Edge Of Dock Levelers | YARD RAMP Site Loadng Dock Equipment
Copperloy Yard Ramps | Portable Forklift Ramps
800-321-4968

Edge of Dock

Are You Maintaining Your Edge of Dock Leveler Properly?

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You’re busy. We get it. You’re moving loads in and out of your facility all day, every day. Taking time for recommended maintenance of your dock equipment can seem like a time drain—but you’ll be glad you did.

As with any equipment, maintaining it now means fewer big-ticket repairs down the road. Just imagine how long your car engine would last without routine oil changes. Just as sticking to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule for your vehicle helps ensure reliable transportation, scheduling time for maintenance checks on your edge of dock leveler can actually save time and money down the road.

And better to schedule time now rather than endure downtime when a critical load needs to leave your facility. Fortunately, our EOD levelers require minimal maintenance, including the simple lubrication of hinges, which come equipped with grease fittings.

Read on for step-by-step procedures for keeping your EOD leveler functioning properly.

Safety Precautions

First things first.

Before you service your edge of dock leveler, be sure to take necessary safety measures to avoid injury (and by injury, we mean serious injury. This is, after all, heavy-duty steel equipment capable of handling several thousand pounds.) Reading manuals can be tedious, but in this case, you’ll be glad you did.

Be aware that:

  1. The EOD leveler moves toward you.
  2. For maintenance, the leveler should be in the raised position and secured with the maintenance strut. (More on that important piece of equipment below.)
  3. Always return the edge of dock leveler to the stored position after service.

Got it? Good. Now you’re ready to insert the maintenance strut.

  1. Using the hand lever, position the EOD leveler in the full back position. See Fig. 18 from the manual for reference.Maintenance Lever for Edge of Dock Leveler Maintenance
  2. While one person holds the hand lever down (Fig. 18 again), another person standing on the drive surface must position the lip to its full upright position. Take a look at Fig. 25 from the manual to confirm correct positioning.EOD Leveler Maintenance Positioning
  3. With the ramp and lip in the full upright position, move the lever to the maintenance socket location. See Fig. 25 again for reference.

By the Manual

Safety precautions? Check. Equipment prep? Check. Now you’re ready to tackle the task at hand. Remember, your YARD RAMP Site equipment is warrantied to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use for a period of one year, provided that the purchaser maintains and operates the edge of dock leveler in accordance with the owner’s manual. Go by the book!

  1. Every 90 days, with the dock leveler in the maintenance position, inspect all moving parts for wear or damage. Repair or replace as necessary.
  2. Inspect all welds, and repair or replace as necessary.
  3. If linkage parts must be replaced due to wear or damage, raise the leveler to its rear-most position by means of the hand lever and secure with the maintenance strut. Again, reference Fig. 25 from the manual.
  4. Lubricate all grease fittings every 90 days.
  5. To increase spring tension, turn bolts in evenly. To decrease spring tension, turn bolts out evenly.
  6. Every 90 days, inspect the dock bumpers: 4” of bumper protection is required. Worn, torn, loose or missing bumper must be replaced.
  7. Every 90 days, check all labels and replace as necessary. You can find a list of part numbers for your edge of dock leveler on page 26 of your owner’s manual or download the PDF.
  8. Every 6 months, verify that you have the latest manual. Follow the link above for the most current version.
  9. Hydraulic edge of dock levelers only: Seasonally change the hydraulic fluid for ambient temperatures, or if there is any evidence of accumulating condensation creating water contamination.

Fluid Recommendations

Finally, don’t use brake fluid or any other fluids not approved by Copperloy. Use of such fluids may degrade the hydraulic systems seals and hoses.

The first choice for fluid is Citco AW-46(200) hydraulic fluid. This is the fluid we normally supply with your unit. It’s suitable for an ambient temperature range of -10°F to 100°F (-23°C to 38°C).

We’re confident these steps will become second nature, once you get on a routine maintenance schedule. Have other maintenance-related questions? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us today.

Six things to Consider before Buying an Edge of Dock Leveler

With over 60 years of experience in manufacturing and selling material loading equipment, YARD RAMP Site has established a reputation in providing quality equipment that’s built to last. At Copperloy, we offer our customers the option of tailor-made equipment that can handle any unique challenge.  When it comes to our edge of dock levelers, this equipment provides our customers with a practical solution for loading and unloading trucks from most dock positions.

1. Ease of Use

YARD RAMP Site is the most trusted name when searching for an easy-to-operate edge of dock leveler. Why? It’s because we offer market-leading equipment parts, coupled with superior safety. Our levelers easily mount to the face of nearly any dock. And if that’s not enough, we also offer transition plates and approach ramps to further take the weight off your shoulders.

