Spend money to save later
The key to Coast Electric’s success is that they don’t skimp on maintenance. They employ nine full-time technicians in two shops who are responsible for repairs to the fleet. “We fix all of our own hydraulic leaks, replace blades, repair fiberglass and do all of our own inspections except for the five-year inspection, which is outsourced to Terex,” said Kellin Cuevas, shop technician at Coast Electric.
They also have a philosophy that maintenance, no matter how small, should not be put off. “If you find something, fix it, because in the long run, you’ll prevent other problems from occurring. That’s the perspective change if you want your equipment to last a long time,” Hardee said.
However, they are also being smart about it. Coast Electric invested in an oil analysis system for the chassis engine oil. They tested the oil first at 3,000 mile intervals, then at 4,000, 6,000 and 8,000 mile intervals. Based on this, they concluded that they did not need to change the chassis engine oil until after 8,000 miles.
The oil analysis also helps them identify problems before they become costly. “In one case, the analysis showed us that we needed a new fuel pump. That saved us from having to put in a $50,000 engine that broke,” Hardee said.
“We see other units being considered for overhaul that are not as well maintained as Coast Electric’s fleet. It just makes financial sense to spend some money up front on maintenance, which reduces the labor required to overhaul,” Cole said. Units that have not been as well maintained over their lifetime will be more expensive to overhaul.
Cuevas recommends checking hoses, air lines and handles regularly. “If you take care of the little things, you can avoid big problems,” he says. “The annual inspection is very important. We take the time to check everything – torque specifications of the pivot bearings, pressure, every nut and bolt. It takes a while, but we get everything,” Cuevas says.
Ultimately, the three factors Hardee considers when deciding to rebuild were determined based on input from Coast Electric’s experienced engineers. These triggers ensure the chassis can be used for as long as possible before the antenna assembly becomes too worn to warrant a rebuild.
“If you have a good, solid maintenance program, rebuilds are the way to go. I would tell any fleet manager that this is the best business decision you can make when it comes to managing your budget,” Hardee said. On average, he sends three to four units per year for rebuilds. The money he saves is used to invest in other equipment. “We buy something new every year so we can stagger the units that are eligible for rebuilds,” Hardee said.
