Caterpillar (www.caterpillar.com) publishes Cold Weather Recommendations for All Caterpillar Machines, (Excerpted from Operation & Maintenance Manual, SEBU5898-11-01). Further, Caterpillar organizes the document about construction machinery and heavy equipment in cold weather and low temperatures in the following five topical sections of information, operation, maintenance, reference information, and index, including parking.
In the operation section, Caterpillar provides parking recommendations for construction machinery and heavy equipment in cold weather and low temperatures. In Parking Recommendations, Parking, SMCS Code: 7000*, Caterpillar notes to always park the machine in a proper area and on wood planks, to prevent freezing to the ground. Further, support the attachments on wood blocks, again to prevent freezing to the ground.
Here are six steps for stopping and for parking construction machinery and heavy equipment in cold weather and low temperatures, at the end of your work shift or work day:
- Before parking a track-type machine, operate the machine in forward and in reverse, on hard, dry material.
- Travel in second speed and in third speed.
- Move the machine 40 to 60 feet in each direction, to ensure that the track parts are free.
- Clean all debris from the roller frames and from the track.
- Support the attachments on wood blocks, to keep the attachments from freezing to the ground.
- Follow the recommendations for stopping and for parking that are in the Operation and Maintenance Manual for your machine.
*SMCS is Service Management Control System, a four-digit code that describes the components of Caterpillar construction machinery and heavy equipment. Each digit of the four digit SMCS code signifies a progressively narrower range of Caterpillar machinery and equipment. For example, the four digit SMCS code 1202 refers to 1000 = engine, 1200 = short block engine, 1202 = crankshaft for the short block engine.
(Source: Caterpillar, Cold Weather Recommendations for All Caterpillar Machines, Excerpted from Operation & Maintenance Manual, SEBU5898-11-01)
More in the next blog about weather planning, weather controls™ and weather risk management in the construction industry and built environment…