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The user of the mini excavator will experience a variety of issues and malfunctions as a result of wear. Some include due to poor working environment, inadequate maintenance, and improper operation. These faults are initially minor issues that do not affect the excavators as long as they are discovered and addressed promptly.
However, major mechanical accidents will occur if they continue to use it despite these minor flaws. Therefore, we have discussed expert excavator maintenance techniques today.
9 Common Problems of Compact Excavators:
As the construction business grows, we see a lot of equipment coming up. Nowadays, there has been a trend to use mini excavators to improve efficiency. If you’re wondering how efficient a mini excavator is, it provides you with a versatile application. You can dig wrenches, build a foundation, and even demolish an old building.
However, everything has some positives and negatives. Therefore you will come across some problems while using an excavator. For such instances, we have here to help you! In this blog, you will explore how to use HIXEN brand mini excavators without having problems.
Most of these problems indeed require a little time to resolve. So stop stressing yourself and read the most common excavator problems below to understand how you can solve them:
1. Hydraulic Leaks:
One of the common problems found in compact excavators is a hydraulic leak. This issue is when you have a wire or tear in the seals or your gaskets. You can fix this problem easily. However, there are certain measures that you should keep in mind.
Follow the steps below to understand how you can replace hydraulic seals in any mini excavator:
- First, get your hands on the old seals and remove them. For this procedure, you must make sure you are using a seal removal tool. It is easier to find this tool in any local hardware store.
- Before starting the war, you must ensure that the area around the seal is clean. Why is this important? You do not want your seal to have any kind of contamination.
- Once everything is set up, your next goal is to install the new seals. For this method, you also need a Specific installation tool.
- Now that you’re done with the installation, your ultimate goal is to test the seals. For this approach, you must pressurize the system and check for leaks. If there exists any leak, you need to make sure that the adjustments are made until any leakage is stopped.
2. The trouble with the Engine:
Engines wear off when they reach a certain time limit. Therefore, you may often come across such problems. The most common reason for engine troubles is the fuel being dirty. You can easily fix this problem. All you need is to change the fuel system and clean it. Follow the steps below to understand how this procedure is done:
- Look for the access panel on your excavator and open it. This leads to the fuel system. The most common place for this access panel is the side of your Engine. You may find it near the bottom.
- Before you move towards cleaning the system, remove any fuel present in the system. You need to disconnect the fuel line from the fuel filter. Make sure you place a drain panel. It will catch all the fuel that spills out.
- Now you need to attach a new fuel filter. Make sure it is well seated.
Once everything is set up, reconnect the fuel line. Make sure you’re closing the access panel properly. Start the Engine.
- Let the Engine begin to run for a few minutes to ensure your filter is working properly.
- Before you move toward the end of the procedure, check the Engine for any leaks by shutting it down and letting it sit.
3. Unstable Tracks:
The main reason for this would be the tensioner. We must understand that the tensioners serve to keep your tracks against the wheels.
If your mini excavator drags have become loose by over-functioning, there is a solution. Try to add more grease to remove the tension on the tracks. Follow the steps below to learn how:
- Before moving on to any procedure, ensure your mini-excavator part is on a level surface. Set your parking brake.
- Take a rock and place it under the tracks. This way, you will prevent your excavator from rolling.
- Now we need to locate the grease fittings on your tracks. This way, you can adjust the tension on your tracks on the bottom of the machine. Make sure you’re looking for two separate breed sittings on each side.
- Once you locate the grease cap, please remove it from one of the fittings and insert your grease gun to fill it. Ensure you’re pumping the handle until the grease comes out of the other fitting. It helps you to equalize the pressure along the sides of the track.
- Now you need to insert your screwdriver into the attention adjustment screw. Yeah. You can find this on the side of the track. Move your screwdriver in a clockwise motion. It will help you to remove the tension, but make sure you’re not making it too tight.
- This procedure is repeated on all sides of the tracks.
The procedure is the same if you have a mini excavator with steel tracks.
4. Broken boom:
The most common reason for your boom breakage is metal fatigue. If you concentrate and flex your metal, it is likely to cause fatigue to the metal.
Ensure you follow the procedure below to acquire some knowledge and use efficient methods to replace your boom. Do not hesitate while remove it. It’s an easy procedure.
- The initial step is for you to remove the broken bone. Remove the bowls that keep the boom in its place.
- You can install the new boom simply by processing it in the same manner as the old one. However, make sure you choose a different position for the recent boom. This way, it aligns better with the bolting players.
- Once you are done with the installation, make sure you are verifying and analyzing the work. Do not neglect any procedure. It would help if you kept using and maintaining the machine to avoid future problems.
