Talking Shop
Smoke Signals
Aug 01, 2010
Learning to read exhaust smoke from your equipment can sometimes feel like deciphering Morse code, but it can be a very valuable skill for anyone responsible for maintaining diesel engines. more >>
Talking Shop Archives
2010
TLC for Your CTC
Jul 01, 2010
Maintenance, attention to detail, vigilance, prudence and, hey, maybe even a little enthusiasm will keep your machines up and running and your crews rolling throughout the work season. more >>
Don’t Be an Idle Fool
Jun 01, 2010
One of the top priorities for fleet managers is to reduce fuel consumption. In fact, when it comes to fuel consumption, they are facing a perfect storm. more >>
Idling & Maintenance Control
May 01, 2010
In the world of equipment maintenance, what you don’t know can cost you. Consider the case of one mining company that kept a compact wheel loader running all day to pick up overburden. When asset managers installed a GPS tracking device that also captured data on machine movement, they learned that a staggering 72 percent of the machine’s ignition-on time was spent idling. more >>
The Ideal Dealer
Mar 01, 2010
Having confidence that you can rely on a dealer to provide reliable, competent service and access original equipment manufacturer (OEM) repair and replacement parts quickly are key considerations that influence contractors’ new equipment purchase decisions. To get a better sense of a dealer’s service capabilities and the ability to get parts in a timely manner, contractors should do some homework. more >>
2009
Hot Wheels
Aug 01, 2009
From the tiniest nails to the largest steel beams, the debris littering a construction site can easily wear or even puncture the tires on equipment such as backhoe loaders and compact wheel loaders, costing money both in productivity-robbing downtime and tire repair and replacement. more >>
Cutting Through the Clutter
Jul 01, 2009
The brush-shredding industry is perhaps one of the most difficult, abusive applications that a fleet of equipment can be subjected to. Just travel and meet a few contractors involved in this industry. more >>
A Sensible Introduction to Tier 4
Jun 01, 2009
What is Tier 4? How does it work? Why do we need it? When must manufacturers have Tier 4 engines in our construction equipment? How will Tier 4 affect the non-road equipment owner? more >>
Spring into Tractor Maintenance
May 01, 2009
Spring is a rejuvenation time for construction and landscape professionals, when the work season begins to grow anew. It’s also the ideal time to reassess your mechanical fleet of workers, which includes your squadron of utility tractors. Whether your small tractor has been in the shed all winter or out tackling the toughest of winter chores, it’s time for a thorough spring cleaning inside and out to get ready for that long list of upcoming spring and summer projects on your acreage, small farm or project site. more >>
Ensuring Excavation Operations
Mar 01, 2009
Digging a hole doesn’t mean you have to be buried in large expenses or missed timelines. more >>
Biodiesel 101
Feb 01, 2009
With growing demand for alternative fuels, the biomass market is quickly maturing. Construction and landscape equipment manufacturers are releasing news of biodiesel-ready machines, so alternative fuel producers are popping up across the country. more >>
Air Support
Feb 01, 2009
With winter in full swing for much of the country, the need to properly support the snow-related items you carry on your truck is important. more >>
2008
Getting Hitched
Oct 01, 2008
Skid steers are the workaholics of the equipment fleet. Not just satisfied with dig-and-load operations, these mighty tool carriers often find themselves doing double-duty on a daily basis. Running hundreds of different attachments gives skid steers the great flexibility to do a little of everything on ever-demanding jobsites. more >>
Fuel for Thought
Aug 01, 2008
With the growing demand for alternative fuels, the biomass market is quickly maturing. Construction and landscape equipment manufacturers are releasing news of biodiesel-ready machines, so alternative fuel producers are popping up across the country. New sources of biofuel are being discovered at an incredible rate, and a distribution network is being built to meet the supply and demand. As the market becomes popular, professionals will need to understand their alternatives in the expanding fuel source industry. more >>
Avoid the Unexpected
Jul 01, 2008
Hydraulic systems are ubiquitous in mobile and off-highway applications. When high power and precision are required for moving, positioning and braking systems on vehicles as diverse as landscaping equipment to refuse trucks and construction equipment, the hydraulic system is the ideal workhorse. more >>
Tractor TLC
Apr 01, 2008
Well-oiled machines need constant attention to continue to work hard. Versatile equipment like compact tractors work in a myriad of unique applications that take a toll on the iron parts, lubricated joints, vulcanized wheels and electronic systems of your landscape and construction machines. more >>
No Heavy Lifting
Feb 01, 2008
You can’t turn a corner without hearing talk of the labor shortage in construction, particularly when it comes to mechanics. more >>
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