To ensure your Ledwell Gull Wing truck runs smoothly and remains in top condition, it’s crucial to follow a preventative maintenance routine. Regular cleaning, lubrication, and inspections are key to preventing malfunctions and extending the lifespan of your equipment.
Ledwell provides thorough maintenance guides and FAQs to help equipment owners with routine servicing and troubleshooting. These resources, from hydraulic system checks to safety precautions and operating instructions, are designed to help businesses maximize their equipment’s efficiency and reliability.
Why Routine Maintenance is Crucial
Optimize Performance:
Regular upkeep ensures your Gull Wing truck functions at its highest capacity, delivering excellent performance every time.
Increase Longevity:
Consistent maintenance and proper care can significantly lengthen your equipment’s operational life, reducing the need for expensive repairs or replacements.
Save Money:
Preventative maintenance helps reduce downtime and the risk of sudden breakdowns, ultimately saving you time and money.
Enhance Safety:
Routine inspections and servicing can catch potential problems before they become safety issues, ensuring a safer working environment for everyone involved.
Committing to a Regular Maintenance Plan:
A structured maintenance plan is essential for optimizing your equipment’s performance, durability, and reliability. Follow this step-by-step guide to master Gull Wing truck maintenance:
Daily Gull Wing Maintenance Routine
Inspection
Start your day with a pre-operational inspection. This ensures that any potential issues are identified before they become major problems.
Daily Cleaning
Keep your deck clean and dry before and after each use. This prevents debris build-up and corrosion.
Check Fluid Levels
Retract any cylinders to check hydraulic oil fluid levels. If the fluid covers less than half of the fluid level sight glasses, fill the hydraulic tank with the appropriate fluid. Always look for abnormal fluid loss, indicating a leak or damage.
Inspect the PTO
Check the Power Take-Off (PTO) for leaks and signs of high heat. Ensure all bolts are tightened properly.
Monthly Maintenance for Your Gull Wing
Greasing
Grease all zerks, especially at pivot points, specifically the greaseable hinges. Some units may have a grease block system with fewer zerks.
Inspection
Perform a thorough inspection of the truck’s components and lubricate all zerks to ensure smooth operation and identify potential issues before they escalate.
Check cylinders for leaks.
Inspect all wiring, airlines, and hydraulic lines.
Examine the truck bed structure and floor for any damage.
Check the condition of the tires.
Ensure the lock nut on the cylinder maintains secure contact with the rod end clevis.
Semi-Annual Preventative Maintenance
Hydraulic Filters
The hydraulic filter, located on top of the hydraulic reservoir, needs to be changed every six months. Remove the old filter cartridge and replace it with a new one, adding hydraulic oil if necessary.
Air Dryer
Inspect the air dryer to prevent over-saturation, which is crucial for the unit’s proper operation and the directional control valve function.
Annual Gull Wing Preventative Maintenance
Flushing the Hydraulic System
Flushing the hydraulic system annually is essential to remove accumulated contaminants, debris, or sediment. This process ensures optimal performance and prolongs the life of the hydraulic components.
Drain all fluids from the hydraulic tank by removing the drain plug.
Refill the hydraulic tank following the necessary steps and specifications.
Start the engine, activate the hydraulic operations, and turn off the equipment.
Check fluid levels to ensure they reach halfway in the sight gauge.
Replace the hydraulic air breather cap.
Lubrication Points
Remember to regularly grease the zerks at the rear of the bed with GL2 marine-based grease. Some units might have a grease system with fewer zerks, so utilizing a grease block can help ensure proper maintenance.
Product Specifications
Lubricants
Grease: Multi-service Lithium Base (quantity grade)
Hydraulics
Hydraulic System Capacity: 19 gallons
Oil: AW 32 w/full SAE specs
System Pressure Settings: 1,800 psi
System Flow Settings: 11 gpm
Filtration: Disposable in-tank 10-micron absolute filter cartridge
Following this preventative maintenance guide will help ensure your Ledwell Gull Wing truck operates efficiently and reliably. Regular maintenance not only prevents breakdowns but also extends the life of your equipment, keeping your operations running smoothly.