Tips & Tricks Archives

Stay Ahead of Trouble on EGR Engines

While most of the early problems have been engineered out of the exhaust gas recirculation systems on todays clean diesel engines, corroded coolers, stuck valves and other problems still plague owners of older equipment. Unfortunately, theres not much you can do in terms of scheduled preventive maintenance to keep those systems working. Keeping a close… Continue reading Stay Ahead of Trouble on EGR Engines

Tech Tip: Seasonal Preventive Maintenance for Fifth Wheels

This Tech Tip is the fourth in a series to be issued by SAF-Holland. The following steps are recommended by SAF-Holland for seasonal preventive maintenance on your fifth wheel. The company recommends the following intervals for cleaning, inspecting and lubricating your fifth wheel. However, since every fifth wheel manufacturer uses different locking systems, it is… Continue reading Tech Tip: Seasonal Preventive Maintenance for Fifth Wheels

Things to Consider When Buying Batteries

There are four main things to consider when replacing your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) batteries. There are four main things to consider when replacing your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) batteries. Since private and commercial vehicles come from the manufacturer with flooded cell batteries, replacing with flooded cell batteries is perfectly fine. Price: Have your OEM… Continue reading Things to Consider When Buying Batteries

Ease of servicing automatic transmissions

Considering the increased acceptance of automatic transmissions in medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as vocations like fire, refuse, bus and utility operations, we explored the availability of service information that might help our readers. According to Allison, servicing an automatic transmission almost parallels a drivers operation of the unitput it in D and drive.… Continue reading Ease of servicing automatic transmissions

Equipment Focus: Viable Options

There are several factors to consider when deciding to buy or rent earth moving equipment. The proper equipment is essential for driving business. Deciding to rent or buy equipment to add to a fleet goes beyond available capital, and it can be challenging to determine which option is best. Several skid steer loader and excavator… Continue reading Equipment Focus: Viable Options

Diesel Facts

Where did the word diesel come from? Rudolf Diesel, a young German engineer, designed and patented the first compression ignition engine in 1897. Name four advantages of a diesel engine over a gas engine. -Efficiency: they burn less fuel to generate a given amount of horsepower. They are 20 30% more efficient than a… Continue reading Diesel Facts

Tools For Diagnosing, Testing

Dave Hahn has it right: As sophisticated as machines have become, and as the industry has introduced more and more tools to help technicians diagnose problems with these machines, says the manager of technical support specialists for Volvo Construction Equipment, we still need technicians who have complete understanding of how machine systems function and who… Continue reading Tools For Diagnosing, Testing

Charging Batteries in Cold Weather

One of the biggest misconceptions is that batteries charge the same throughout the year. They simply don’t! In warm weather (above 40 degrees), batteries are very easy to recharge. They can normally take as much charge that the vehicle charging system can provide. Even deeply discharged battery packs can be completely recharged in a few… Continue reading Charging Batteries in Cold Weather

Tips for Packing a Tapered Roller Bearing

Improper lubrication causes over half of all the bearing damage that we see in the aftermarket. Timken offers these helpful procedures for packing a bearing with grease. The useful life of a tapered roller bearing depends to a great extent on the proper lubrication of the bearing. This is especially true in wheel bearings where… Continue reading Tips for Packing a Tapered Roller Bearing

How Oil Filters Can Help Fleets Extend Drain Intervals

High diesel and crude oil prices may make headlines, but the cost of engine oil has risen, as well, making an extended-oil-drain strategy more appealing. Many newer engines already have longer oil drain intervals than in the past, with some up to 40,000- to 50,000-mile drains for on-highway applications. There are a lot of fleets… Continue reading How Oil Filters Can Help Fleets Extend Drain Intervals