Our crew at Gravel Grading and Excavating has been hard at work cleaning and rehabbing our equipment to get each piece ready for the 2020 season. Every winter we make sure to complete routine maintenance on our fleet of tractors and equipment, including washing and waxing them for protection from the harsh Midwest weather seasons. This past winter we focused a lot of our work on our bulldozer. In addition to removing the dust and dirt from the belly pans of the John Deere 750J dozer, we replaced the tracks and added a fresh coat of paint. When it comes to maintaining bulldozers, the undercarriage is always first priority. Daily inspections should look for wear points, abnormal wear, or anything that could reduce production and increase downtime. It’s also essential to keep the roller frame as clean as possible with a regular clean-out schedule. Once material is packed into the undercarriage, it can cause a tight track and increased wear rates on the undercarriage components. When considering the aforementioned, our crew decided this winter would be the best time to remove and replace the tracks as well as the rollers. In addition to replacing the track and rollers, our crew gave the bulldozer a fresh coat of paint once we had thoroughly washed and waxed the machine. With spring officially here, let us know If you have a job for us in 2020 by giving us a call today!
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To many it may seem that a tractor is a tractor is a tractor, but to those of us who use these machines every day, we know that when you find a reliable tractor, it becomes an indispensable part of your crew. Such was the case with our John Deere 4755 at the beginning of 2018. Though this trusty tractor had been a regular part of our crew for the past two decades, wear and tear were apparent, especially in the cab. Because of its heavy use in our fleet and our constant moving in and out of it, everything from the floor mats to the seats to the protective fabric coverings on the panels and around the steering wheel were falling apart. While the mechanicals of the machine were functioning well, the interior left a lot to be desired, so we took it on as one of our wintertime projects during the last off season. To start with our cab renovation, we needed to find a supplier who could give us the replacement parts in the exact specs we needed and available at a reasonable time and price. Thankfully, we found the great folks at Fehr Cab Interiors to help us out. They walked us through the process, ensuring that all parts were accounted for in the first order. Once the products were in-hand, the fun could begin: demolition. Removing the worn interior pieces went relatively quick, but once those were discarded, cleaning up what was left behind was what took the longest. Our guys put in a lot of man hours and elbow grease scraping away at old glue and extracting years of dirt that had settled into the crevices along the floorboards and between the levers. Though it took awhile to detail, the project was a worthwhile task: "It was pretty satisfying to see the Deere go from tired-looking to just like new," says crew member Brad Gravel, "I spent a lot of time in that cab through the years, and I wanted to take care of it so we can keep it awhile longer. In the end, I was really proud of what we achieved." Once the cab was cleaned and prepped, installation of Fehr's replacement parts could begin. Each side panel was replaced, and the quality and fit was perfect the first time out: "Fehr Cab Interiors provided us with great products, and we know this interior remodel will help us keep this tractor running for years as part of the Gravel Grading and Excavating fleet," says owner Terry Gravel. Winter projects such as our John Deere 4755 renovation are essential for keeping our crew moving during the busy season from April to December. Performing routine, preventative maintenance helps us move the earth for our clients and customers in a timely manner and at the degree of excellence that we pride ourselves on. If we can move the Earth for you in 2019, contact Terry at 563-542-6610. |
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