Start before you start
A pre-start walkaround takes ten minutes and catches most problems before they cost a day. Check track tension, fluid levels, hoses, and the quick coupler pins. Look for leaks under the machine from the same spot each day — a new puddle is your earliest warning.
Track tension is the number one killer of undercarriages. Too tight grinds bushings; too loose throws tracks. Check it cold, on level ground, with the manual's sag spec.
Grease like it's your money
Every pivot point wears slower when it's clean and greased. Follow the machine's grease chart, not your memory. Grease until fresh grease purges from the joint — that's how you know you've pushed out the grit.
Grease fittings that take a pump but show no movement mean a blocked passage. Find and clear it before the pin seizes.
Record, don't rely on memory
Our machines log engine hours and send service reminders through the optional telematics module. Keep a simple paper log too: hours, greases, filters, and any unusual noise. When a technician arrives, the record halves diagnostic time.
Preventive service intervals for Craton machines are 250 h for engine oil, 500 h for hydraulic oil checks, and 1,000 h for major inspection — all detailed in the machine manual.