I told him I was just making sure it was level, like I always did. He pointed out that on that specific slope, I was actually fighting the machine by trying to keep the bucket flat. He showed me how to tilt it forward a bit to let the material flow better. After trying his way, I cut my time on that section by about an hour. It seems so simple now, but I had been doing it wrong for years. Has anyone else had a basic technique tip that changed how you run a machine?
I was talking to a guy at the fuel stop near the I-5 project, and he asked if I was greasing my track adjuster rams every single day. I said maybe once a week, and he just shook his head. He told me he saw a ram blow a seal on a Cat D6 last month because it was dry, and the repair bill was over $3,000. It hit different because I've been rushing through my morning checks to get on site faster. Now I'm spending an extra five minutes to hit every grease point, no matter what. Anyone else have a small check they used to skip that bit them later?
I used to fill my excavator right after quitting time... thought I was being smart and ready for the next day. But this past season, on those freezing mornings, it would crank forever and run rough for minutes. Got fed up and mentioned it to a guy from a paving crew during a break. He just laughed and said to always fuel at dawn, not dusk, because a full tank overnight lets moisture build up in the cold. Tried his way, and wow, no more morning fights with the engine. It starts up clean now, like a whole different machine. I feel kinda dumb for not knowing this after so long... makes you question all the little routines you pick up over the years.
I keep noticing operators using their job skills on personal property work. It started when I had a nasty dip in my home driveway. After a week on the motor grader, I just knew how to smooth it out by hand. The feel for grade and slope transferred right over. Maybe we should share more of these crossover tips.
I run a backhoe in neighborhoods a lot. People would get upset with the noise and mess. I began waving and smiling at folks from my seat. They started to wave back and even brought us water. Now, the job goes smoother with less hassle from nearby homes.
We were digging near old pipes last week and the crew leader wanted a big backhoe. I said a skid steer would be safer and more precise, which proved true. Why is there such a push for oversized equipment on every project?
I was in the habit of skipping the sound check on my dozer. Last month, I didn't hear a grinding sound and the track failed. It led to a costly repair and downtime. I changed my way and now listen for a full minute before work. This new routine found a loose pin just yesterday. Skipping little steps can lead to big headaches. Have you changed a habit after a close call?
I've seen more downtime from stomach issues than equipment failure. Start packing real food or suffer the consequences.