When buying a piece of equipment, you want to know how long it will endure. Construction equipment’s lifespan varies from machine to machine, and numerous factors determine how long its components last.
The lifespan of your heavy equipment is critical to obtaining the maximum value and profit out of it. It has an impact on your owning and operating costs (O&O) and how long you can go without buying a new one. We’ll go through some of the most popular pieces of equipment, their average lifetimes, and the factors that influence them to help you better understand typical equipment lifetime. We’ll also go over a few pointers for extending the life of your equipment.
WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF MY EQUIPMENT?
While there are some broad guidelines for each type of equipment (see below), the usable life of your equipment is determined by a variety of factors and varies depending on what you value most in your equipment. Each company will reach a distinct decision point where they believe their equipment is too expensive to keep running. Different types of equipment may be more tolerant of being used beyond their anticipated lifespans. You’ll have to compare the benefits of repairs and replacements against the value of retiring and selling the equipment when components break down. When the cost of repairing a piece of equipment exceeds the worth of the piece of equipment if sold today, many businesses choose to replace it.
Most heavy machinery has a “sweet spot” of ownership where the equipment’s operating and maintenance costs are at their lowest. Prior to that sweet spot, new equipment frequently has a high rate of depreciation during the first few years of ownership. This rate lowers the resale value of the machine and raises your O&O costs. However, at some time, this rate will level out, and your machinery will continue to provide value and performance. As your equipment gets older, maintenance and repair costs climb, increasing your O&O expenditures. Around this point, most owners realize that the cost of the equipment outweighs its value, and it’s time to consider reconditioning or getting a new unit.
The following are some of the aspects that will have an impact on the construction equipment lifecycle:
Exposing a piece of machinery to high heat or cold, abrasive materials, uneven surfaces, and other environmental challenges will degrade the equipment. Specific preventative efforts, such as winterizing, utilizing suitable tires and pressure, and storing a machine indoors during periods of lengthy disuse, can assist limit these consequences. Even yet, a severe climate can dramatically reduce the estimated lifespan of a piece of equipment. Indoor tools, such as electric forklifts, are likely to last longer than their outdoor counterparts.
Maintenance: Proper maintenance can extend the life of a piece of equipment significantly. Maintaining necessary duties like as filter and fluid changes, lubricating parts, and performing routine inspections and repairs may keep equipment running at its best and alert you to any problems before they require considerable work or expenses. Ensure that your operators are well-trained in daily and weekly maintenance duties so that they can keep an eye on it. One of the most significant variables in extending the life of a machine is proper maintenance. Working with Cat dealers can provide you with access to a variety of maintenance options.
Simple operator error is one of the leading causes of reduced equipment lifespan.
Operators can run heavy machinery in ways that damage it or put excessive wear on components, just as you can drive a car in ways that aren’t good for it. They could maneuver it in ways that impose additional strain on the engine or brakes, or waste more fuel than is necessary. To lengthen the life of your equipment, provide training to help operators balance power and efficiency. Some machinery has technology that can provide you with reports on utilization and how to use them. These reports can assist you in resolving operational difficulties and keeping things running smoothly.
Let’s look at some particular pieces of machinery and their estimated equipment lifespan now that many of the all-encompassing issues are out of the way.
1. WHEEL LOADER
Most general contractors use their wheel loaders for roughly 1,200-1,500 hours per year. The average lifespan of a wheel loader is roughly ten years, or 7,000-12,000 hours.
Take a thorough look at your operator’s if you’re wondering how long your wheel loader will survive. It’s all about reducing the effects of human mistakes when it comes to making a wheel loader last. These machines are vulnerable to damage caused by operators on a daily basis. For example, excessive braking or shock loading the drive train. Thankfully, newer machines can compensate for these faults using technology. Even with operator error, acceleration control and clutch modulation, can help you get the most out of your wheel loader.
The layout of the job site has a considerable impact on wheel loaders. For example, steep slopes might have a negative impact on component lifespan. Attempt to make the job site as efficient as possible for your equipment.
Furthermore, the many distinct components of a wheel loader have their own lifespans. Here are some of the primary wheel loader components’ projected average hours:
Tires:
The loader’s tires last between 4,000 and 10,000 hours on average. Though proper air pressure and retreading techniques can help extend that time. Tires that are used on rough surfaces or with insufficient pressure or ballast will have their useful life cut short. To keep them going, make sure you’re using the right tires for the terrain.
Bucket:
A wheel loader’s bucket may typically survive 7,000-10,000 hours, with operator skill having a substantial impact on this figure. Another important aspect of keeping a bucket in good working order is maintenance. Inspect buckets for wear and scalloping on a regular basis.
Articulation joint:
With adequate care, the articulation joint can endure for 7,000-17,000 hours. No matter how well-kept the joint is, abrasive compounds can quickly reduce the number of pins and bushings. You’ll also want to make sure that the joint is appropriately adjusted as needed.
Engine:
The engine on a wheel loader can last between 8,000 and 15,000 hours. Engine rebuilds, whether partial or in-frame, can extend the life of an engine without incurring the full cost of a replacement.
