For any machine, maintenance is a necessity — not a choice.
When a machine reaches the point where it constantly needs major repairs, that’s often a sign that its service life is nearly over. I’m not talking about minor maintenance — because regular minor repairs alone won’t save a machine that’s already worn out.

Now that I’m retired, I finally have time to write these notes and share experiences I’ve gathered over decades, including lessons learned from communicating with many equipment owners and operators.

Most operators I meet use second-hand or even multiple-hand machines, often without having received proper maintenance or operating training. Because of this, many machines suffer from avoidable failures simply due to a lack of correct procedures.

So, I sincerely advise all operators to study carefully, reflect seriously, and put these practices into action.
This isn’t boasting — it’s based on over forty years of experience in equipment operation, maintenance, and repair. I believe these lessons can serve everyone well for a long time.

Since different brands and models have their own design features, these recommendations are not for one specific machine, but rather general and adaptable. Each operator can apply them according to their own needs.
Because the content is quite extensive, I’ll share it in several installments.

1. Keep Your Operator Consistent

A machine should have a relatively fixed operator.
If the operator changes frequently, the machine’s condition will certainly decline — no matter the reason.
Owners who can’t maintain a stable operator shouldn’t bother studying this advice. It won’t help — whether it’s for temporary workers or short-term replacements.

2. Perform a Proper Pre-Start Walk-Around Inspection

Before every cold start, carry out a full walk-around inspection to eliminate potential issues — especially oil or coolant leaks.
If you wait until a warning alarm goes off, it’s already too late.

Repairing can remove a fault, but restoring factory condition? Forget it — that’s like the King of Hell posting a notice to fool the ghosts!
No field repair can ever truly reach the precision of factory assembly. You can only make it work “well enough.”

In the old days of the planned economy, if you ran a machine until an alarm went off, you’d get punished — not like today, where everything’s more relaxed. Back then, losing a few hundred yuan was enough to make you think twice!

Ideally, your pre-start inspection should reveal no surprises. Then proceed to open the drain valve at the bottom of the fuel tank and the water separator drain, until clean fuel flows out.
If you can’t drain the contaminants, fix it immediately. Any operator who ignores this step is simply lazy — no excuses.

If you’re a responsible operator, at the very least, report the issue to the machine owner.

Also, note this important point:
Rust at the bottom of the fuel tank is not the factory’s fault — it’s the operator’s.
I’ve seen brand-new machines develop rust in the tank in under 200 hours of use — all due to neglecting the daily fuel draining process.

3. Be Smart When Refueling

Careful operators often cover the fuel inlet with a piece of nylon stocking to filter out impurities — and I commend this habit.
However, don’t forget to remove it after refueling!
I’ve encountered more than one case of malfunction caused by operators leaving the stocking inside after filling up.