As the logging season winds down on Vancouver Island, most operations face a choice: park equipment for the winter wet season or continue working through shortened daylight and challenging conditions. Either way, a thorough year-end inspection identifies repairs that should be completed before the equipment sits idle or before pushing it through another demanding season.
Structural Inspection
Start with a comprehensive structural assessment. Inspect all boom, arm, and stick welds for cracking. Check frame welds on loaders, skidders, and log trucks. Examine pin boss areas for elongation or cracking. Look at cab mounting points and ROPS/FOPS structures. Inspect grapple and log loader structures for fatigue damage. Document everything with photos and notes. Structural cracks that are minor now will be major by spring if left unrepaired.
Undercarriage and Running Gear
Track-type machines need undercarriage measurement against wear limits. Worn tracks, rollers, and sprockets reduce efficiency and accelerate wear on other components. Wheeled equipment needs tire inspection, wheel bearing assessment, and brake evaluation. Log trucks need frame, bunk, and reach inspection, with special attention to fifth-wheel mounting and trailer hitch assemblies.
Hydraulic System
Hydraulic failures are the most common in-season breakdowns. Year-end inspection should include hose inspection and replacement of any showing wear, cylinder rod inspection for scoring, and seal replacement where needed, hydraulic fluid sampling and analysis, filter replacement, and pump and motor assessment for noise, heat, or reduced performance. Replacing a suspect hydraulic hose in the shop costs a fraction of an emergency field repair in January.
Plan Your Repairs
Once inspections are complete, prioritize repairs. Safety-critical items (cracked frames, ROPS damage, brake issues) must be addressed before the machine returns to work. Efficiency items (worn cutting edges, loose pins, minor leaks) should be scheduled for the earliest convenient window. Cosmetic items can wait. T & C Fabrication provides structural repair and rebuild services for logging equipment across Vancouver Island. Call Ted at 250-202-1643 to schedule your fleet inspections.
