Scrap Handler Guide -- Up and Running

The everyday wear and tear on equipment in a scrap yard can be brutal. Upkeep of machines is a must. Thus, scrap companies have a checklist of things they do on a daily, monthly and yearly basis.

One such scrap yard in Dayton, Ohio, is Franklin Iron and Metal. Owned by Jack and Debra Edelman, Franklin Iron and Metal primarily handles industrial scrap from local manufacturers in the area.

At the Franklin yard, they have three Link-Belt Quantum Scrapmasters. Two of them are 6000 Quantum Scrapmasters, which are mounted on a crawler lower. The other is the latest introduction from Link-Belt, the 138,915 pound (63,010 kilogram) 6000 Rubber-tired (RT) Quantum Scrapmaster.

On a daily basis, company personnel start the day by fueling up and greasing the machine. “We grease every four hours, once in the morning, then at lunch then in the afternoon,” says Jerry Gupton, manager of operations. “We check the oil, and add any oil that it needs. We will use a checklist to check any kind of leaks, lighting problems, fuel problems, oil problems, or anything that looks loose.”

The service and maintenance routine on a typical hydraulic unit includes a service check after every 200 operating hours. “At that time we will change the hydraulic oil as well as do the oil sample, change all the filters and repair any leaks that are found and do any other kind of repair that needs to be done,” adds Gupton.

Every 1,000 hours, personnel from equipment dealer Carlisle Equipment, Wilder, Ky., are called in and they perform service tasks along with service people from Franklin. While Carlisle is there, dealer representatives will perform an inspection of the whole machine and write a list of possible repairs.

As on all Link-Belt Quantum units, the 6000 RT features the Nephron Filtration system that eliminates contaminants of one micron or more in size. This can significantly reduce hydraulic system breakdown and maintenance costs under normal usage. Less wear and tear on the hydraulic components means equipment owners get more years of reliable performance from their machines.

By properly maintaining its equipment on a routine basis, Franklin Iron and Metal protects its investment.

This item was submitted by LBX Co., Lexington, Ky.