8 Essential Maintenance Tips for
Heavy Rental Equipment

A five-minute walk-around before and after each shift is the single highest-value habit for anyone operating hired equipment. It catches problems early — before a small hydraulic weep becomes a full leak, or a worn track pin becomes a broken undercarriage mid-job.

When you hire equipment from JustHire, you're agreeing to return it in the same condition. An inspection log protects you — it documents the machine's condition at pickup and helps identify if any damage occurred during use versus before.

• Check for hydraulic fluid leaks around cylinders, hoses and fittings
• Inspect track tension and condition on track machines
• Look for loose or missing bolts on bucket pins, attachments and guards
• Test brakes, horn and reversing alarm before moving off
• Check tyre pressures on wheeled machines
• Note any new damage, cracks or wear and report it before use

Every machine in a hire fleet comes with rated limits — maximum load, maximum slope gradient, approved attachment types, hydraulic flow requirements. These aren't conservative suggestions from lawyers. They're the point where the machine's engineering runs out of safety margin.

Exceeding these limits — even once — can cause hydraulic failure, structural cracking, tipping or drivetrain damage that isn't visible until the machine fails on the next job. It also puts you in breach of your hire agreement.

• Never exceed the rated bucket or attachment capacity
• Only fit attachments that are rated and approved for that specific machine
• Follow the operator manual for correct hydraulic settings per attachment
• Observe slope gradient limits — especially with a loaded bucket
• If the manual isn't with the machine, call us — we'll get you the spec sheet

Mud, concrete slurry and dirt packed into the undercarriage, around pivot points and over hydraulic cylinders accelerates wear and traps moisture that leads to rust and corrosion. On a short hire this matters less — but on anything longer than a day or two, a dirty machine at end of hire means a cleaning fee.

At JustHire, equipment returned dirty incurs a cleaning fee of $35/hr. A quick rinse at end of day takes 10 minutes and costs nothing.

• Clear mud and debris from the undercarriage daily on track machines
• Rinse hydraulic cylinders — concrete and grit act as abrasive on seals
• Keep air filters clear — a clogged filter causes the engine to run rich and overheat
• Clean the cab — debris on pedals is a genuine safety issue
• Return the machine clean to avoid additional cleaning charges

Running a machine with low hydraulic fluid, low engine oil or low coolant can cause catastrophic damage within minutes — damage that no hire agreement will protect you from. Check fluids every morning before starting the machine. If a level has dropped significantly overnight, there's a leak that needs to be found before you run the machine.

If a fluid level drops unexpectedly, stop the machine and call JustHire on 0468 991 155 before continuing.

Even on a short hire, how you park and store equipment overnight matters. Machinery left on uneven or soft ground can sink, tip or be difficult to start the next morning. Hired equipment left unsecured on a public-facing site is also a theft and liability risk.

• Park on level, firm ground — avoid parking on soft soil or near edges
• Lower all attachments to the ground before leaving the machine
• Engage the park brake and remove the key
• If leaving on site overnight, position out of the way of other vehicles
• Cover the cab opening if rain is expected — to keep the seat and controls dry
• Do not leave fuel cans, tools or attachments unsecured near the machine

The most common cause of hired equipment damage isn't mechanical failure — it's operator error. Someone who hasn't used a particular machine before will push levers too hard, use the wrong digging technique, misjudge clearances or overload an attachment. The damage is usually visible, and the repair cost lands with the hirer.

Before handing controls to anyone, make sure they've had a proper machine familiarisation — controls, limits, blind spots and what to do if something goes wrong. For machines that require a licence (like the 4T tipper truck), only the licenced operator should be in the seat.

• Only licenced operators on machines that require a licence
• Walk every new operator through the controls before they start
• Explain the attachment limits and any site-specific hazards
• Make sure they know how to do an emergency stop on that machine

Heavy machinery rarely fails without warning. There's usually a sound, a smell, a fluid trace or a performance change before something breaks completely. The problem is that on a busy site, it's easy to dismiss early warning signs and keep going. That almost always makes the eventual repair worse — and the downtime longer.

• Unusual noise — squealing, knocking or grinding is always a warning sign
• Slower hydraulic response than normal — check fluid and look for leaks
• Excessive exhaust smoke — black (over-fuelling), white (coolant leak), blue (oil burning)
• Warning lights on the dash — stop the machine and read the fault code
• Vibration that wasn't there before — check attachment pins and mounting bolts

If you notice any of these on a JustHire machine, stop the machine and call 0468 991 155 before continuing. Running a machine through a known fault can turn a small repair into a major one.

At the start of any hire, take photos of the machine from all angles before you use it. Note any existing scratches, dents or wear. Do the same at return. This takes five minutes and creates a clear record that protects you from being charged for damage that was already there.

For longer hires or hire involving multiple operators, keep a simple daily log — who operated it, how many hours, what was checked, any issues noted. This becomes your evidence if there's a dispute about machine condition or damage at end of hire.

• Photo all sides of the machine at pickup — before first use
• Note existing damage on the hire agreement at the start
• Log daily inspection results and any issues noticed
• Record fuel top-ups to reconcile at return
• Photo again at return before drop-off