Maintenance of the Bucket Elevator

Bucket elevator must be prepared before grain intake session and such care continued during the entire grain intake season. Inadequate maintenance will result in low carrying capacity, damage to buckets, damage to belt, stretched belts, blocked inlets, motor overloads and operation problem include breakdown.

The following must be thoroughly checked, inspected, serviced repaired before grain intake commences:

Boot: Check cleanliness, remove grain residues in the boot. Check condition of housing for corrosion and wear, grain and dust leakages, functioning of the belt tension device, bearings, condition of pulley capacity slides and inlet wear.

Legs: Check cleanliness, inspect and look for signs of dust and grain leakages, wear of housing, missing bolts, noise.

Head: Check for wear of the discharge chute and all housing of the head. Clean drive station and check and inspect condition of motor, gear box, leakages, lubricant levels, bearings, couplings and transmission system mounting.

Belt: Check and thoroughly inspect belt. Establish state of wear and tear, running off-centre, slippage and tension.

Buckets: Check and thoroughly inspect the buckets. Look at state of wear and tear, loose or missing buckets, loose or missing bolts/nuts and washers, deformed buckets.

Structure: Check and ensure that supports, access ladders, service platforms, guard rails are secured.