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high usage, and the fleet count which has gone up
about 30%, the cost per vehicle right now is still
pretty flat with where we were before in that field. "
Kegley adamantly attributed this to Ryder's
preventive maintenance practices.
" We schedule our trucks for an interval, and part
of that PM inspection is the door, locks, catches,
hinges, all that stuff, " he said. " As long as we maintain
the same preventive maintenance practices
that we're doing and pay attention to those when we
do replace it, I think we're going to stay right there. "
The maintenance team's strategy should be to
use all the tools and information available to best
structure the PM to account for the door system
in its entirety.
" While we design vehicle doors and hinges to
last for the life of the vehicle, fleet managers can
add a visual inspection of doors, locks, and hinges
to a regularly scheduled maintenance program,
for example, every 10,000 miles, " Woerpel said.
He continued, stating that the Ford Pro Telematics
app is one tool fleet maintenance management
can use to track physical inspections prior to vehicle
operation, " which can help to track emerging
maintenance needs. "
TMC's RP 1401 Cab and Body Preventive Maintenance
Inspection Procedures is another tool
fleets can use to structure their PM. This RP offers
a standardized preventive maintenance procedure
for truck bodies using a checklist that covers many
light- and medium-duty vehicles. It is just one
section of what should be a comprehensive PM
manual for light- and medium-duty vehicles but
can point maintenance teams in the right direction
to establish guidelines when addressing doors and
related systems and components.
The RP itself does not provide specific time or
mileage intervals to which such PM inspections
should be taking place. Rather, such intervals
should be determined by maintenance management
based on vehicle specification, application,
OEM and component manufacturer recommended
intervals and warranties, and vehicle maintenance
history.
RP 1401 details specific steps technicians
should take, along with points and components
of emphasis to be focused on, when performing
a PM pertaining to the door system. Most importantly,
the RP suggests that technicians lubricate
all door latches, hinges, and locks during the PM.
" The best preventive maintenance practices for
doors and locks are to keep them well lubricated,
especially in colder climates, to help prevent rusting,
collecting of water, or freezing, " Cinquegrana
stated. " During every PM, these locks and latches
should be lubricated. "
" Lubrication is the secret to longevity, " Kegley
agreed. He related that Ryder uses a single foodgrade
lubricant across its fleet-whether it is for
the rear doors or side doors, because they want
to accommodate anything that customers may
be hauling inside the vehicles.
AMS prefers to use white lithium grease on
locks and latches, Cinquegrana explained.
" In colder climates, white lithium grease can
make a drastic difference in preventing wear and
tear on locks and latches, " he said, adding that
AMS uses WD-40, or " something similar, " when
lubricating hinges.
» Fleets can get creative in tracking cycle rates for doors to have a better understanding of the
lifetime expectations of related hardware in order to perform service ahead of failure.
Ryder System Inc.
Technology and Maintenance
Council Recommended Practice
424 Door Hardware Performance
Requirements
TMC RP 424 establishes the minimum
performance requirements for door
hardware used on heavy-duty vehicles.
TMC expects the following list of door
hardware and components to remain
fully functional for a minimum of one
million miles in on-highway applications.
* Seals
* Latches
* Handles
* Hinges
* Linkages/rods
* Springs/clips
* Locks
* Window lift mechanisms (either
manual or powered)
* Screws
* Knobs
* Switches (door mounted)
* Electrical connections
* Mirror mounts
* Armrests
Technology and Maintenance Council
Recommended Practice 1401 Cab
and Body Preventive Maintenance
Inspection Procedures
TMC RP 1401 offers a standardized preventive
maintenance procedure for truck bodies using
a checklist that covers many light- and medium-duty
vehicles. It suggests that, when performing
a PM on doors, technicians should:
* Check for ease of operation. Lubricate rollers
and slides.
* Check spring counterbalance for attachment
and operation.
* Check locks for proper operation.
* Check condition of seals. Replace any that
are worn or torn.
* Check that doors close and latch tightly.
* Check overhead door tracks for secure
mounting and condition of channels.
Lubricate rollers.
* Check rear door cables for secure attachment
and fraying. Replace any frayed cables.
* Check door panels (inside and outside)
for any signs of leakage. Replace seals as
needed.
* Check door strap for secure mounting.
Check for fraying, wear, or weak spots.
* Check door strap for attachment per manufacturer's
recommendations.
* Lubricate all door latches, hinges, and locks
during the PM.
And during a PM, the experts suggested replacing
dirty or old lubricants without hesitation.
" If it is dirty, we clean it with a cleaning solvent, "
Kegley said. " But looking at what we're seeing, it's
mainly as long as we keep them lubed at the intervals,
we get pretty good life out of them. "
Whatever a fleet's strategy for monitoring usage
or their capacity to see the warning signs for
service in the doors, latches, and hinges, what is
most important is adherence to a thorough preventive
maintenance schedule.
" Do the basic things right, and you're gonna stay
okay, " Kegley surmised.
For related content go to
FleetMaintenance.com/in-the-bay
March 2023 | FleetMaintenance.com
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