Tools and Aids for Maintenance

The maintenance tools include handling tools, pressing tools, hand tools, and machine tools. 

Handling tools help to lift and carry the components from one work to another. Devices include boom trucks, fork lifts, chain pulley blocks, mobile 'A'  frames, jacks and tractor mounted cranes. 

Pressing tools are required to remove tightly fitting parts such as gears, bushings, bearing shafts. sleeves, etc. These may range from small, hand powered pullers for light work to portable hydraulic presses. 

Hand tools include the complete sets of wrenches, spanners, tongs, chisels, Hammerstein, screw drivers, etc. Special sets may be required for specific makes of equipment and should  be provided for to the maintenance teams. Machine tools have been described under field repair facilities. 

Aids include cleaning plant, benches and special mounting frames, platforms. air compressors, water supply, etc. 

Cleaning of parts under inspection, servicing and repairs is of great importance. All the dismantled parts should be neatly and methodically kept. Cleaning of the site to lovelorn steel cuttings, nuts and bolts, nails and iron scrap, grease 'and  spoiler oil is indicative of good housekeeping, and should be ensured. Clearing devices include water jets and steam jets. Steam cleaning plants are now popular in repair shops and result m saving shop time due to their effective working. For light cleaning and removal of grease the vapor type plant which ejects steam under its own pressure is quite effective. But, where heavy layers of dirt and grease are to be removed, steam plants incorporate hydraulic pressure as well, operating at 21 to 28 kg/cm . Water jets with pressures up to 42 kg/cm2 are also used for cleaning heavy coatings of sludge.