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Anyone who owns a piece of heavy machinery needs to ensure that it’s always functioning correctly. The best way to do this is to perform regular inspections of the equipment. Taking a close look at your equipment means that you can catch small issues before they become expensive repairs. Inspections are simply part of being a responsible equipment owner. Here are our tips for how to check your equipment carefully to stay safe.

Review Your Owner’s Manual

First, you’ll want to look over the owner’s manual that came with your piece of equipment. The manufacturer of your equipment will have provided all sorts of useful information on how to maintain and inspect your machine to ensure its proper functioning. While our tips will prove broadly useful, it’s always good to know whether there are any particulars for your machine that you need to know about.

Perform Daily Checks

Doing daily inspections will help to ensure that you catch any maintenance issues before they become a big problem, especially while the equipment is in use. A quick daily inspection is generally required by OSHA as well. Anyone who uses the equipment likely needs to be involved in the daily checks, including operators, site managers and supervisors. 

Focus on Operator Safety

While it’s important that your piece of equipment is fuel-efficient, the most essential thing the equipment needs to be is safe. You never want to operate or allow anyone else to operate a machine that isn’t safe to use. Here are some essential safety checks to make:

  • Brake functionality.
  • All hitches and coupling devices.
  • Seat belts and door latches.
  • Parking brakes.
  • Safety devices.
  • Steering mechanism.

Go Down a List

Here is a more thorough list of things you’ll want to check when inspecting your piece of equipment. Just don’t forget to add anything that the manufacturer recommends in the owner’s manual for your specific machine.

  • Tires or Tracks: Check the pressure of all tires and air them up accordingly, if your machine has tires. Make sure that tracks are functional and connected, if your machine has tracks.
  • Engine: Check the fluids levels in your engine and inspect filters.
  • Fluid Leakage: Peer under your equipment to check for any pools of leaking fluids that need to be addressed.
  • Frame: Examine the entire frame of the machine to spot signs of structural damage.
  • Arms: Grease arms and ensure they work properly when the engine starts.
  • Attachments: Look at the attachments you’re planning to use that day to check for signs of rust, corrosion or malfunctioning.
  • Operator Tools: Check over the entire cab to ensure that it’s safe to enter and use, including the mirrors, steering wheel, handles, lights, the dashboard panel and switches.

Looking to buy some equipment? Visit our dealership in Winchester, NH, to check out our wide selection of new and used equipment for sale. We also offer financing options to help you with your purchase. Gary's Power Equipment serves our New Hampshire customers in the cities of Battleboro and Swanzey.