How to store equipment safely for the winter

f\OME WINTER. business slows

\-zat many yards in severe weather climates, ind trucks, forklifts and other diesel-powered equipment are put into storage. When the machinery is to be stored for 30 days or more, manufacturer J.I. Case recommends the following procedures to avoid rust, corrosion and other damage.

First, move the equipment to a dry, protected location, preferably inside a heated building. While the engine is still warm from operation, change the engine oil, replace the engine oil filter, and clean or replace the air filter.

The following steps will protect the valves and the walls of the cylinders:

Remove the fuel from the tank. Put one or two gallons of diesel flushing oil (according to the operator's manual) into the fuel tank. Start and operate the engine until blue or white smoke comes from the exhaust stack. This smoke shows that the regular diesel fuel in the filters has been used and that the diesel flushing oil is being bumed.

Operate the engine for another 10 minutes. Stop the engine and remove the diesel flushing oil from the fuel tank. To prevent rust, put one level tablespoon of Shell VPI 260 crystals into the tank.

Check the coolant to see if it will protect against freezing at the lowest temperature expected. If not, drain the coolant from the system while the engine is warm. Keep open the drain valves for the radiator, engine block and oil cooler, and loosen the radiator cap. Put a "Do Not Operate" tag on the instrument panel. Note on the tag that there is no coolant in the system. Remove the battery and put it in a cool, dry place on a block of wood. Use a hydrometer to check the battery every month, and make a record of the hydrometer readings. When the reading falls to 1.215, charge the battery.

Lower hydraulic system attachments onto wood blocks. Stop the engine and move the equipment control levers in both directions several times. This will release pressure in the hydraulic system circuits. Put a special corrosion inhibitor grease on the cylinder rods to prevent corrosion.

Story at a Glance

Techniques for storing trucks, forklifts and other dieselpowered equipment for the winter ... six steps to putting them back in operation.

Once a machine has been in storage, there are six steps to follow before it can be put back in operation:

(1) If the coolant was drained from the cooling system, refill it. Use the correct mixture of clean water (with a low mineral content) and ethylene glycol.

(2) Make sure the engine oil is at the correct level.

(3) Install the baftery, checking to see that it is at full charge.

(4) Fill the fuel tank.

(5) For a diesel engine. replace the fuel filters and remove the air from the fuel lines.

(6) Start the engine and run at idle speed. Remove the valve cover and make sure valves are working freely and that rocker arm assemblies are receivins lubrication.

F

OULD any of these claims ever target your business?

"Customer (claimant) was assisting insured's employee in lowering 100-lb. bag of sand and was injured. $3,799 paid to date in medical. $5.000 reserve due to substantial injuries. Investigation in process."

"23-year industry veteran unloads plywood at jobsite, walks between standing stack and rear of roller bed prior to dropping load, load falls on him crushins him to death."

"Customer (claimant) slipped in parking lot. Raining, lot recently repaved. Two employees slipped earlier in the day. No warning signs posted. $250,000 lawsuit."

Story at a Glance

Tips to protect your customers, workers and business ... employees are key to effective safety program.

"Plywood improperly strapped. Wind ripped section off top piece on freeway hitting a truck. Windshield broken, minimal damage, but both drivers agreed it could have been 'a real bad one."'

"18-year industry veteran adjusts his milling machine, turns it back on without removing wrench he left on bed of (high vibration) equipment; wrench strikes his head. Employee is paraplegic and a 'vegetable,' under 24-hour care, 10 year life expectancy, over $1.5 million spent to date."

All the above are actual claims against wholesale and retail lumber companies in the last two years. Most are high profile businesses with average to well-above-average track records in safety. Just bad luck? They don't think so. And as a result, they are intensively learning to prevent future incidents, large and small, at their facilities.

Following are some of their observations and guidelines for safe practices which can help you better protect your customers, employees, assets, and reputation. If you think accidents are "inevitable," a "cost of doing business," or "mostly fraudulent," please