Best Practices

Maintenance Tips for Your Construction Bulldozer

Properly handling maintenance will help you avoid dozer service and expensive repairs down the road. To help you out, we’ve put together some key construction bulldozer tips and best practices to keep it working productively on the job and to minimize your downtime.

Conduct a daily inspection of your construction bulldozer

The key to avoiding dozer service is to do a quick check before beginning work each shift. In addition to what is listed below, you should also inspect any system or component recommended in your owner’s manual.

• Conduct a walkaround to look for oil leaks, cracks around the push arms and roller frame, loose bolts, and worn out tracks. Ensure windows, mirrors, and lights are clean and working properly.
• Inspect your battery connections for loose terminals and any signs of corrosion or damage.
• Check the air and fuel filters to make sure they are not dirty or wet.
• Ensure you have enough fuel and top it off as necessary.

Keep tracks clean and at the right tension

A key to avoiding unnecessary dozer repair is to properly maintain the undercarriage. Your tracks are meant to tear through mud and dirt, so they are going to get dirty. But it’s important to clear as much dirt and debris as possible at the end of each shift to keep it as clean as possible. Regularly cleaning your construction bulldozer’s tracks will help you spot any issues or damage and keep them from locking up or working less efficiently.

When it comes to maintaining the right tension, check your owner’s manual to find the recommended tension range and the right technique for measuring it on your specific machine. Measure track tension before beginning work in the morning and also once or twice throughout the day as ground or weather conditions change. Always read the manufacturer’s guidelines for the proper tightening sequence and torque turn in order to avoid dozer service and repairs.

Check the hydraulic system and keep the cylinders clean

The hydraulic cylinders are some of the most important and delicate components on your construction bulldozer. Taking a little extra time to make sure the cylinders are free from debris will help your machine run more efficiently, keep contaminants from entering and damaging the hydraulic system, and prevent dozer repair.

Ensure oil and grease are at the right levels

Regularly checking engine and hydraulic oil levels can help you prevent a catastrophic equipment failure. Low oil levels force the entire dozer to work harder than necessary, lead to instant loss of lubrication, and significantly contribute to parts wearing out faster. Greasing your machine daily is also an important step to prevent accelerated wear and tear and eventual dozer service.

Look at the cutting edge

A key part of construction bulldozer maintenance is ensuring your cutting edge is not overly worn. A dull edge will force your machine to work harder, leading to greater fuel use and wear on components. The operator should visually inspect the edge before beginning work and follow the owner’s manual to recognize when the edge is too thin and requires a replacement.

Contact our team for more construction bulldozer maintenance tips!