Vacuum Truck Maintenance: When To DIY

To borrow a line from Clint Eastwood, a truck owner’s “got to know his limitations” when it comes to repair and maintenance
Vacuum Truck Maintenance: When To DIY
Do what you do well. Leave the other stuff to people who have the equipment and the qualifications to complete repair and maintenance professionally.

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Sometimes truck owners try to take on repair work they aren't qualified to handle. Do-it-yourself projects can backfire and cost more money than if you went to a professional mechanic. Here are some guidelines for when you should pull out the toolbox or take your truck to a professional wrench-turner:

Do it yourself:

• Maintaining the primary shut-off. Servicing the primary shut-off at the top of the tank is relatively simple. First, climb on the tank and open the lid of the primary. Check to see that the hose connection leading to the secondary is secure and there are no signs of wear from rust or abrasion. Secondly, check the stainless steel basket inside the tank. Is it still there? You’d be surprised at how many people lose the cage and the float ball is somewhere down on the floor of the tank. It’s simply from a lack of maintenance and not paying attention.

When the cage is gone, all bets are off in terms of safety for your pump. Anything that feels the force of vacuum has access to the secondary and when the secondary is full, the pump is the next stop. When enough waste hits the pump, that’s the end of the pump. So be smart; diligently check your primary monthly and be careful climbing on the tank.

• Servicing the secondary. Check your hose connections in and out, again to look for signs of damage, rust or abrasion. Make sure the connection is tight. The bottom half of the secondary can be removed and it can be checked for wear and tear. The real trick of maintaining the secondary is to make sure it gets drained every day. Not every other day.

• Replacing pump vanes and seals. As time goes by, vanes wear down and vacuum decreases. This indicates you are destined to need a rebuild kit. Replacing vanes and seals is fairly easy if you are somewhat mechanically inclined. First, disconnect your pump and remove it from the truck. Remove the end plates from the pump. This will give you access to the rotor where the vanes are located. Replace the vanes, install new seals in the end plates and reassemble the pump. If you are not comfortable with this operation, find a mechanic with pump experience and let him do the job.

• Inspect the oiler and maintain the oil catch muffler. Once the pump is re-installed, inspect your oiler tank to make sure it has no significant signs of wear. Some pumps have the oiler within the pump and others have a separate tank. The oil catch muffler catches excess oil from the pump, which must be drained into a bucket on a regular basis and disposed of based on environmental regulations in your area.

• Check the vacuum relief and pressure relief valves for proper operation.

• Check the driveline regularly to make sure it is properly greased.

Leave it to the professional:

• Structural issues. Problems such as skids starting to separate from the tank or possibly small cracks showing up in the tank should be repaired by certified welders. If that is you, go ahead. But don’t decide to practice your welding on the vacuum tank you rely on. Vacuum tanks and attachments that are welded need to be fixed by welders who have experience with such work.

• Baffle repair and replacement. Annually, you should open up the manhole and check the interior of the tank with a flashlight, looking specifically for the condition of your tank baffles. You may not be able to see them very well, but baffle repair is an area best left to professionals in the welding shop. First, it’s not much fun crawling inside a pump truck and second, professionals will guarantee their work.

• Tank replacement. Tank manufacturers or truck builders will know how to place the tank on the chassis for the proper weight distribution, and they should guarantee their work so you won’t have to worry about it later. They also have overhead cranes and equipment to do the job safely and quickly. Mounting the tank is also something we would advise leaving to the professionals. If you decide on your own to hard-mount the tank to the frame (fasten to the frame without springs) you will run the risk of damage to the tank from twisting and turning of the chassis frame. A professional can check the rubber belting or the wood spacers between the tank and the frame. If the tank is old enough to replace, then so are those spacers.

• Maintaining or replacing the PTO, the gearbox, and possibly the driveline. These are costly items and need the right kind of attention. Unless you are qualified to perform this work, get the professional to repair or replace them as required.

A final word

Common sense in this business should rule the day. Do what you do well. Leave the other stuff to people who have the equipment and the qualifications to complete repair and maintenance professionally. The more you understand the workings of your truck, the more confident you’ll feel about maintaining it. Following these tips, you’ll end up with less downtime and more profit.



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