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Pavement Preservation

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Updated: January 22nd, 2009 02:25 PM GMT-05:00

Milling maintenance

Pavement Preservation

The teeth of the cutting drum will wear naturally, but uneven wear or ignoring tooth replacement can cause further damage to the unit and even the milling job.
Worn Cutting Teeth
Worn Cutting Teeth
cutting edges of the moldboard
The cutting edges of the moldboard need to be continually inspected, says John Hood of Bomag. A worn moldboard results in more material being left behind.
Worn track pads
Worn track pads affect the milling unit's traction and cut pattern. And if the track pads wear too far, the undercarriage could get damaged as well.
worn conveyor belt cleats
Over time, conveyor belt cleats will wear, affecting the conveyor's ability to move material to the desired area.
New conveyor belt cleats
New conveyor belt cleats.

One other area of concern is the flashing on the conveyors. The flashing helps contain the material flow on the belt and prevents material spillage. "Flashing which is worn or adjusted too high creates a gap which allows material to escape from the belt, requiring more cleanup behind the milling machine as well as increasing material buildup, requiring further cleaning at the end of day," Schmidt says.

"Flashing which is adjusted too low, causes it to rub on the belt which can result in damage to the belt surface and, in extreme cases, even bond the flashing permanently to the belt."

The best way to monitor wear and tear on conveyors is to do visual inspections, Hood says. Chastain says to also make sure the belts are tight and cleaned on a daily basis. And make sure the belt is not angled. An angled belt will cause wear on the idlers, Hood adds.

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