APE August 2020 | Page 18

EXPERT ADVICE Today’s asphalt paver will see a minimum of 750 to 1,000 hours and an average of around 1,200 hours per year. But the length of the paving season is largely determined by what part of the country it is in. In Pennsylvania, the paving season may run from April 15 to November 1. That same paver in Phoenix is going to run at least 11 months out of the year. There comes a point when the trusty paving machine needs to be replaced. “Hours of use is the main reason for replacing an asphalt paver,” stated Paul A. Puckett, president of Puckett Equipment, Inc., Loganville, Ga. “The contractor-owner will know how many hours to expect based on the typical jobs and conditions they operate in.” It would be nice to know at the time of investing in a new paver how soon after the ink has dried on the purchase check that one should start looking to replace the machine. “This answer is up to the user, and their market, weather conditions, applications and sometimes it’s just a matter of their growth and they need a more productive machine to move forward,” said Bryce Davis, Jr., director of sales, LeeBoy, Inc., Lincolnton, N.C. “Some customers will trade in a machine every two, three, or four years and some customers keep them for 10 years or longer. Some contractors go by hours of use--every 2,500, 3,000 or 5,000 hours, and then they trade in. There is no wrong answer here, it’s what works for your business and is the most profitable way to handle it.” Sometimes the answer of when to replace can be quite simple. Puckett said: “Unload a paver when downtime and repairs become more than the cost of a new unit.” What steps should an asphalt paver owner take to maximize the machine’s trade-in value? It all starts after taking delivery of the new machine. A brand-new paver is in top working condition and very clean. “The best practice any owner of a paver can do to help ensure its optimal value would be to keep the machine clean,” Davis stated. “Cleaning it at the end of the day is easily said, but sometimes hard to do, with job site conditions, weather and trucking. But, cleaning a machine while it’s still warm is easier and takes less time versus doing it when the material is cold and hardened in place.” A thorough cleaning means cleansing the augers, hopper and drive train. And spraying down all surfaces that come into contact with hot mix asphalt with an asphalt release agent to prevent build up and impaired performance. In addition to this daily maintenance, at least twice a month, it is wise to complete a routine wash down of the machine. If the old asphalt is not cleaned out, the heat of the new asphalt the For More Information On This Advertiser Please Visit www.CallAPE.com/e-inquiry www.callape.com [18] 1.800.210.5923