TM 5-3805-280-24-2
A-3. INSPECTION
Look for signs of a problem or trouble. Senses help here. You can feel, smell, hear, or see many problems.
Be alert when on the Hydraulic Excavator.
Inspect to see if items are in good condition. Are they correctly assembled, stowed, secured, excessively
worn, leaking, corroded, or properly lubricated? Correct any problems found or notify direct support
maintenance.
There are some common items to check all over the Hydraulic Excavator. These include the following:
1. Bolts, clamps, nuts, and screws: Continuously check for looseness. Look for chipped paint, bare metal,
rust, or corrosion around bolt and screw heads and nuts. Tighten them when you find them loose. If tools
are not available, notify direct support maintenance.
2. Welds: Many items on the Hydraulic Excavator are welded. To check these welds, look for chipped
paint, rust, corrosion, or gaps. When these conditions exist, notify direct support maintenance on DA Form
2404.
3. Electrical wires, connectors, and harnesses: Tighten loose connectors. Look for cracked or broken
insulation, bare wires, and broken connectors. If any are found, notify direct support maintenance.
4. Hoses and fluid lines: Look for wear, damage, and leaks, and make sure clamps and fittings are tight.
Wet spots mean a leak. A stain by a fitting or connector can also mean a leak. When you find a leak, notify
direct support maintenance.
A-4. LUBRICATION SERVICE INTERVALS-NORMAL CONDITIONS
For safer, more trouble-free operations, make sure that the Hydraulic Excavator is serviced in accordance
with the proper lubrication and service intervals specified in the PMCS.
A-5. LUBRICATION SERVICE INTERVALS-UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
The Hydraulic Excavator will require extra service and care when you operate under unusual conditions.
High or low temperatures, long periods of hard use, or continued use, in sand, water, mud, or snow will
break down the lubricant requiring you to add or change lubricant more often.
A-6. AOAP SAMPLING
Engine oil must be sampled at 50 hours of operation or 90 days, and hydraulic oil must be sampled once a
year as prescribed by DA PAM 738-750, Functional Users Guide for The Army Maintenance Management
System (TAMMS). For equipment under manufacturer's warranty, hard-time oil service intervals shall be
followed. Intervals shall be shortened if lubricants are known to be contaminated, or if operation is under
adverse conditions (such as longer-than-usual operating hours, extended idling periods, extreme dust).
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