Mar 01, 2021
Is Everything Ready for Season Startup Except Loadout?
BY AsphaltPro Staff
When it’s time to start the new paving season, attention turns to the loadout area. You’re about to find out if your personnel maintained the silos properly over the winter. Barring anything horrifying—such as a surprise 200-ton chunk of solid cylindrical material—you should have only simple things to fret over.
Here’s a checklist for today’s toolbox talk about regular silo maintenance. Of course, before performing any maintenance near the silos, make sure access to the area beneath the gates is blocked in a way that personnel cannot walk beneath them unless everyone has confirmed the silo is completely empty. Remember to lock-out/tag-out.
- Lubricate air powered components regularly
- Open hinge pins frequently for greasing
- Put a quality moisture trap on the oiler
- Clean moisture out of solenoid valves and cylinders
- Check the compressed air system and air line oilers
- Drain water from air storage tanks and separators
During production,
- watch moisture contents of mixes going into the silos. The drier the material, the better.
- watch temperatures so improper temp-control doesn’t lead to plugged cones.
- try not to elevate temperature more than 5 degrees for overnight storage purposes.
Sign up to receive tips just like this to your inbox every week.