Survivalists must become self-sufficient in every way possible. That means knowing how to tackle any problem presented to you. If you live off the grid, you might not have somebody nearby to help. These situations require hands-on knowledge to get the job done.
You likely have numerous machines like tractors, ATVs and trucks on your property. Once in a while, your equipment could break down and require maintenance. In these instances, it helps to have experience managing machinery.
With that in mind, here’s how you can learn to fix your own equipment.
What Causes Equipment to Fail?
It’s wise to know what causes equipment problems in the first place. Machinery failure is inevitable, no matter how hard you try. Something will go wrong and delay whatever project you’re working on. You’ll typically see these five reasons causing your machines to break down.
Age
Machinery won’t last forever. Father Time shows no mercy to your skid steer, no matter how well you care for it. Your equipment will face regular wear and tear over the years. Older machinery is challenging to manage because finding replacement parts is harder. A 25-year-old tractor will be a lower priority in services for the manufacturer because the company is likely allocating most of its resources to newer models.
Age is the most frequent cause of breakdowns for equipment, and there’s data to back it up. In 2019, Plant Engineering studied equipment maintenance and found aging equipment caused 40% of unscheduled downtime, the most of any factor. If you have an old machine, it may be best to let it reach its end of life and find a newer model that causes fewer headaches, regardless of its sentimental value.
Lack of Maintenance
The best way to extend the life of your equipment is to perform preventive maintenance. This strategy allows you to find problems early before they cause a significant breakdown.
Detecting a loose belt or a spark plug problem may cost you a few dollars now, but it’s better than paying thousands later. A Jones Lang LaSalle study found preventive maintenance led to a 545% return on investment (ROI) over 25 years.
Excessive Upkeep
Preventive maintenance is the way to go for caring for your equipment. However, you risk problems if you do so excessively. As crazy as it sounds, there is such a thing as too many preventive measures. You won’t encounter it often, but it is possible.
For example, say you’re performing preventive maintenance on your car. You’re caring for the pistons and the crankshaft by applying lubricants. These parts may already have sufficient lubrication, but you add grease anyway because your maintenance schedule says it’s time. Overlubricating harms your car by overwhelming the bearings, generating heat and causing seal failures.
Reckless Handling
Machines often fail because there’s a mechanical failure within the system. However, the problems’ root cause could originate from human error. As brilliant as people are, even the best equipment operators can overlook the warning signs and continue to use equipment despite the warning signs. Sometimes, you get tunnel vision about the task at hand or feel fatigued and just want to complete the job, causing you to become oblivious to safety indicators.
Recklessness can also come when the machine is not in use. Weather affects your equipment, whether the hot summer sun or the harsh winter snow. Keeping items outside and not in storage can quickly lead to deterioration. Using them outdoors also directly leads to wear and tear because machinery has to push harder than usual to battle the elements.
Overwhelming the Machine
Even the mightiest machines on the market have their limits. Overwhelming your equipment can quickly lead to failure because you’re overpowering its capabilities and pushing more wear and tear. It may be tempting to go overboard slightly because you want to complete a job quickly. However, this is detrimental in the long run because it’ll lead to costly repairs.
For example, say you’re using your truck to haul equipment. Its 10,000-pound weight limit makes it class 2, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Overloading your vehicle compromises the suspension, leading to spring and strut failure. The buckled points on the frame can break down and eventually cause your truck to collapse. Read your manufacturer’s recommendations on towing and payload capacity.
How Can You Start Fixing Your Equipment?
Knowing the causes of equipment failure helps prevent breakdowns and diagnose the problems. Failures will likely happen, and these four steps show how to fix your machinery.
Understand Your Machinery
The first step in fixing your machines is to know your equipment. Take time to study the mechanism and familiarize yourself with each section. Knowing the ins and outs helps when asking a friend or professional for assistance because you’ll be able to describe the problems with an articulate tongue. The best way to learn about your machinery is to sit and read the owner’s manual. A professional technical writer wrote the book for anybody to understand.
A critical part of knowing your machinery is identifying the different parts. Some mechanisms have similarities and are challenging to differentiate. For example, your equipment may have different types of springs. Numerous springs are on the market and can run together in your mind if you’re not an expert.
Compression springs come in a barrel and conical shape, so knowing the difference is vital. You can identify a barrel spring with a wide middle and a narrow top and bottom. A conical spring looks like a cone, with its coils increasing in diameter as they go down.
Know Its History
Buying new equipment for personal use can be expensive. For example, a midsize tractor can cost about $20,000 plus included attachments. A used machine may be in your price range, especially with supply chain disruptions and inflation driving prices high. Buying preowned machinery is an option, but there is a slightly higher risk of failure.
Used machinery will naturally have more wear and tear than something you buy brand new. Ask for a history of its maintenance to see what the previous owner has fixed and if there have been any accidents. This information is public and incredibly helpful when deciding on cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a VIN decoder tool you can use to find any vehicle’s history.