5. Damaged Bucket:
Mini excavator problems are quite common with broken compact excavator buckets. Moreover, the bucket is an essential part of the excavator that tells you to scoop up dirt, sand, or other materials. If such important don’t break, it becomes difficult to use the excavator.
However, the best relief is knowing that it is easy to replace a broken bucket in the mini excavator.
Follow the steps below to understand how you can remove the bucket on the excavator:
- Make sure you have your compact excavator parked on level ground. Disconnect your battery.
- Using your mini excavator, raise the bucket of the highest point. You need to find the coupler pins and remove them. The most common position to discover it is on the side of the buckets.
- Locate the two bowls that are securing your bucket in position. Remove them carefully.
- Locate the four pools that are keeping your bucket connected to the boom. The most common sport to find is 4 bolts at the bottom of your bucket.
- After removing everything, you must install the new bucket on the excavator.
- However, make sure you’re securing everything in its place.
- Once you have connected everything, you should raise the bucket again at the higher point and put the quick coupler pins.
- Everything is set up. You need to check the excavator by turning the Engine on and putting the battery back in its place.
6. Swing Motor damaged:
Metal fatigue can cause several problems for your compact excavator. The swinging motor breakage is one of them. You can fix this problem by replacing your swing motor. So that. Follow these steps below to return your swing motor without any trouble:
- Disconnect your hydraulic lines that attach to the motor.
- Moreover, ensure the bolts that hold your Engine in place are removed properly.
- After removing the bolts, you can install the new motor and attach the hydraulic lines again.
- That’s all with the procedure. However, ensure you are checking the proper working of the swing motor before putting it in its full form.
7. Hydraulic Pump Broken:
You’re likely to come across a time when your machinery gets broken. Therefore, there is no harmful reason for your hydraulic pump to be broken.
You can change the hydraulic pump. Follow the steps below:
- Like any other procedure, you need to initially disconnect them, Brad Tree, and all electrical power resources. It would help if you ensured there is no electrocution in the system.
- For the next part, you must remove the access panel from the hydraulic pump. It provides you with access to the internal components present in the pump.
- Remove the old pump when you have access to the pump. Make sure you have all the connections secured before you put the power on.
- The most common step in all procedures is to ensure you are testing the operating practices of the excavator.
8. Hydraulic Cylinder Broken:
You can use similar practices for your hydraulic cylinder broken cases as any basic mechanical skills. However, get your hands on the basic mechanical skills to develop a practice and fairly follow the procedures. It will help you to remove any problem related to the excavator’s hydraulic cylinder breakage. When you use an excavator occasionally, you are likely to encounter issues that cause metal fatigue.
9. Electrical Problems:
The most common reason for any electrical problem is with your system’s wiring. It is quite complicated to resolve any wiring case of excavated problems. Therefore, we suggest you leave this work to the professionals.
Why Do These Common Problems Occur?
A construction project can suffer from downtime because it frequently causes delays. Breakdowns of heavy equipment, such as excavators, are a major cause of downtime. Moreover, continue reading to learn about the most common issues with excavators and how to avoid them in the future.
Maintaining regular maintenance on your excavator—checking the oil, cleaning parts, and inspecting them—is the best way to avoid all of these common issues. So you should check the working of your mini excavator routinely to avoid future operating issues.
Excavators are expensive, and they are effective in construction. However, they require utmost attention and maintenance. The three main reasons you would encounter troubles while using mini excavators are listed below.
10. Maintenance:
It is not only with mini excavators. Typically, any machinery requires Constant maintenance to avoid any breakdowns, malfunctions, or even accidents. Therefore, you need to make sure you’re following maintenance practices regularly.
11. Incorrect Operating Practices:
You must ensure that the staff you hire to operate the excavator is properly trained. One of the most reasons any breakage occurs is inefficient use. Mini excavators require a certain level of knowledge to avoid any issues and malfunctioning.
12. Insufficient Knowledge:
As we have already indicated, the knowledge required for mini excavators is not easy for anyone. Moreover, you need to ensure that the staff you hire for the excavator operation is trained under special circumstances. Hence, you should prioritize the training of the official team. It helps you to keep the machine in good condition.
Final Thoughts:
You will come across many challenges while operating many excavators. They’re not perfect, nor are we. So there is no harm in coming across a few problems while driving a mini excavator. Moreover, you need to understand basic knowledge and get special courage to use your mini excavator. This way, you can avoid many errors and maintain the overall operation of your mini excavators.
This article has covered some common problems that any mini excavator operation considers. If you’re uncertain how to resolve an issue in your excavator, you can consult a professional. This way, you will avail of equipment repair services. This will save you a great deal of time and stress!