2. Manual and Hydraulic Options

At Copperloy, we offer a manual edge of dock leveler with the option of having a hydraulic power unit installed to it via a wall-mounted push button. That push of a button allows the unit to lift and rest heavy items, from 20,000 to 30,000 pounds, to the height of a trailer bed for safe freight handling.

3. The Utmost in Safety

Safety is the top priority at Copperloy. That’s why each of our edge of dock levelers are equipped with a safety maintenance strut to secure the unit, while performing routine maintenance. Speaking of maintenance, lubricating the hinges is simple on our levelers because they come with grease fittings.

4. Quality Engineering

Our edge of dock leveler has been designed and engineered using a three dimensional software package. Copperloy’s exclusive lift mechanism and spring assembly sets the board in place with a fraction of the effort needed to operate a conventional edge of dock leveler.

5. Long-Lasting Bumpers

edge of dock steel face bumper guardAnother area of importance at YARD RAMP Site is the quality of our leveler’s bumpers. The rubber/steel block bumper combo is often times the first thing to go bad in an edge of dock leveler. Several years ago, YARD RAMP Site began using a specially-blended rubber formula bumper that is 3,000 PSI. We truly believe this is the longest lasting – and absolute best option – on the market.

6. Durability that Lasts

Durability is another key component to a properly functioning and lasting edge of dock leveler. While most edge of dock levelers have some wear and tear at the pivot points, Copperloy’s pivot points are equipped with bushings to minimize wear. This is another area that sets us apart from our competition.

 

An edge of deck leveler isn’t the only piece of equipment offered at Copperloy. We provide customers with a wide variety of American made mobile yard ramps, dock-to-ground ramps, truck ramps, and forklift ramps. We also have rail boards, dock plates, and portable platforms. All of our material handling equipment is available to purchase, some even available to rent.

 

YARD RAMP Site provides only the best products on the market to make our customer’s loading and unloading experience significantly lighter. Learn more about what YARD RAMP Site can do for your unique dock and ramp needs by calling us today at 1­800­321­4968 or contact us by clicking here.

EOD - dock leveler

EOD bridging the gap between a truck and a loading dock. This is perfect for forklifts.

YARD RAMP Site to Showcase Yard Ramps and Edge of Dock Levelers at the TPE, Terminal Properties in Exchange, in Florida

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YARD RAMP Site participating at Terminal Properties Exchange (TPE) 2013

YARD RAMP Site is happy to announce that we will be attending the upcoming TPE in Captiva, Florida. The Terminal Properties steel dock board with aluminum sidesExchange will be taking place this year from May 12-15, and is one of the largest annual events of its kind for the freight industry. As a leading provider of material handling and loading dock equipment to the industry, we will be showcasing a variety of our versatile and innovative solutions at the TPE.

We have been serving the logistics and freight industries for more than 60 years, providing a wide range of products and solutions. Everything we produce is proudly made in the USA, and with an expert in-house team of engineers, we can custom design and manufacture tailor-made solutions for companies with varying needs and unique or hard to match specifications and circumstances.

With the US economy being so reliant on the logistics and freight industries, just about anything which is purchased across the country spent some time on a truck, and that means that a YARD RAMP Site product helped along the way. Through our decades of experience, we understand the challenges of the freight industry. This firsthand knowledge is one of the many reasons that leading freight carriers and brands continue to work exclusively with us.

Of course, anyone who has been in this or similar fields before knows that one of the major hassles of logistics and freight are the inconsistent measurements and specifications of different trucks and other gear and equipment, and the burden this places on freight terminals and their employees. And this is exactly where and how our products come to the rescue.

We’re a leading provider of edge of dock levelers, providing a service range of 5 inches above and 5 inches below the dock, offering amazing flexibility. Our edge of dock levelers are offered with various gross weight capacities, and in all common sizes and specifications, and offer quick and easy operation with the dual extension spring lift assist. They are built to last, require little to no maintenance, and can be equipped with push button operation and hydraulic lift functionality.

We also provide a huge range of dock ramps, including dock to ground ramps, and portable yard ramps that help facilities maximize their space and efficiency. In addition, YARD RAMP Site also produces a wide range of other material handling equipment. This includes dock boards, dock plates, dock lifts and lift tables, portable platforms, and on down the line.

mobile-containerramp-1

We’ll be happy to provide you with more information and product specifications and capabilities while we’re at the TPE in Florida! If you can’t make it to TPE, then contact us now for information about our products and how they can help your transportation company.

The Terminal Properties Exchange is a great opportunity to connect with potential service and equipment providers, and others across the logistics and freight industry. If you or your company will be attending the TPE this year, be sure to stop by and see what we’re able to offer.

We hope to see you there!