Happy new year! The start of a new year is a great time to begin afresh and make some resolutions, right? So, how about making one of those resolutions a promise to keep your fleet in tip top condition?
It’s important to clean your machinery regularly, especially used diggers. If you’ve been taking a break from regular cleaning over the colder period, we’ve got some great tips to get you back into the swing of it!
Benefits of regularly cleaning your used diggers
Aside from making your machinery look nice and shiny, there are many benefits of regular machine cleaning. One of the major pluses is that it helps reduce the need for additional maintenance. This is because removing the build up of dirt lessens the strain on fixed and moving parts. Thorough cleaning also helps to ensure there are no worn, loose or damaged parts. Nothing can be hidden or held on by layers of dirt and mud, helping to reduce unexpected maintenance costs. It’s especially important to take good care of your used diggers and other used construction machinery. Doing so will help to maintain the value of your machine.
Top tips for cleaning used construction machinery
Dismantle removable parts
It’s much easier to clean your machinery properly if you remove any detachable parts and clean them separately. Doing this will also reduce the amount of dirty splashes transferring to the rest of the machine. Which will help save time cleaning over the same parts again and again.
Start with the dirtiest part
It’s a good idea to work out which parts of your machine you’re going to clean first. Typically, the undercarriage will be the dirtiest part of your used diggers. Start there, then clean from top to bottom. This will help to reduce unnecessary rewashing of muddy splash marks.
Pay attention to the cab
The cab of a machine is often overlooked. However, everyone should be able to work in a clean environment, this is why it’s important to regularly clean the cab. Enclosed cabs especially can be a risk for harbouring bacteria. We recommend wiping down all hard surfaces and operator controls, cleaning floor mats and hoovering the cabs interior. You should make sure the windows are clean inside and out, helping to ensure operators can clearly see out of them.
Areas to look for
Make sure you look after moving component joints. These should be greased regularly and keeping them clean makes this easier. Keeping hydraulic lines clean is important for identifying potential leaks. Ensure you are cleaning the fuel tank caps well, as this will prevent contaminants getting into the fuel tank. Most importantly, ensure the engine bay is clean. If this is dirty. it causes your motor to get hotter and wear out quicker.
What equipment will you need?
The most beneficial piece of equipment to have when it comes to cleaning heavy machinery is a pressure washer. Using a pressure washer will allow you to blast away dirt and grease much quicker than scrubbing by hand. The high-pressure streams of water will also make it easier to reach tighter places such as hinges. You should also wear personal protective equipment, including hi-vis clothing, overalls, and protective footwear. Eye protection should also be worn, especially if using a pressure washer. This will prevent any dirt or debris flying into your eyes. You’ll also need some good quality cleaning products, including a degreasing solution and detergents, to effectively clean your machine. Water alone is not enough to completely remove grease and dirt from your ex-fleet machinery.
Ex-fleet machinery at International Plant Sales
If you’re looking to buy used diggers, look no further! At IPS we have a wide range of used diggers for sale, as well as other used construction machinery. All of our machinery is thoroughly cleaned before being sold, making that one less thing for you to worry about.
View all of our machines here, or jump straight to:
If you have any questions about any of our machines, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us on the phone at: +44 (0) 1634 779 123, via email: mail@ipsplant.com or by messaging us on WhatsApp.
Information correct as of 03/01/23
