Brick and block machine maintenance: a daily, weekly and monthly checklist

Most stoppages on a brick or block line come from small things left too long: a loose bolt, a leaking hose, a mould worn out of size. A short routine prevents most of them. Adapt this checklist to your machine’s manual and keep a log.

Safety first

• Switch off and lock out the power before cleaning, adjusting or reaching into the machine.
• Release hydraulic pressure before opening any hydraulic connection.
• Keep guards in place and never bypass interlocks to save time.

Daily

• Clean moulds, tamper heads and pallets at the end of each shift, and oil the moulds before starting.
• Check the hydraulic oil level and look for leaks at hoses and fittings.
• Grease the points marked in the manual.
• Clear spilled material from moving parts, rails and sensors.
• Listen for new noises from motors, vibrators and the pump.
• Empty and wash out the mixer so material does not set inside.

Weekly

• Check that vibrator motor bolts and mounts are tight.
• Inspect hydraulic hoses for cracks, bulges and rubbing.
• Check belt and chain tension, and lubricate the chains.
• Inspect mixer blades and scrapers for wear.
• Clean dust out of the control panel and check that cable glands are sealed.
• Measure a few blocks against the target size.

Monthly, or as the manual says

• Replace hydraulic filters, and test or change the oil on schedule.
• Check the pressure gauge against the set pressure.
• Measure the moulds and plan replacements before blocks go out of size.
• Check the bearings on motors, mixers and conveyors.
• With the power isolated, have an electrician tighten terminals and check the earthing.

Spares to keep on site

• hydraulic seals and a spare hose or two
• hydraulic filters
• bearings for the motors and the mixer
• proximity sensors and limit switches
• mixer blades or scrapers
• a spare mould for your best-selling product

Keep a log

Write down every check, part change and breakdown with the date. After a few months the log shows which parts wear fastest, so you can order them before they fail.

Spares and service

We supply spare parts and service for the machines we build. If you run a Possible Machines line, call or message us with your model and the part you need. Planning a new line? See our machines.