Winter can be a harsh season for heavy machinery like cherry pickers. The combination of freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can put a strain on these essential tools. If you want to safeguard your cherry picker’s longevity and performance during the cold months, it’s crucial to take proactive measures to winterise it.
Winterising your cherry picker involves preparing it for the challenges of winter operation, minimising the risks of damage and ensuring its optimal performance when conditions are less than ideal. By following these guidelines, you can keep your cherry picker in its best shape throughout the winter months and ensure its continued reliability for years to come.
In this post, we’ll provide you with valuable tips for cold weather maintenance to keep your cherry picker running smoothly.
Inspect and Lubricate Moving Parts
Before the winter season descends, it’s imperative to thoroughly inspect and lubricate all moving parts of your cherry picker. Focus on joints, hydraulic components, and cables, ensuring they receive ample lubrication to fend off the freezing grip of cold temperatures and the moisture-induced wear and tear. Employ a high-quality lubricant specifically designed for operating in frigid environments.
This meticulous lubrication process serves as a shield against potential damage, keeping your cherry picker’s moving parts operating smoothly and efficiently throughout the winter months. By preventing freezing and moisture-related issues, you can preserve your cherry picker’s functionality and extend its lifespan.
Check the Battery
It’s essential to give your cherry picker’s battery a thorough check. Batteries are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of cold weather, which can impair their performance and shorten their lifespan. To ensure your cherry picker’s battery remains in top condition throughout the winter months, carefully inspect the battery and its connections. Clean any corrosion or dirt that may hinder proper current flow. Additionally, ensure the battery is fully charged to provide the necessary power for operation.
In particularly harsh winter conditions, consider using a battery heater or insulating the battery’s housing. This will help maintain the battery’s temperature and prevent it from discharging excessively or underperforming. By taking these precautionary measures, you can safeguard your cherry picker’s battery and maintain its functionality throughout the winter.
Replace or Maintain Hydraulic Fluid
Cold weather can wreak havoc on your cherry picker’s hydraulic system, causing its fluid to thicken and impair its performance. To ensure your cherry picker’s hydraulics operate efficiently throughout the winter, it’s essential to conduct regular maintenance checks and, if necessary, replace the hydraulic fluid with a low-temperature-specific fluid.
As the temperatures drop, check the hydraulic fluid levels regularly to ensure there’s enough fluid to lubricate and operate the hydraulic components. If the fluid appears excessively thick or is starting to wear out, it’s time for a replacement. Opt for a hydraulic fluid specifically designed for low-temperature environments, as it will retain its fluidity and viscosity even in frigid conditions.
Insulate Critical Components
As winter sets in, it’s crucial to protect your cherry picker’s critical components from the harsh cold. Insulation plays a vital role in protecting these essential parts, including hydraulic lines, control panels, and the engine, from freezing temperatures that can lead to damage and costly repairs.
By wrapping these components with high-quality insulating materials, you can create a protective barrier that prevents heat loss and maintains optimal operating temperatures. This insulation will safeguard the integrity of the hydraulic lines, preventing them from becoming brittle and prone to cracking. The control panel will remain protected from icing, ensuring its sensitive electronics function smoothly, preventing performance issues and potential breakdowns.
Protect the Operator’s Cab
The operator’s cab is your employees’ shelter amidst the harsh winter elements. To ensure their comfort and productivity, prioritise proper insulation and heating during the cold season. A well-insulated cab will effectively retain heat, preventing the operator from feeling the biting cold and maintaining their focus.
Additionally, equip the cab with an efficient heating system to further combat the winter chill. This will create a warm and comfortable environment for the operator, allowing them to operate the cherry picker safely and effectively. Cold and uncomfortable working conditions can significantly impact productivity and morale.
Check tyres and Traction
Your cherry picker’s tyres are the crucial link between the machine and the ground, ensuring its stability and manoeuvrability. During the winter months, when surfaces become icy and slippery, tire maintenance takes on heightened importance. Regularly inspect the tyres for proper inflation, ensuring they are not underinflated or overinflated. Properly inflated tyres provide optimal contact with the ground, enhancing stability and traction.
Additionally, check the tread depth to ensure it is within the recommended range. Adequate tread depth provides better grip on slippery surfaces, reducing the risk of slipping or sliding. To further enhance traction on icy surfaces, consider using snow chains or specialised winter tyres.
Store Properly
When your cherry picker is not in regular use during the harsh winter months, it’s crucial to store it properly to protect it from the elements and ensure its continued longevity. Exposure to extreme cold, moisture, and harsh weather conditions can accelerate wear and tear, leading to costly repairs or even premature failure.
A sheltered garage or a dedicated storage facility provides the ideal environment, free from the elements’ destructive touch. If indoor storage is not feasible, invest in a high-quality waterproof and weather-resistant cover. This protective barrier will shield your cherry picker from rain, snow, and excessive moisture, preventing rust, corrosion, and other forms of damage.
Conduct Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance is the cornerstone of your cherry picker’s longevity and optimal performance. By establishing a comprehensive maintenance schedule, you can proactively identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major problems. Your maintenance schedule should include routine checks of all critical components, such as hydraulics, electrical systems, and structural integrity.
Regular inspections will uncover any signs of wear, tear, or potential malfunctions, allowing you to take corrective measures promptly. Delayed or neglected repairs can lead to compounding issues and costly breakdowns. By addressing problems early on, you can prevent minor issues from developing into major headaches and costly repairs.
Train Your Operators
Proper training is crucial to ensure a safe and efficient cherry picker operation, particularly in the face of challenging winter conditions. Equip your operators with the knowledge and skills to navigate the unique hazards of winter, ensuring their safety and the optimal performance of the machine.
Train your operators on the specific precautions and techniques required for safe operation in cold weather. This includes understanding the effects of low temperatures on the cherry picker’s components, adjusting operating procedures to account for slippery surfaces and reduced visibility, and utilising protective clothing to combat the cold. Regular safety refresher training will help your operators maintain their proficiency and awareness of winter-specific hazards.
Monitor Weather Conditions
Closely monitor weather forecasts and stay informed about the expected conditions in your area. If extreme cold or adverse weather conditions are forecasted, reconsider any planned outdoor operations involving your cherry picker. Prolonged exposure to harsh winter elements can put your equipment and operators at risk of damage and injury.
In such situations, postponing outdoor operations is the wisest choice. By refraining from using your cherry picker in extreme conditions, you can prevent potential breakdowns, corrosion, and other forms of damage to the machine.
In conclusion, winterising your cherry picker is essential to maintain its performance and extend its lifespan. By following these tips for cold weather maintenance, you can ensure that your cherry picker remains reliable and efficient, even in the harshest winter conditions.
If you don’t want to let the cold weather hinder your operations; take proactive steps to protect your valuable equipment. Should you need some further advice on wintersing your cherry picker or you could benefit from servicing or repairing your cherry picker before the cold weather takes over, then we encourage you to reach out to the experts at Elite Access Repairs. This can be done by calling 01908 756 056, emailing info@eliteaccessrepairs.co.uk or filling in the relevant information into our online contact form.
