Question about cutterhead maintenance on a 14-inch dredge

We ran our old 14-inch dredge near Mobile for a season using the 'run it until it breaks' method on the cutterhead. This year, we switched to a scheduled weekly inspection and greasing routine. The difference in wear after six months is night and day, with far fewer teeth replacements needed. Do you think a strict schedule is worth the downtime, or is reactive maintenance still viable on some jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelac634d ago

Well, the thing is, reactive maintenance can be okay if the job is short and the parts are cheap. But on a long season like yours near Mobile, that abrasive sand just eats metal. A weekly check (even just a visual once-over and a grease gun) catches a loose tooth before it takes out a whole segment. That saved downtime pays for itself.

clark.iris4d ago

Sounds like you answered your own question with those results. Reactive maintenance just costs more in the long run.