Winter Maintenance Checklist for Your Grading Equipment

Why Winter Maintenance Matters in Alaska

Construction equipment that sits through an Alaska winter without proper storage and maintenance will cost you time and money when spring breakup hits. Laser grading systems are particularly sensitive because they combine precision optics, electronic controls, and hydraulic components. A laser transmitter that was shooting straight in October will not necessarily shoot straight in April if moisture got into the housing. A grading box that sat in a yard with standing water in the hydraulic lines will have corroded valves.

Our service shop sees the same failures every spring. Nearly all of them are preventable with a shutdown checklist done before the equipment goes into storage. This is the checklist our techs use on every SharpGrade system we service.

Laser Transmitter and Receiver

Remove the laser transmitter from the tripod and store it indoors in its case. Do not leave it mounted on a tripod in an unheated shop. Temperature cycling causes condensation inside the housing, and condensation on the optics degrades accuracy. Clean the lens with the supplied lens cloth before storage. Inspect the O-ring seals on the battery compartment and the beam aperture. Replace any seals that show cracking or compression set.

The laser receiver on the grading box should be removed and stored indoors as well. Clean the sensor window and check the cable connector for corrosion. If the pins show green or white deposits, clean them with electrical contact cleaner and apply dielectric grease before storage. Label the cable so you remember which port it connects to in spring.

Grading Box Hydraulics

Drain the hydraulic lines that run to the grading box blade cylinders. Water in hydraulic lines freezes, expands, and cracks fittings. We see this every spring on systems that were not drained properly. Use the bleed valves at the cylinder ends to drain the lines completely, then cap all open ports.

Inspect the hydraulic hoses for chafing, cracking, or bulging. Replace any hose that shows damage. A hose that looks marginal in October will fail in May when you need it. Check the cylinder rod seals for leaking. A slow seep in warm weather becomes a blown seal when cold hydraulic fluid puts extra pressure on a compromised seal.

Change the hydraulic fluid in the grading box power unit if it has not been changed in the last 500 operating hours. Old fluid holds moisture and acidity that accelerate corrosion during storage.

Electrical and Control Systems

Disconnect the battery on the grading box control system and store it on a trickle charger indoors. Batteries left connected in cold storage will discharge and sulfate. A sulfated battery may take a charge in spring but will fail under load on the jobsite.

Inspect all wiring harnesses for rodent damage. Mice love to nest in equipment and chew wiring insulation. If your equipment stores in a building with rodent access, wrap exposed harnesses with rodent-deterrent tape or place deterrent bait stations nearby. We replace more wiring harnesses due to rodent damage than any other cause.

Clean all electrical connectors with contact cleaner and apply dielectric grease. This prevents corrosion on the pins during storage and makes spring reconnection reliable.