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Updated: July 8th, 2008 05:26 PM EDT

Follow these 10 tips and your rollers will keep you paving all season long

Pavement Equipment

MultiQuip Compaction Roller
"If you have four or five guys paving, working tools, rolling, and delivering mix to a parking lot, then BAM! The roller runs out of fuel. You lose all that labor time while you go get fuel," says Juan Quiros, Multiquip.
drum scraper
Make sure drum scrapers are clean and monitor their wear.
Greasing articulating joints
Greasing articulating joints is essential. Manufacturers say that when they get a failed machine or when contractors send a roller in for warranty the most common problem is its moving parts haven’t been properly greased.
Wacker Neuson Ride-on Roller
Proper maintenance eases "troubleshooting" breakdowns − a time-consuming and often hit-or-miss effort in which the mechanic changes and replaces several parts before fixing the problem. "There aren't a lot of diagnostic tools on the machine to tell you what the problem is, so you want to stay on top of things with regular maintenance to reduce failures," says Becky Gallert, Wacker Neuson Corp.

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Allan Heydorn
By Allan Heydorn
Editor

Keeping your rollers operating at peak efficiency throughout the season can help you meet both quality specs and deadlines. Here are 10 tips to help you get quality paving jobs done on time.

1. Keep the roller clean. Becky Gallert, product manager for compaction at Wacker Neuson Corp., says this ideally is done at the jobsite before hot mix and dust can harden. Failure to keep the roller clean will result in it driving unevenly and could cause imperfections in the mat.

2. Conduct daily maintenance checks. "Do a walk-around on the machine," says Todd Brooks, product support representative for Volvo Construction Equipment. "Inspect the drums for scarring or dents and the scrapers for wear. Look for loose hardware and make sure the shock mounts aren't broken."

Look for loose wiring and hoses, check the ground for puddles from leaks (a sign a hose may be loose), and check the electrical controls. If a switch isn't working, make sure one of the wires isn't loose. Make sure backup alarms, warning beacons, and headlights are operating properly, and check the parking brake.

3. Check oil levels, engine and hydraulic fluid. If it's a liquid-cooled engine make sure to check the coolant level.

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