Author: Jesse, Support Rep
The best way to prepare your Komatsu equipment for spring is to look at your machine conditions early, address wear before the workloads increase, and make sure critical maintenance and preventative maintenance work is done. It also never hurts to keep those regular maintenance items like fuel filters and air filters on hand to keep your machine downtime to a minimum.
Why a Winter Review Sets You Up for a Strong Spring
In Kansas and Missouri, machines can stay productive year-round, but usually wintertime is the best time to get things checked out. Workloads have slowed down, so take advantage of the slow season to take care of issues before job schedules tighten and machine uptime is critical in the spring. A pre-season review helps shift maintenance from reactive repairs to planned service so you’re not losing time when every hour on the jobsite matters.
What a Pre-Season Review Should Cover
A Preventative Maintenance Clinic, often called a “Komatsu PM Clinic”, is a cost-effective solution that will help minimize downtime and deliver real benefits by:
- Reducing unscheduled downtime
- Maximizing machine availability
- Improving fuel consumption
- Increased productivity with better cycle times
- Minimizing overall operating costs
- Extending equipment life
What’s Included in a PM Clinic
- Visual Checks: damage, fluid leaks, loose bolts or broken welds, etc.
- Operating Checks: checking hydraulic pressures, engine rpm at hydraulic stall, high and low engine idle RPM, engine crankcase blow by pressure, and more.
- KOWA Oil Analysis Samples: Komatsu Oil and Wear Analysis allows you to anticipate, pinpoint and solve equipment problems by providing a full range of information on machine lubricants and the machine itself. Don’t just guess, make informed decisions about the maintenance and operation of your machine.
- Comprehensive Machine Report: An opportunity to recognize potential issues and the required action to get your Komatsu machine back to optimal working order.
Want To Do Your Own Pre-Season Review?
Tools like MyKomatsu can help streamline the process by giving you a comprehensive digital hub that allows 24/7 access to machine telematics data, parts manuals, service manuals, software and parts ordering – all in a single place. Berry Tractor fulfills those orders and orders can be picked up at your local Berry Tractor store or have them shipped to your door.
And speaking of Berry Tractor, we stock those genuine Komatsu parts that help keep your machines up and running. Don’t be fooled by the cheap imitation parts…if they don’t say Komatsu, they aren’t quality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pre-Season Equipment Prep
What is included in a Komatsu PM Clinic?
A PM Clinic is a structured inspection that evaluates key machine components using diagnostic data and multi-point condition reports. It helps identify wear and maintenance needs before they impact uptime.
When should I schedule pre-season maintenance for my equipment?
Winter is an ideal time. Workloads are typically lighter, making it easier to plan service before spring demand increases.
Where can I get maintenance kits and parts in Kansas and Missouri?
At Berry Tractor, we offer maintenance kits and bench-stock parts to help equipment owners stay ahead of the spring rush.
Get Ready Before Busy Season Hits
Spring will be here before you know it. Taking time now to review machine health, perform those critical services, and replace those worn parts that can make all the difference once the spring workload hits!
If you’d like help reviewing your equipment or preparing for the season ahead, reach out to your local Berry Tractor team. We’re here to help you Review. Ready. Run. with confidence.