Your foundation drill is a critical component of any construction project. However, just like any equipment, this drill accumulates dirt with time and requires regular maintenance. Putting off this maintenance or only partially completing it not only leads to a dirty piece of machinery, but it could also result in problems if you overlook a potentially serious problem. It’s important to at least visually inspect your foundation drill daily and perform in-depth work every so often. Let’s look at how you can keep your foundation drill working properly for a long time.

Drilling Equipment Maintenance Checklist

A hydraulic drill requires a quick daily inspection as well as periodic heavy-duty maintenance and cleaning. This is the best strategy to extend the life of your equipment and keep it easy to use. During your inspections, use this checklist to ensure that everything is in proper working order:

1. Clean lubricated parts
2. Check wear parts
3. Inspect electrical components
4. Change hydraulics and hoses
5. Inspect kelly bars

1) Clean Lubricated Parts

Every day, the normally lubricated parts of your foundation drill must be cleaned of grease and dirt. Apply fresh lubricant when everything’s clean. The lubricated parts to pay attention to are:

• Lower kelly orkot bearing
• Cam rollers on headblock
• Winch shut-off arm
• Rail clips

2) Check Wear Parts

Parts of your drill wear down faster than others and, consequently, require frequent checks for damages. Check these parts on your drill daily and keep an eye on when they need replacing:

• Kidney retainer
• Kelly bearing
• Boom point connector
• Cage rail polyurethane components

Pro Tip: Does your foundation drill have an Allison transmission already? The transmission might need a quick cleaning and inspection too!

3) Inspect Electrical Components

Just like any other electrical device, the lights and connections on your foundation drill need periodic inspections and maintenance work. Pay close attention to these particular features on your drill:

• Light bulbs
• Battery and/or generator
• Fuses
• Terminal strips and plugs
• Fuses

4) Change Hydraulics and Hoses

You should always inspect the case drain filter, but in addition to typical inspections, you should be ready to replace parts of your hydraulics system on a regular basis. Be ready to periodically change these parts:

• Pilot system filter
• Oil in hydraulic reservoir
• Damaged hoses and fittings
• Cylinders

5) Inspect Kelly Bars

Finally, as the wielder of the drill itself, your kelly bar needs special attention. Keep the bar clean and make sure the torque is still acceptable for the work you’ll be doing. Most importantly, check for damage or wear and tear on these parts:

• Flanges
• Torque lugs
• Kelly adapter

Maintaining Your Drilling Equipment

The best way to maintain a foundation drill is to monitor its usage and condition with time. At the first sign of a problem, pull the equipment from usage and clean and inspect everything thoroughly. Keeping your foundation drilling equipment in excellent condition not only extends its life, but it also keeps yourself and your employees safe on the job.

Connect with us to learn more about using and properly maintaining drilling equipment.