Welding for the Retiree

When your business is dependent on trucks and equipment to operate and complete day to day tasks, keeping them up and running is of critical importance. These vehicles have many components that need to be inspected and repaired when necessary and most importantly before they fail. In some cases, an entire rebuild of the driveline may be required if a vehicle has been worked hard or has a lot of miles on it.

Inspecting the Components

When you start the inspection process, you need to get under the vehicle and look at everything in the driveline. If it spins, turns, moves, or somehow affects the vehicle's ability to operate safely, it needs to be checked. Start at the front of the vehicle and check any front driveshafts or drive axles that might be there. Work your way back, check the transmission for leaks or damage, check the driveshaft to the rear axle as well as the universal joints and any seals on the drive shaft, and check the rear axle housing and the rear axles thoroughly, making notes about what you need to go back and look closer at. Don't overlook anything in the driveline, even if it takes some extra time. It could save you downtime later.

Replacing or Rebuilding Components

If you find a faulty part in the driveline assembly, you will need to replace or rebuild it. In some cases, service technicians may opt to rebuild the entire driveline at a given mileage interval just to avoid failures. Not every part of the system can be rebuilt but overhauling the entire driveline as a unit would be considered a complete driveline rebuild and should be noted that way in the service records. Be sure to detail what was done, the mileage on the vehicle, and the reason it was completed.

Knowing Major Components and Rebuilding Them

When you start looking at the entire driveline, you will find that the transmission and the differentials are the most complex parts of the system. In some shops, the techs will be able to handle repairs and even overhaul the transmission and differentials, but if your shop does not have the tools or experience mechanics to handle these repairs, remove the parts from the vehicle and take them to a shop that specializes in these repairs. Attempting to repair something that you don't have the tools or knowledge to deal with properly is going to lead to damage and early failure, which is exactly what you are trying to avoid with this process.

If your company or business is dependent on these vehicles, downtime is not acceptable. Don't cut corners on your maintenance program or the parts required to keep the driveline and other components in your fleet vehicles in good operating condition. You will be happy you did later. For more information, contact local professionals like Billings Machine & Welding Shop Inc.