ForConstructionPros.com

If you're looking to increase the productivity of your grinding operation, your initial reaction might be to upgrade to a higher horsepower machine so you can grind more product, more quickly. In the end, that may be exactly what you need. But you should first evaluate your maintenance program to ensure you're getting the most out of your existing equipment.

A poorly maintained grinder is less efficient, says Jason Morey, marketing, Bandit Industries. "When components such as teeth aren't maintained, the engine has to work a lot harder," he says. "It just takes more horsepower to grind with damaged teeth."

Dull, damaged and/or improperly rotated teeth can also become unbalanced, which can lead to excessive vibration, notes Mike Adsit, service manager, Morbark. "The hammermill is the heart of your machine," he explains. "If it gets out of balance and starts to vibrate, it will cause other problems. You will start to find cracks, and other components will start to fail. You can also have electrical issues."

Given the demanding tasks placed on a grinder every day - devouring everything from root balls with clods of dirt and small stones, to construction debris interlaced with metal and steel - components can quickly become damaged. If that damage goes undetected for an extended period of time, the end result is downtime and costly repairs.

To keep your grinders in peak operating condition, implement a preventive maintenance program that focuses on inspections that can alert you to damaged/worn components early. Manufacturers typically provide maintenance manuals that outline a timeline for when each component should be inspected.