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Repowered and Reloaded
Refurbishing an Old Wheel Loader to Like-New Standards
By Jason Morgan
18 Utility Contractor | May 2010
In today’s world of increased competition, high-stakes bids
and shoe-string profit margins, a new piece of machinery
might not be in the cards. But you still need metal to get
the job done. Taking a look at your fleet, you notice the
first wheel loader you ever bought. While it holds a special
sentimental place in your fleet, it doesn’t see much action these
days. With many machine manufacturers — from CNH to Terex
to Volvo — supporting remanufacturing, that’s about to change.
It’s time to teach that old material mover some new tricks.
Whether you’re looking to fix up an existing machine or
you’re looking to save some green by buying a pre-owned machine,
you have to give any out-of-commission wheel loader
the same once over. Remember, this is construction equipment
— abuse and normal wear and tear are two different things.
The degree of the inspection largely depends upon the age of
the machine and the reputation of the seller if you’re buying a
pre-owned machine. An appropriate inspection of the machine
should expose any potential problems or money pitfalls.
“The good operating condition and life expectancy of any compact
wheel loader is largely influenced by regular care and maintenance,”
says George Harrigan, Product Support Manager, Terex
Construction Americas. “It is important to look at what components
are failing and to determine why, how and when they failed.
It is also important to know which components are holding up
over time and to analyze those trends. Too often, the little things
can be an indication of larger problems. Owners, operators and
service technicians should never ignore these warning signs.”
For newer machines, a basic inspection should be sufficient, including
checking the condition of tires, belts and hoses and looking
for leaks, signs of damage or unusual wear and tear. For older machines
with higher hours, oil and hydraulic fluid samples should be
taken to check for any contaminants or system problems.
Common wear points such as hydraulic hoses, tracks and
tires and the engine should also be inspected. Scrapes and
scuffs, chipping paint and rust are other red flags to look out
for. The tell-tale signs of wear on a pre-owned wheel loader
would be indicated by the condition of the bucket and frame
pin and bushing, as well as checking the condition of the tires,