5 Steps to Maintain Your Skid Steer

A skid steer is a workhorse when it’s fully and optimally operational. To Maintain Your Skid Steer and get the most productivity from your equipment, it’s important to perform regular maintenance. Not only will you extend the life of your skid steer, but you’ll also reduce your overall expenses. Skid tires are expensive to replace, so you should not require to change them frequently. Preventative maintenance reduces the risk of a breakdown that will bring a job to a halt.

Here are five things you can do to take care of your skid steer. 

1. Train the Operator on Maintenance 

The driver of the skid steer is the first line of defense in Maintain Your Skid Steer preventative maintenance checklist. Make sure the operator knows to look over the equipment each day before starting work. When the skid steer is turned on, listen, and watch for anything that is amiss. If something seems off, get to the source of the problem. Weekly, the operator needs to check the tread and skid tire pressure, as well as make sure all fluids are full.

2. Read the Manual 

Manuals often get filed away when you get new equipment. To Maintain Your Skid Steer properly, get your manuals out and keep them with the equipment. Know what the manufacturer recommends for preventative maintenance and when. Keep the manual on site for troubleshooting when there is a problem.

3. Document All Maintenance 

Keep a maintenance log of all the preventative and ongoing maintenance you perform on each piece of equipment, including your skid steer, to Maintain Your Skid Steer in good condition. Log how many hours the equipment is used, so you can track when it’s time to adjust the track tension or change the fuel filter (500 hours). If you have a fleet, these records can prevent time loss from duplicate maintenance or forgetting a critical maintenance task.

4. Keep Up With Seasonal Maintenance 

As the seasons change, your equipment should be ready to work in extreme temperatures or under harsher conditions. In the summer, you may need to check the cooling system more often. During the winter, you may need to wash off the salt or other chemicals used on the job site to melt the ice and snow. Examine your skid tires regularly as part of seasonal maintenance checks and ensure appropriate inflation.   

5. Cover and Protect Your Equipment When Not in Use

Clean your skid steer tracks and skid tires to Maintain Your Skid Steer and prevent dirt and mud from building up and causing problems. When you do store your skid steer, cover it to protect it from the elements. If you aren’t working at job sites over the winter, grease the parts to resist rust and water damage.

Get the Right Tires for the Job 

Using the right tires for the conditions that the skid steer is working under will make your skid steer more productive. STTC offers tire maintenance and replacements for skid steers to serve your jobsite requirements efficiently. We can help you select the right skid tires or tracks that meets your needs. We have a large selection of sizes and patterns for all types of job sites. Don’t sacrifice safety by trying to save money and using tires past their prime. Contact us to get more information.  

Call us now at 610-954-8473 or contact us online for skid tires, commercial tires, and all tire-related services.