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Dig Longand ProsperMaintaining Utility Trenches Will MaximizeProductivity and ProfitsBy Dawn BuzynskiWhat we typically describe as utility trenchers — ride-on trenchershaving anywhere from 40 to 70 hp (29.3 to 52.2 kW) — are farmore versatile in their capability than just digging trenches. A rideonutility trencher is a tractor with a trencher attachment. Utilitytractors within this horsepower range are used in a multitude of applications, suchas laying fiber-optic cable, water line installation and landscaping irrigation.Maintenance for Maximum EfficiencyWhether a tractor has a trencher or another attachment, the tractor itself is thebiggest investment, and proper operation and maintenance will provide multiplebenefits. Being proactive with your maintenance will keep the tractor workingefficiently. The key to maximum productivity for any piece of utility equipmentis regular maintenance, and it’s the easiest to accomplish in minimal time, aslong as you follow manufacturer maintenance recommendations and stick to theschedule. A common mistake that causes machine failures or inefficient operationis not following maintenance procedures.According to Rocky Hizer, Utility Service Manager for Vermeer, the first thinga contractor needs to do upon delivery of a new machine is to put the referencetechnical materials supplied with the machine in a safe place where they arereadily accessible.“Maintenance proceduresare grouped into daily, weekly,monthly, semiannual andannual, which are associatedwith machine hours,” says Hizer.“Equipment manufacturers detailin their manuals what items needto be done and how often.”Typical daily maintenanceincludes a full visual inspectionof the machine, looking for anydamage and greasing the endidler, bearings and cylinderends. Other daily items mayinclude: fill your fuel tank;check all fluid levels; checkthe air cleaner restrictionindicator; and drain your fuel/water separator if applicable.Hizer recommends this workbe performed at the end ofthe shift. Hizer says most ofthis should take a competenttechnician about 15 minutes.Of course, this may varyDaily maintenance is typically a full grease job andan overall inspection of the machine. No one needsto dig in there and turn wrenches. Weekly, monthlyand yearly maintenance will get more complex.32 Utility Contractor | July 2012
depending on recommendations byeach manufacturer.“No one needs to dig in there andturn wrenches necessarily. Dailymaintenance is typically a full greasejob and an overall inspection of themachine,” says Hizer. “Most of theseitems involve looking at the machineand making sure everything is OK.”Weekly maintenance may involvelooking at the condition of the enginebelt, greasing the axle and driveshafts and adjusting track tension ifapplicable. Attachments should alsobe looked at and their individualmaintenance checklists followed.“I can’t state strongly enough — referto the manufacturer’s maintenancemanual because the steps are providedfor what needs to be done,” says Hizer.Also if the machine has a tracksystem, pay attention to the tracktension; check and adjust accordingto procedures outlined in themaintenance manual. Hizer explains that having a track systemon your machine requires more vigilance in your maintenance.“There are a number of parts and components with a tracksystem — the frame, sprocket and rollers. So there is an additionalset of bolts and parts that need to be looked at to ensure nothinghas come loose or broken during operation,” says Hizer.In addition to all this, it is crucial to follow the recommendedmaintenance of the tractor’s engine according to the engine’smanufacturer. An engine will have its own maintenanceschedule and a separate manual.Attachments Expand VersatilityA utility tractor can become a multipurpose tool with thedifferent attachments available. Common attachments besidesthe trencher are a plow attachment, backhoe and a rock wheel.These attachments will have their own maintenance routines tofollow, which should be included in the standard maintenanceroutines for the machine. Daily inspections are crucial. Visually,an operator will be able to identify many potential issues thatmay cause a machine’s loss of productivity or failure. Specificwear on an attachment is dependent on its application and soilconditions, hence why visual inspections are important.“Conditions are so varied from one part of the country toanother,” Hizer says. “There are some areas where you can gofrom good digging to poor digging conditions in a matter of feet,so it’s impossible to determine how long parts on attachmentsor on a track system will last.”On a trencher attachment, Hizer says it is imperative notto use a worn chain. Using a worn chain will not only affectproductivity, it can significantly damage the tractor’s hydraulicsystem. The teeth on the chain can get worn along with thetrencher drive sprocket and wear strips. Cup cutters will beworn past the cutting edge when it’s time for replacement.Hizer says it is important while running the trencher tokeep the appropriate chain tension. It is fairly easy to tell if theOn a trencher attachment it is imperative not to use a worn chain. Using a worn chain will not onlyaffect productivity, it can significantly damage the tractor’s hydraulic system.tension is adequate. If it isn’t, the chain will wear much faster,because a loose chain will cause more wear on the teeth. Alsocheck end idler tightness.Other attachments have other wear indicators that are fairlyeasy to spot during a routine visual inspection. A rock wheel isused in conditions with large rocks and solid rock. The type ofrock influences how the rock wheel teeth wear, and the contractorshould match the cutter pattern to the ground condition. Asdiscussed earlier with the trencher, daily inspection will identifyif the teeth have worn down to the point where they need to bereplaced. A plow blade with a defined bow in the middle of theblade needs to be repaired or replaced, or it will break.Safety in Operation and MaintenanceHizer advocates proper safety procedures while the machineis running and when it’s not. He says always wear proper PPE(personal protective equipment), such as hard hats, safetyshoes, hearing and eye protection. When running the machine,always wear the seatbelt and always locate buried utilities beforeputting an attachment in the ground. As utility machines evolve,technology enhances maintenance, but it doesn’t replace thatskilled operator who can quickly assess any potential problemsand repair needs.“There are some things such as changing the hydraulic oiland engine repair that should be handled by a dealership orskilled technician,” says Hizer. “But for the most part, generalmaintenance can be performed by a competent technician withthe proper tools.”Regular maintenance on your utility trencher is just likepreventative medicine. It takes minimal time and is well worththe extra minutes in a work shift in order to keep the machinerunning at its maximum performance.Dawn Buzynski is a Technical Writer with Two Rivers Marketing,based in Des Moines, Iowa.July 2012 | Utility Contractor 33
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