O for Operator
A good operator can increase the life of a machine by 50%, Comrie calculates. In addition to prolonging the life of the machine, a good operator will deliver better performance and higher production.
Conversely, an inexperienced operator can do a lot of damage by abusing the machines. “Tight circles and driving back and forth too much can abuse the drive line,” elaborates Comrie. “You need good coordination to operate a skid-steer because you’re moving a small machine quickly. An operator needs to be better [in a skid-steer] than with a compact wheel loader, which is easier to operate because it has a steering wheel.” Learning not to spin around in a skid-steer will save the undercarriage as well as tires and fuel.
O for Operator A good operator can increase the life of a machine by 50%, Comrie calculates. In addition to prolonging the life of the machine, a good operator will deliver better performance and higher production. Conversely, an inexperienced operator can do a lot of damage by abusing the machines. “Tight circles and driving back and forth too much can abuse the drive line,” elaborates Comrie. “You need good coordination to operate a skid-steer because you’re moving a small machine quickly. An operator needs to be better [in a skid-steer] than with a compact wheel loader, which is easier to operate because it has a steering wheel.” Learning not to spin around in a skid-steer will save the undercarriage as well as tires and fuel. [text_ad] “Rubber is expensive,” says Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager for skid-steers and CTLs with John Deere Construction Equipment. “If the operator is aggressive, spinning on hard surfaces, it increases wear and uses up tires and tracks.” He says a good operator can get 1,200 hours out of tires; some get 200 hours. For a little perspective, Mike Fitzgerald, product specialist for Bobcat Co., estimates that repairing a flat tire on a skid-steer costs $15 for one plug, and up to $200–300 for two unproductive workers on the job site. A similar bad habit is turning the whole cab around and driving in reverse. “It’s easier to pull back on the levers and with your feet,” explains Comrie, “but it puts more wear on the drive motors when people turn the whole machine around.” Because of the ability of compact equipment to maneuver in tight places, operators must always be conscious of their surroundings. “Operators must constantly be aware of where the skid-steer loader is operating, how it is operating, and its proximity to existing infrastructure, landscaping, or other jobsite objects during operation,” says Jonathan Ferguson, regional sales manager for Terex Construction Americas. It is crucial for the operator to have good visibility of the entire job site at all times, which means operating with the loader arms low to the ground whenever possible. When it’s necessary to work with the loader arms raised, operators should maintain a good line of sight to the attachment as well as all obstacles in near proximity. It’s also critical for operators to ensure that bystanders are clear. “Unintentional contact, even the slightest bump, with objects in the loader’s work zone can result in potential structural damage, like cracks or dents, which could inhibit the machine’s future performance and productivity.” Operators should be familiar with the existing landscaping and infrastructure. They need to know how much area the loader needs to operate when equipped with an attachment. “For example,” continues Ferguson, “when an operator is using a snow blower or a mulcher attachment, it’s critical to know where the discharged material will go. Or when the loader is equipped with tree-moving equipment, an operator needs to account for the height of the tree in relation to the attachment when working in the vicinity of power lines, buildings, other infrastructure, and existing landscaping.” Due to recent advances in engine emissions technology, there are several areas where an operator can affect uptime and machine performance. One simple action is to use the proper low sulfur diesel fuel. “Gone are the days of using whatever diesel fuel is available,” says Johnny Martinez, product specialist for Takeuchi US. “It is critical with today’s high-pressure common rail injection systems that owners, operators, and mechanics are maintaining a clean fuel supply. It won’t take long before the fuel system becomes contaminated and the machine is down for very costly, profit-robbing repairs.” When refueling a Tier 4 engine, fuel quality can affect the performance of a skid-steer loader. Ultra low sulfur fuel is required. Dirty fuel does not burn as clean and can plug fuel injection nozzles, as well as the DPFs [diesel particulate filters], more quickly, potentially increasing operational costs and losing productivity due to down time. Ferguson says, “Because Tier 4 engines burn cleaner and can run hotter, operators and equipment owners need to be more knowledgeable about fuel and oil selection to prevent downtime issues.” Similarly, continuous idling can have an equally harmful effect on machine uptime. Martinez explains that emissions after-treatment on the TB290 is achieved using a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter, and they require the engine to be operated under high enough load to generate exhaust temperatures that will burn off particulate matter (soot) in the DPF. “If the machine is often left idling, the proper temperature cannot be reached, causing the DPF to become clogged with soot.” If the operator ignores alerts and warnings to perform a parked regeneration or continuously interrupts this process, the DPF will eventually become clogged and require professional cleaning or replacement of the DPF filter. Knowledge and training about the new technology and processes that must be followed are crucial to ensure operators maximize productivity and reduce downtime. “Equipment distributors will train you on using an attachment for the first time,” declares Ferguson. “It is important to know how to operate an attachment in forward and reverse, as well as how to use the float function.”
