Skid Steer Maintenance Checklist
Avoid costly repairs and lost income with a proper maintenance schedule.
By sticking to a consistent maintenance schedule and using your skid steer equipment as intended, you can extend its life and avoid unwanted downtime and the associated costs.
Like most farm equipment, you should assess several components of a skid steer before and after using it. A checklist can help you create a defined process for examining your machine. Follow this checklist for effective skid steer maintenance.
Daily Walk-around
Before starting your skid, walk around and check for anything needing immediate attention. A daily walk-around is an excellent opportunity to make a list for scheduling maintenance, repairs or parts orders.
- Examine and remove debris from the attachments and inspect for leaks.
- Check pivot points and arms and grease thoroughly as needed.
- Make pressure or tension adjustments to tires or tracks according to manufacturer recommendations for your make and model.
- Inspect the engine compartment, check all your fluid levels, and refill.
- Finally, inspect your cab, including the display panel, knobs, levers, horn, seatbelt, and backup safety alert.
Check the Fluids
Maintaining the correct fluid levels keeps your skid steer running smoothly. The engine oil, hydraulic oil and coolant should all be maintained according to manufacturer recommendations to prevent unnecessary damage. Make sure to change fluids at regular intervals as a part of your scheduled maintenance routine. To avoid vital fluid loss, check hoses for leaks and ensure a secure fit at connection points.
When checking your fluids, ensure the loader arms are down, so all the hydraulic oil returns to the tank for an accurate reading.
Tracks and Tires
Caring for the tires or tracks is essential, as they receive the most wear and tear overall. If your skid steer utilizes tracks, ensure the recommended amount of track tension is in place to avoid excessive wear and even power loss. If your skid steer is fitted with tires, ensure they are correctly inflated to the recommended PSI to improve handling and reduce unnecessary wear. Make sure to rotate periodically to extend the life of your tires.
Attachments
Your attachment components like cylinders, hoses, pins and bushings can cause performance issues if loose or improperly attached. During maintenance inspections, please be systematic with these areas to confirm they’re secure and prepared for use.
Lubrication
Skid steers have various moving parts and lubricating these pieces regularly can reduce friction and clogging that causes wear and can slow down your machine and reduce its output.
Cleaning Goes a Long Way
Regular removal of debris from the body, engine compartment, and windows is essential and allows for increased productivity and visibility while ultimately improving safety. Keeping your skid steer clean decreases overheating and electrical connection issues and increases your equipment’s lifespan and overall value.
Routine Service
Routine service by a trained technician is vital to your skid steer’s health and overall value. These technicians will save you time and prevent major issues from developing.
Maintenance Tips
Tips to keep your skid steer in great shape:
- Daily Maintenance: Assess your skid steer before and after you use it can help you determine if it needs fluid changes, additional lubrication, cleaning and more before its subsequent use.
- Look at the Manual: Your skid steer manufacturer provides all the valuable advice you need for machine care in the operator’s manual. Refer to this information when building your maintenance plan to give your skid steer the best care possible.
- Create a Maintenance Schedule: Your daily maintenance processes will supplement your regular maintenance schedule. You’ll want to take your skid steer to a maintenance professional to give it a thorough inspection for these service appointments. They have specialized tools and knowledge to spot problems you might miss.