Brakes:
Brakes typically last between 5,000 and 15,000 hours, although various operator actions can substantially reduce this figure. They can shorten the lifespan of brakes if they ride the brakes, take ramps, or run on short duty cycles. Wet disk fractures inboard provide significantly more usage time.
Although wheel loaders can endure a long period, operators may need to repair or replace individual components at some point during ownership.
2. FORKLIFT
A forklift’s usual lifespan is roughly 10,000 working hours, however, there are various elements that influence how long a forklift lasts, including:
- Typical operation conditions, such as whether the forklift is used on a regular basis in difficult or uneven terrain.
- The frequency of maintenance
- Model year and kind of forklift
- Number of hours spent running
- Temperatures that are too cold or too hot for the forklift
- How often operators use forklifts to transport really heavy loads?
Forklifts are one of the tools that can be powered by electricity. These electric forklifts will last longer if they are utilized in a clean, indoor setting, but keep in mind that their batteries will only last a limited amount of charges before they need to be replaced. If you use them outside, they will also see additional wear. The usable hours of a forklift might be reduced by harsh outside temperatures and improper maintenance.
A forklift’s life can be extended with regular maintenance. Keeping components lubricated and keeping an eye out for hydraulic issues can help prevent forklift problems down the road.
3. EXCAVATOR
After about 9,800 hours of use, many contractors decide to retire hydraulic excavators from primary production. Aside from the engine, most components on an excavator have seen some type of substantial repair or replacement by the time it reaches that number. Mini-excavators, on the other hand, have a similar average lifespan of 10,000 hours.
Pay close attention to the undercarriage wear and the condition of the tracks on both excavators and mini-excavators. Both of these locations can show symptoms of wear and mechanical difficulties, which might cause them to stop working properly.
4. DOZER
Bulldozers, like excavators, require extra care for their undercarriage, which supports the machine and is vulnerable to its operating circumstances. Make sure the dozer’s undercarriage is rated for the type of work you’ll be doing with it. For example, transporting soil across level ground won’t place nearly as much strain on the undercarriage as managing heavy or abrasive materials in a landfill, crawling over various items, or traversing difficult terrain. There’s a rationale for the distinction between regular and heavy-duty undercarriages. Minimizing damage to the undercarriage can also be done by following good handling and best practices for operating, such as limiting reversing.
Most contractors expect their bulldozers to last seven to ten years on average.
5. BACKHOE LOADER
Backhoe loaders don’t have the same longevity as some of the other machines we’ve discussed. After around 6,000 hours, 20% of 14-15-foot loader engines needed substantial repairs or replacements. Typically, 50% of the components in a backhoe loader have reached their end by 8,500 hours and fail within 3,500 hours.
There isn’t much of a distinction between the job that the backhoe loader does and the work that the front hoe loader does. Engine and transmission life are similar in general usage and heavy-duty machines, while axle life is reduced by around 19 percent in heavy-duty operation.
Backhoe loaders benefit from paying attention to component lifecycles, but oil-analysis histories can provide a more realistic picture of your machine’s remaining life.
6. SCRAPER
Scrapers are one of the more durable heavy machinery pieces, and contractors rarely have trouble driving them past their prime. The numbers B20, B50, and B80, which correspond to distinct phases in the component lifecycle, are frequently used when discussing how long components will last. The B50 life of a machine is the point at which half of its components have failed, and for most equipment, this is the end of its useful life. Manufacturers often recommend retiring equipment at this point since components begin to break at a rapid pace after reaching this barrier.
Motor scrapers, like the following few machines on our list, live far longer than the average machine, owing to the lower chance of exceeding the B50 life. At 25,000 hours, about 20% of motor scrapers are still in service. At 13,000 hours, half of them remain in key production roles. Investing in proper maintenance can often extend the life of this equipment.
7. MOTOR GRADER
The motor grader is comparable to scrapers in that it has a low chance of exceeding its expected B50 component life of 12,000 hours. 20% of motor graders are still in primary production after 20,000 hours.
Of course, routine maintenance is still one of the most effective ways to extend the life of this machine, particularly if it is common in difficult situations such as on the rocky ground or in dusty areas. Certain operating techniques, such as sharpening the blade in the back position or switching to the left lead when grading along curbs, can also assist extend its life. Overall, motor graders aren’t too difficult to keep in good working order, thanks to simple maintenance and parts availability. Regular inspections are also necessary to keep blades in good working order.
8. CRAWLER LOADER
Crawler loaders have a long lifespan as well. At 18,000 hours, they usually achieve their B80 component life, or the point where 80% of the components have failed. Contractors frequently get 20,000+ hours out of a single project. O&O doesn’t usually start climbing until the 14th year. These machines can be an effective instrument at your disposal because they are so versatile and last so long.
When it comes to wear and tear, the undercarriage is once again an important factor to consider. The operating conditions will influence how long a crawler loader lasts, but the average track loader lifespan is around 6,000-7,000 hours before it needs to be rebuild, according to general contractors. Engine and hydraulic system may require to rebuild at around 10,000-12,000 hours, .
The longevity of machinery can vary dramatically depending on factors such as the type of equipment, the operator’s habits, and the level of maintenance provided. All of these factors have the potential to improve or degrade the life of heavy machinery. If you’re trying to buy old equipment, which allows contractors to save money without losing quality, you’ll need to know about its past.