“Rubber is expensive,” says Gregg Zupancic, product marketing manager for skid-steers and CTLs with John Deere Construction Equipment. “If the operator is aggressive, spinning on hard surfaces, it increases wear and uses up tires and tracks.” He says a good operator can get 1,200 hours out of tires; some get 200 hours.
For a little perspective, Mike Fitzgerald, product specialist for Bobcat Co., estimates that repairing a flat tire on a skid-steer costs $15 for one plug, and up to $200–300 for two unproductive workers on the job site.
A similar bad habit is turning the whole cab around and driving in reverse. “It’s easier to pull back on the levers and with your feet,” explains Comrie, “but it puts more wear on the drive motors when people turn the whole machine around.”
Because of the ability of compact equipment to maneuver in tight places, operators must always be conscious of their surroundings. “Operators must constantly be aware of where the skid-steer loader is operating, how it is operating, and its proximity to existing infrastructure, landscaping, or other jobsite objects during operation,” says Jonathan Ferguson, regional sales manager for Terex Construction Americas.
It is crucial for the operator to have good visibility of the entire job site at all times, which means operating with the loader arms low to the ground whenever possible. When it’s necessary to work with the loader arms raised, operators should maintain a good line of sight to the attachment as well as all obstacles in near proximity. It’s also critical for operators to ensure that bystanders are clear. “Unintentional contact, even the slightest bump, with objects in the loader’s work zone can result in potential structural damage, like cracks or dents, which could inhibit the machine’s future performance and productivity.”
Operators should be familiar with the existing landscaping and infrastructure. They need to know how much area the loader needs to operate when equipped with an attachment. “For example,” continues Ferguson, “when an operator is using a snow blower or a mulcher attachment, it’s critical to know where the discharged material will go. Or when the loader is equipped with tree-moving equipment, an operator needs to account for the height of the tree in relation to the attachment when working in the vicinity of power lines, buildings, other infrastructure, and existing landscaping.”
Due to recent advances in engine emissions technology, there are several areas where an operator can affect uptime and machine performance. One simple action is to use the proper low sulfur diesel fuel. “Gone are the days of using whatever diesel fuel is available,” says Johnny Martinez, product specialist for Takeuchi US. “It is critical with today’s high-pressure common rail injection systems that owners, operators, and mechanics are maintaining a clean fuel supply. It won’t take long before the fuel system becomes contaminated and the machine is down for very costly, profit-robbing repairs.”
When refueling a Tier 4 engine, fuel quality can affect the performance of a skid-steer loader. Ultra low sulfur fuel is required. Dirty fuel does not burn as clean and can plug fuel injection nozzles, as well as the DPFs [diesel particulate filters], more quickly, potentially increasing operational costs and losing productivity due to down time. Ferguson says, “Because Tier 4 engines burn cleaner and can run hotter, operators and equipment owners need to be more knowledgeable about fuel and oil selection to prevent downtime issues.”
Similarly, continuous idling can have an equally harmful effect on machine uptime. Martinez explains that emissions after-treatment on the TB290 is achieved using a diesel oxidation catalyst and diesel particulate filter, and they require the engine to be operated under high enough load to generate exhaust temperatures that will burn off particulate matter (soot) in the DPF. “If the machine is often left idling, the proper temperature cannot be reached, causing the DPF to become clogged with soot.” If the operator ignores alerts and warnings to perform a parked regeneration or continuously interrupts this process, the DPF will eventually become clogged and require professional cleaning or replacement of the DPF filter.
Knowledge and training about the new technology and processes that must be followed are crucial to ensure operators maximize productivity and reduce downtime. “Equipment distributors will train you on using an attachment for the first time,” declares Ferguson. “It is important to know how to operate an attachment in forward and reverse, as well as how to use the float function.”
