This month, the toolbox tips focus on equipment maintenance. This week, we look behind the paver at the machine most responsible for compaction, density and pay. Let’s look at what roller operators can do to ensure optimum densities this spring.
By taking extra time this winter to clean and shore up the rollers in your fleet, you invest in the paving season’s success.
The online training course we offer gives an in-depth look at roller maintenance, but let’s look directly at the drums for a moment right now.
Make sure the roller operators and mechanic working on the rollers this winter check for worn coco mats, worn rubber, broken springs and/or broken scraper bars. This is the ideal time to replace such things. Maybe you need to repair nozzles on the water spray system that lubricates the drums. Open the water tank and clean the filters.
Adding lights now gives extra nighttime paving safety and visibility to your worker later. Maybe you need to replace the fuel tank cap or something else that’s simple now, but could be a nightmare later. Whatever the point of concern, now is the time to address it.
Take a good look at the roller’s drums. You’re looking for divots in the surface of the metal. If you see gashes or gouges, you know those will translate into missed areas of compaction in your asphalt mat. Your mechanic probably cannot weld smoothly enough to return the drum to perfect working condition. You will either remove it and send it to the OEM for repair, or, if the gash is deeper than the metal, you may have to order a new drum altogether. When in doubt, check with the OEM about components and flaws. Take time now to care for this vital machine in your fleet so your roller is ready for start-up in the spring