Troubleshooting
Before tending to a problem, you need to ensure one exists. Some may be more evident than others. However, the mechanical issue you think is occurring could be in your head, and in reality, the machine is working perfectly fine. Once you verify things, you can begin troubleshooting. This process involves tracing the problem’s roots and identifying the causes.
Troubleshooting is essential because you can’t proceed accurately without it. Knowing what went wrong and what caused it gives you a much clearer picture of how you will solve things. Otherwise, you’re playing a guessing game. The last thing you want is to create more problems by tending to parts that don’t need maintenance.
One way you can help yourself is by getting diagnostic equipment for machinery. For example, a car diagnostic test will comprehensively test your vehicle and determine any issues with the engine, brakes, throttle, transmission and more. Car mechanics may not be your native tongue, and a diagnostic machine can significantly help by removing the guesswork from troubleshooting. Sometimes, it’s best to let automation do the work for you.
Fix the Issue
Next is when you get your hands dirty with elbow grease. It’s time to fix the problem at hand. Ensure you have all the proper tools to handle the job because you’ll want to knock out the repairs in one go. You can’t help it if you find previously unknown issues, but you should prepare adequately beforehand with a comprehensive set of tools.
For example, suppose you’re fixing an engine. This repair won’t come easy, so you’ll need many tools on deck. Small devices include screwdrivers, pliers and sockets. These sockets could be as small as 2 inches but extend to 2 feet long. Additionally, you’ll need devices like a voltmeter, wire cutter, feeler gauge and ball peen hammer. The list may seem long for complicated repairs, but overpreparing is better than encountering roadblocks.
When tending your equipment, document the problems now so you have a record of what you’ve fixed. This information is critical for future maintenance because you’ll have a clearer picture of what you’ve completed in the past. Jot down notes, take photographs and use any tool to help you remember things. Records are vital if you sell your equipment and the buyer asks for a maintenance history.
What Preventive Maintenance Can You Take?
The best way to fix your equipment is to find the problems before they start. Preventive maintenance will save money and headaches and extend your machine’s life. These three methods are terrific ways to care for equipment year-round.
Cleaning
It may seem elementary, but cleaning is a crucial step in preventive maintenance. Outdoor equipment quickly accrues dirt, mud, sand and dust. These particles build up over time and accelerate the typical wear and tear. Spring and summer rains bring unwanted mud that sticks to the side of your machinery. Rain can wash some dirt off, but you should take extra care to clean the car.
The first thing dirt ruins is the exterior. A fresh paint job can quickly be destroyed due to dirt buildup. However, the real pain comes when debris enters your equipment’s mechanical parts. Excess dirt causes equipment failure if you don’t clean it and can eventually ruin your vehicle’s paint and lead to rusting.
Waxing
Some people call rust the silent killer because it’s challenging to detect. Machines ranging from chainsaws to large cranes can rust when metals come in contact with water. For example, steel equipment is a frequent victim of rusting. Metal and water lead to oxidation, with a brown and red color forming on the surface. Over time, rust breaks down machinery and causes equipment failure.
Rust can be challenging to combat, but you can mitigate it. For example, waxing your equipment twice a year is solid preventive maintenance. Wax gives your machines adequate coating to protect from sun and rain damage. Try using an anti-rust spray to target particular areas for a quick fix.
Fluid Monitoring
Machines work best when they have sufficient levels of lubrication. There are hundreds of moving parts within your equipment, and they need fluids to maintain optimum performance. Lubricating your systems keeps the engine working by reducing friction and acting as a filter. The fluids keep your motor clean by eliminating dirt and other unwanted particles.
Most machines require fluid to run correctly. Your car, tractor, ATV and other vehicles typically need engine oil, brake fluid, coolant, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid and more. Monitor these levels regularly, at least once a month per machine, to ensure proper care.
How Can You Learn More About Repair?
Knowing the basics of repair can go a long way in achieving self-sufficiency as a survivalist. If you enjoy fixing things or want to learn more, there are opportunities in your area. These courses offer professional training and can lead to certification at their completion.
Start by looking at a local community college or vocational school. These institutions offer classes for specific programs. You can train to be an electronic or automotive technician. You will learn nearly everything you want about fixing your home equipment. You’ll also be able to help others with your newfound knowledge.
Search for online training programs if you don’t live near any schools. They’ll give you a great start and set you on the right path to success. However, the downside is you may see little or no hands-on training, which can be confusing if you learn by getting your hands dirty.
Once you complete your classes, you can find opportunities for apprenticeships. These programs can take months or even years but can lead to lucrative positions and turn your hobby into a career.
Becoming a DIY Master
Survivalism is about becoming self-sufficient and being ready for disastrous events, big or small. Knowing how to care for and fix your equipment when something breaks is valuable. Your home could be 100 miles from the nearest specialist, so you’ll save time and money. Use this guide to get started and feel confident in your abilities.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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