The industrial brakes on any machine are easily one of the most critical parts of your equipment. You need the brakes to make sure the machine slows down or stops when those commands are required.
That being the case, if you don’t know when or how to check your brakes, you could end up experiencing a lot of problems in your place of work. It may even cost you a lot of money on repairs.
Obviously, you don’t want to have to go through all of that. The good news is that you don’t have to. With these simple techniques, you can learn how to check industrial brakes and keep your machines in pristine condition.
Read on to learn what it takes.
1. How to Check Industrial Brakes: Safety First
Before you check your brakes, you need to make sure your own safety is good to go. Otherwise, your machine won’t be the only thing that needs to be fixed.
Make sure that anything that powers the system is locked down or powered off. With electrical systems, that means you need to cut off the current that powers the machine to eliminate the chances of starting it up on accident.
All holds and fastenings should also be in place before you begin. Each machine works differently, so check with the user manual, so you know where to go.
2. Check the Hydraulic Oil
Everyone knows that when it comes to heavy-duty machines, the hydraulic oil is its lifeblood. That said, one of the first things you should check is the oil that powers the brakes.
If you believe that you’re experiencing problems with the brakes, take a look at the hydraulic oil levels in the machine. There’s an excellent chance that they may be low and need to be refilled.
The good news is that it doesn’t take much to make it happen. Buy the correct grade of hydraulic fluid (each machine has its own grade) and add the oil you need. Your equipment should be back up and running in no time.
3. Check Through the Mechanical Things
If the hydraulic oil didn’t do the job, it’s got to be a hardware problem. These aren’t as quick of a fix, but by finding out where the problem lies, you can make it a lot faster to get to the bottom of things.
Start your troubleshooting by knowing all the hardware parts of the brakes. Piston bolts, chain sprockets, and guides are just a few of the parts that you’ll find on generally any industrial machine and are the most likely to be the problem.
Once you locate the problem, most repairs are pretty straightforward when working on the brakes. Buy your part(s) and have them installed so that your machine can get back to work!
For All Your Industrial Needs
Now that you know how to check industrial brakes, you’ll want to know where to go if it’s time to replace them. Luckily for you, you won’t have to look any further.
Kor-Pak Corporation is dedicated to giving you and your company the best tools and services for the best price. We work in several different industries and sell industrial brakes, crane wheels, oil rig equipment, rail parts, and much more.
Give us a call whenever you’re ready to get the tools that you need. We look forward to serving you!