The Top 4 Reasons That Heavy Equipment Breaks Down

Heavy equipment parts are pretty durable -- they need to be to handle such high stress jobs. But that doesn't mean that they cannot be broken. The average piece of construction equipment has a lifespan of about 15 years, but there are no guarantees regarding how long they will actually last. Depending on the work conditions, the lifespan could be much shorter. And, in many cases, human error is responsible for equipment components breaking and wearing down.

To get the most out of your heavy equipment, here are the top four most common causes of heavy equipment parts breaking:

1. Bad or incomplete training
Heavy equipment breaks all the time due to poor training or simply not reading the instructions manual. Before operating a piece of equipment, a worker needs to be trained on its use, even if they have used similar machines in the past. Carelessness and lack of common sense is often the culprit here. Even if a piece of equipment looks similar and functions similarly to another, the proper training is still necessary.

2. Skipping service visits
Heavy equipment servicing is extremely important and needs to be conducted regularly. Just as a vehicle must be inspected every year to stay on the road, construction equipment should be checked regularly for preventative maintenance. Oil chains, gearboxes, and belts should be checked and replaced at the first signs of wear. While some wear is to be expected, serious wear should be addressed before the problem becomes worse and the entire construction vehicle breaks down. Luckily, it's easy to find used Komatsu parts and Caterpillar parts.

3. Pushing too hard. Exceeding maximum performance limits can take a toll on construction equipment. A piece of equipment should never run at its full capacity, and especially not for an extended period of time. Putting this amount of stress on a piece of equipment can really wear it down, causing breakdowns both immediately and even down the road.

4. Improper storage
Improper storage is another big one. Especially in areas that experience inclement weather, equipment cannot be expected to stay out all winter and work properly come spring. Rust and corrosion can occur because of exposure to rain and snow, and even extreme dryness can have negative effects on equipment performance as well. In addition to poor storage, operating equipment in extreme weather can also be bad for the equipment. Running equipment in wet or muddy weather can clog up the machinery easily and put strain on just about every component. 

In the case of a breakdown, Long Island Heavy Equipment Parts has you covered with both new and used CAT parts as well as equipment from other manufacturers, including Komatsu. If you're having a problem with your equipment parts, send us a message and include a photograph so we can help you identify the problem and potential solutions.