APE APE August 2019 | Page 22

ASPHALT ANSWERS sure a flat screed for tomorrow’s job. Also, raise your screed and do a visual inspec- tion of the extension’s relationship to the main screed. How does the wear on the trailing edge look? Some quick height ad- justments may need to be made to ensure a quality job. Walk Around Leak Inspection The heating and cooling of asphalt equipment is tough on connections. During the cool down cleaning pro- cess, with all of the hydraulic functions working, do a visual inspection of the The worst time to be worried about a leak is when you have trucks lined up. hydraulic, fuel and oil fittings and make any necessary repairs. There is technolo- gy available today that allows you to add leak detection dye to your hydraulic sys- tem and be able to detect leaks quickly. A quick screed alignment can help in ensuring yield is on point from start to finish The worst time to be worried about a leak is when you have trucks lined up. How about your distributor truck or tack tank? Was there an air leak or an emulsion drip? Find them and most importantly, fix them. Fluid Check While this is part of most crew’s morn- ing routine, some fluids are better topped off in the evening. Fuel for instance, is better filled at the end of the day so that condensation does not form in the tank overnight. Water in the fuel is a bad mix- Brian Hall is the territory manager of Mid South Region at VT LeeBoy, Inc. You can contact him at [email protected] Article sponsored by LeeBoy and Rosco. For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com ture. All manufacturers have daily checks from grease to oil to fuel so topping off these fluids daily is certainly good main- tenance. Some fluids, such as hydraulic fluids and fluids in the drive hubs are bet- ter checked cold, so make sure you check your guidelines. Whenever you decide to do these checks, a written list is impera- tive so that records can be properly kept. Breaking news, right? Of course not, but it’s all about repetition no matter what. Not only expecting it to be done, but holding those responsible for these tasks accountable. Nothing is more frus- trating than truckloads of asphalt show- ing up and a crewmember informing you that the tack tank doesn’t have fuel or that the broom brush core is too worn to begin. It happens, but hopefully on someone else’s jobsite, right? [22] 1.800.210.5923