How to Perform Inspections on Your Road Rollers
Road rollers remain one of the most iconic pieces of equipment in the construction industry and if you work in construction then you know how they work. But do you know everything about them to keep them safe and working?
This road roller inspection guide will help with performing regular inspections on your machine to guarantee its safety, performance, and longevity. In addition to helping you by identifying issues early on to prevent a costly mechanic bill, recording your inspection will help if you decide to sell your machinery.
Daily Inspections Checklist for Road Rollers
Here are some simple things you can do every day to inspect your machines for damages and problems.
Visual Inspection
Performing visual examinations on your road roller can help you find small issues before they cause issues on your job site. Some things to make sure you look for include dents, proper lubrication on all moving sections of the road roller, or flat spots, specifically on the drum.
Conducting daily visual checks helps to ensure that the overall condition of your road roller is maintained. By finding leaks, excessive buildup, or cracks on your road roller, you'll be able to prevent any working delays.
Hydraulic System
Ensuring your hydraulic system is functioning and maintained is vital to protecting your investment. Checking hydraulic hoses and their connections for signs of damage or leaks will help increase performance on the job site. Leaks within the hydraulic system can impact the performance of the roller and may indicate problems that require immediate attention.
When inspecting construction equipment if there is a leak or uneven fluid levels, make sure you consult your manual before taking action. Each company will have different steps for road roller maintenance depending on the make, model, and condition of your machine.
Breaking System
Break tests are one of the most crucial checks when performing the daily inspection of your construction equipment. Performing both types of breaking tests is important during a daily inspection. The two types of brake tests are parking brake and service brake tests.
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Parking brake tests will tell you if your brake is functioning properly and will prevent your roller from moving when parked. Service brake tests are performed to test the effectiveness and performance of the road roller's primary brake system. This braking system works during its operation to slow down or stop the roller when it's in use. For detailed steps to perform breaking system tests, we recommend you consult your manual.
Steering System
A road roller steering system is another crucial system to check when performing daily inspections of your construction equipment when considering the safety of your site. One of the best ways to check your steering system is to turn the steering wheel in all possible directions.
Pay attention to any noises, excessive play, or looseness in the steering wheel movement. Any variability can be a result of a faulty steering system and you should reach out to a professional for further actions.
Tires System
It's important that if your machine has pneumatic tire rollers you're checking the release agent tank level and ensuring that the water pump spray system is functioning correctly. If the water pump system is not working properly, then there will be pick-up on the drums and the tires. This will cause uneven and cracked surfaces.
Ensure that you are checking that your tires are in the right range for pressure. Overinflated tires will result in a decrease in traction and make your machine more prone to damage. Underinflated tires can cause too much friction on the surface you are working on and result in tire failure.
Weekly Inspection Checklist for Road Rollers
Beyond daily checks, there are also things you should do weekly to ensure your machine is in top shape.
Engine Compartment
Engines remain a vital aspect of any construction equipment. Checking it during your weekly inspection is key when performing preventative maintenance. Specifically, looking at the engine's oil levels and topping off when needed. Keeping oil levels at an appropriate level helps increase the longevity of your machines.
Checking and cleaning the air filters of your engine compartment goes hand in hand with inspecting engine belts. If there is built-up dirt, clean air won't be able to flow through the filter to the engine. The lack of clean airflow can create build-up on the engine, resulting in ignition problems.
Electrical System
Your electrical system should also be checked every week to make sure all lights, indicators, and other electrical components, are in working condition. By keeping your battery clean and its connections tight, you can ensure a consistent connection and even distribution across surfaces.
Vibration System
The simplest way to check on your machine's vibration system is to pay attention to any abnormal sounds or vibrations. A well-maintained road roller leaves the surface evenly rolled with no ridge lines or bumps. If the vibration system is leaving the surface uneven, bumpy, or sticky then you should inspect the eccentric shaft, bearings, and seals for signs of wear or damage.
Some signs of damage include bent or misaligned shafts that cause uneven surfaces because it can negatively impact the roller's balance. Damaged or worn down bearings can result in bumps or abnormal noises as bearings are essential for smooth rotation. Keep an eye out for signs of rust, pitting, overheating, or leaking of lubricants.
Monthly and Long-Term Inspection Checklist for Road Rollers
The last level of inspections are things that you should be checking monthly. If you're doing weekly and daily checks properly, none of these should become major issues.
Lubrication
Greasing all required or suggestion points according to your manual's recommendations is a safety check that doesn't need to occur daily. Proper lubrication on bearings, gears, and other moving parts will help you ensure machine longevity.
If you leave your drum dirty or incorrectly lubricated you will find imperfections on the surface. A lack of lubrication for your machine could also mean long-term damage to your asphalt roller due to excessive vibrations.
Fuel System
Replacing your road roller's fuel filter as recommended by the manufacturer should generally happen every month. Each company has different timelines for its fuel systems and maintenance. Almost all manuals will tell you to inspect fuel tanks, lines, and connections to increase machine life expectancy.
Depending on the issue with your fuel system and its severity, replacements for sections or the entire fuel system. It's strongly suggested you consult the operator and maintenance manuals before taking action.
Cooling System
When performing inspection on your cooling system it's important to observe the color and clarity of the coolant. The coolant should appear clean and free from debris or discoloration. If the coolant appears dirty, or discolored, it may indicate the need for a coolant flush or system.
Checking hoses and connections for signs of wear or leaks is essential because these types of leaks can cause damage. Coolant leaks can result carrying levels of damage to your engine, including overheating and many more.
Record-Keeping and Preventative Maintenace
Beyond the daily inspections, it's crucial to document your checks with record-keeping and accurate documents. This will help you with any future decisions regarding your machine.
Maintain Accurate Records
Keeping consistent and accurate when keeping records of your machine's maintenance can help when selling or trading in your road roller. This demonstrates compliance with legal rules and regulations regarding construction equipment and clear machine history. These records should contain inspections, maintenance tasks, and all repairs performed on the road roller.
Schedule Preventative Maintenance
Following the manual's recommendations for routine maintenance is the key to optimal performance. Although there are many similarities when it comes to road rollers, each manufacturer will have different recommendations regarding its maintenance. What works for one model, may not work for another.
Performing regular inspections on road rollers helps to ensure safe and efficient operation on your job site. Conducting preventative maintenance and keeping a record of it helps to maximize your road roller's lifespan. Keeping your machinery operating efficiently helps guarantee fewer delays and minimizes downtime.
While we strongly encourage you to consult your manufactures guidelines for specific inspections and maintenance requirements, checking out this guide and creating checklists is a good place to start. Road roller inspection checklists can help you in performing consistent inspections on your machine to guarantee its safety, performance, and longevity.
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