Improve Paver Visibility with Simple Tow Point Marking
BY John Ball
Paint the tow point guide for better visibility
One of the first things you should do when your new paver arrives is get out a can of high-visibility spray paint and mark some elements to help your crew. We’ve talked before about how smart it is to paint the guide bar and chain at the front of the tractor or investing in a guide like the PaverLaser. Now take a look at the tow point cylinder gauge.
Do you see the almost-hidden black arrow (or wire) that points to the numbers on the measuring gauge? That arrow will be difficult for screed and paver operators to see on a good day. Now imagine shovels and buckets blocking their view. Imagine the grease and gobbledygook that gets on the equipment during the shift, making the arrow hard to pick out from the rest of the dark material. Instead of leaving it “as is,” paint it a neon color before the crew goes out to the field.
Better yet, look at the second picture on this page where the paver manufacturer has affixed the tow point guide on top of the tractor. This brings the gauge up to eye level and away from sticky messes that hide the indicator.
As always, keep equipment clean for its best operation, but give your crew their best chance at success with a can of bright paint and some good planning on gauge placement. <endmark>
John Ball is the proprietor of Top Quality Paving & Training, Manchester, New Hampshire. For more information, contact him at (603) 493-1458 or tqpaving@yahoo.com.