Loader
What is a loader?
A loader is an earthmoving machine widely used in construction projects such as roads, railways, buildings, hydropower, ports, and mines. It is primarily used for shoveling and loading loose materials such as soil, sand, gravel, lime, and coal, and can also perform light excavation of ore and hard soil. By changing different auxiliary working devices, it can also perform bulldozing, lifting, and loading and unloading of other materials such as timber. In road construction, especially on high-grade highways, wheel loaders for road construction are used for earthwork filling and excavation in subgrade engineering, and for collecting and loading aggregates in asphalt mixture and cement concrete material yards. They can also be used for pushing soil, leveling the ground, and towing other machinery. Due to its advantages of fast operation speed, high efficiency, good maneuverability, and easy operation, the loader has become one of the main types of earthmoving machinery in engineering construction.
What are the uses of a loader?
Loaders are mainly used for shoveling, loading, unloading, and transporting loose materials such as soil and stone, and can also perform light excavation of rocks and hard soil. With different working devices, they can also perform bulldozing, lifting, and loading and unloading of other materials. In road construction, they are mainly used for earthwork filling and excavation in subgrade engineering, and for collecting and loading aggregates in asphalt and cement concrete material yards. Due to its advantages of fast operation speed, good maneuverability, and easy operation, it has developed rapidly and become a major machine in earthmoving construction.
Loader Usage and Maintenance?
After a 3 ton wheel loader for construction leaves the factory, there is generally a break-in period of about 60 hours (sometimes called the running-in period), which is stipulated based on the technical characteristics of the loader during its initial use.
The break-in period is an important link to ensure the normal operation of the loader, reduce the failure rate, and extend its service life. However, currently, some users neglect the special technical requirements of the new machine's break-in period due to a lack of knowledge about loader usage, tight construction schedules, or a desire to obtain profits quickly. Some users even believe that since the manufacturer provides a warranty period, the manufacturer is responsible for repairs if the machine breaks down.  Therefore, they operate the machine under heavy load for extended periods during the break-in period. This not only affects the normal use of the machine and shortens its service life, but also leads to frequent early failures and machine damage, impacting project progress. Therefore, proper use and maintenance during the loader's break-in period should be given full attention.
I. Characteristics of the Break-in Period
1. Fast Wear Rate
Due to factors such as processing, assembly, and adjustment of new machine parts, the friction surfaces are rough, the contact area of the mating surfaces is small, and the pressure distribution on the surface is uneven. During machine operation, the uneven parts of the component surfaces interlock and rub against each other, and the metal debris worn off acts as an abrasive, further accelerating the wear of the mating surfaces. Therefore, wear of components (especially mating surfaces) is prone to occur during the break-in period, and the wear rate is fast. At this time, if the machine is operated under overload, it may lead to component damage and early failures.
2. Poor Lubrication
Due to the small clearance between newly assembled components, and because of assembly issues, it is difficult to ensure the uniformity of the mating clearance. Lubricating oil (grease) does not easily form a uniform oil film on the friction surface to prevent wear. This reduces lubrication efficiency and causes early abnormal wear of machine parts. In severe cases, it can cause scratching or seizing of precision-fitted friction surfaces, leading to malfunctions.
3. Loosening
Newly processed and assembled components have deviations in geometric shape and mating dimensions. In the initial stage of use, due to alternating loads such as impact and vibration, as well as the effects of heat and deformation, coupled with rapid wear, the originally tightened components are prone to loosening.
4. Leakage
Due to the loosening of machine parts, vibration, and the effects of machine heating, leakage may occur at the sealing surfaces and pipe joints of the machine. Some casting and processing defects are difficult to detect during assembly and debugging, but due to vibration and impact during operation, these defects are exposed, manifesting as oil (water) leakage. Therefore, leakage is prone to occur during the break-in period. 5. Frequent Operating Errors
Due to insufficient understanding of the machine's structure and performance (especially for new operators), operating errors are prone to occur, leading to malfunctions and even mechanical accidents.
II. Use and Maintenance
1. As construction machinery is specialized equipment, operators should receive training and guidance from the manufacturer, have a thorough understanding of the machine's structure and performance, and gain sufficient operating and maintenance experience before operating the machine. The "Product Use and Maintenance Manual" provided by the manufacturer is essential for operators. Before operating the machine, be sure to read the "Use and Maintenance Manual" and operate and maintain the machine according to the requirements.
2. Pay attention to the workload during the break-in period. The workload during the break-in period should generally not exceed 60% of the rated workload, and a suitable workload should be arranged to prevent overheating caused by prolonged continuous operation.
3. Pay attention to frequently observing the instrument readings. If any abnormality occurs, stop the machine immediately to troubleshoot the problem.  Operation should be stopped until the cause is found and the fault is eliminated.
4. Frequently check the levels and quality of lubricating oil, hydraulic oil, coolant, brake fluid, and fuel. Also, check the overall sealing of the machine. If excessive oil or water loss is found during the inspection, the cause should be analyzed. At the same time, lubrication of all lubrication points should be strengthened. It is recommended that lubricating grease be added to the lubrication points every shift during the break-in period (except for special requirements).
5. Keep the machine clean, and promptly adjust and tighten loose parts to prevent accelerated wear or loss of parts due to looseness.
6. After the break-in period, mandatory maintenance should be performed on the machine, including inspection and adjustment, and attention should be paid to replacing fluids.
In short, the requirements for using and maintaining a loader during the break-in period can be summarized as: strengthening training, reducing load, paying attention to inspection, and strengthening lubrication. By paying attention to and implementing the break-in period maintenance and upkeep requirements for the loader, early failures will be reduced, the service life will be extended, and operating efficiency will be improved, allowing the machine to bring you more benefits.