Two Locations

Knoxville

865-982-6452

Tri-Cities

423-975-9111

Operating Hours

Parts & Service

M-F 7am - 5pm

Sales & Rentals

M-F 8am - 5pm

Contact Us

865-982-6452

Sales: Blake Wilson

Parts/Service: Terry Nichols

Keep heavy equipment operating efficiently in winter months

Keeping Heavy Machinery Operating Efficiently in Winter Months

Emily Bieger

As temperatures drop and winter weather approaches, heavy construction equipment works harder. Cold weather can affect machinery performance, reduce efficiency, and increase the risk of breakdowns. At CMI Case, we understand the importance of keeping equipment in top working condition year-round. With that in mind, here are some essential tips to keep your heavy construction equipment operating optimally to keep your projects on track during the colder months.

Inspect and Maintain Your Equipment

Regular equipment inspections are key to preventing costly repairs and untimely breakdowns. Check for leaks, wear and damage, especially in hydraulic systems, electrical components, engines and cooling systems. Maintain proper tire pressures and look for cracks or excessive wear on tracks and tires, particularly for excavators and skid steers. These simple steps can save you time and suffering out in the cold of winter.

Switch to Winter Grade Fluids

Cold temperatures cause fluids to thicken and flow more slowly, reducing machinery efficiency and performance. To combat this, it’s essential to switch to winter-grade engine oil, hydraulic fluids and fuel additives, which help prevent diesel fuel from gelling. Diesel engines are particularly vulnerable to cold weather, as water in the fuel system can freeze and cause clogs or damage. To avoid these issues, regularly drain water separators, use anti-gel additives or winter diesel, and keep fuel tanks full to minimize condensation buildup. By taking these steps, you can ensure your equipment operates smoothly and reliably throughout the winter months.

Battery Care

Batteries often lose efficiency in cold temperatures, making it harder to start your equipment and increasing the risk of other electrical related issues. There’s an old saying that batteries get killed in the summer (due to heat) and die in the winter (due to increased load demands they can no longer maintain). To keep your batteries in peak condition during winter, start by cleaning and tightening connections to ensure proper voltage flow. Regularly test the battery charge and replace any weak or failing batteries before they become a problem and leave you stranded. For equipment stored outdoors, consider using battery heaters or maintainers to keep them warm and ready to perform, even in freezing conditions. Proper battery care can make all the difference in keeping your machines running smoothly throughout the winter. 

Store Your Equipment Properly

Making sure your equipment is stored properly will shelter it from the harsh elements of winter. If possible, use covered areas or even indoor storage facilities to protect your machinery from the winter snow, ice, wind and rain. If you are not able to find cover for your equipment it is always smart to use waterproof covers to protect external components. Also, park machinery on solid ground after use to avoid important undercarriage components from freezing.

Preparing Your Crew for the Cold

Along with preparing your heavy machinery for the winter, it’s important to make sure that your most important pieces of equipment are ready for the cold too, and that is your crew! Teaching your crew to quickly recognize and respond to things like weather related equipment stress, emergency breakdowns, and other proper machinery upkeep can ensure that your projects won’t skip a beat despite the challenges cold weather might bring. Most importantly, keep safety in mind, as cold weather and ice can make operating heavy machinery dangerous. Keeping your crew up to date on the newest safety procedures and precautions that need to take should always be the utmost priority!

Always keep the tips and tricks above in mind for cold winter days. It’s also smart to reference machinery manuals for proper manufacturer recommendations and also seek out the wisdom of sales and service professionals on techniques that can be used to best protect your machinery from winter weather. CMI Case has service and sales professionals available Monday through Friday from 8-5pm to answer all your questions about your equipment and how to properly take care of it to avoid costly breakdowns.

CASE heavy duty equipment lineup.

What’s What in the World of Construction Equipment

Emily Bieger

It’s spring, and you can hear the engines starting to rev! Construction equipment is in high demand, as building continues to soar throughout the nation! Before you make the substantial investment in heavy machinery, make sure you have the right equipment for your job.

Excavators: Used for digging, demolition, handling materials, trenching, earthmoving…the excavator uses a boom, dipper, bucket, and attachments for a broad range of uses. Excavators come in a range of sizes, 4,000 lbs. to 158,000 lbs. Mini-Excavators are second only to CTL’s as the most popular Case machine in East Tennessee.

Backhoe/Loaders: The Swiss Army Knife of construction equipment and CASE’s flagship product. Utilized for excavation, material handling, demolition, and landscaping, the backhoe has both a front-facing loader bucket or blade and a rear-facing backhoe with bucket.    

Bulldozers: Utilized to clear, dig, and level land. The dozer has metal tracks and a 4 or 6-Way blade that pushes earth, sand, brush, and debris.

Wheel Loaders: Utilized for material handling on concrete, asphalt, gravel, or dirt with a large front-end loader bucket. Wheel Loaders articulate in the middle and offer higher speeds for large jobsite material handling.

Compact Track Loaders: CTL’s are the most sold type of construction equipment on the market today. Extremely versatile rubber track machines utilized on nearly every construction project in East TN. Multitude of attachments are available for every task including buckets, trenchers, mulching heads, forks, brush cutters hammers, dozer blades and more. Although they look like skid steers, they generally have more horsepower and can carry heavier loads.

Skid Steers: Like the CTL but wheeled for use on concrete and asphalt, these also are available with multitude of attachments. The consensus is that tires hold up longer and are far smoother riding on hard surfaces.

Blake Wilson, general manager at Contractor’s Machinery Inc. (CMI), says the most important factor to consider when buying heavy equipment is the type of work you are planning to pursue and what you are looking for from your equipment dealer. Since 1971 CMI has been keeping contractors working in East Tennessee.

Before you make any large machinery purchases, be sure to visit our CASE Equipment page. Review the extensive list of equipment available and talk to a CMI-Case representative! CMI wants this decision to be the very best for you and your business!

Equipment maintenance tips to ensure you get the longest life out of your equipment during the hot summer months.

Summer Maintenance Tips for Your Equipment

Contractors Machinery

The Heat is On!

In order to get the longest life out of ALL  of your heavy duty CASE and Toro equipment, be sure to practice the following tips in the steamy months ahead:

  • Be kind to your equipment. Try to plan your workday around the coolest hours of the day and give machines an extra couple of minutes to cool down at the end of the workday.
  • Keep it clean! Dirt and mud build-up mean your equipment will run too hot and this means decreased efficiency. Clean it off. Every time. Train your crew on the importance of this so they will do the same.
  • Baby your off-season equipment. Drain fuel tanks or shut off fuel lines of your machines heading to seasonal storage.
  • Check and adjust fluid levels more frequently in the summer months and keep radiators free of dirt and debris. The best way to clean your radiator is with an air compressor, not a water hose.
  • Carry a Planned Maintenance Agreement with Contractor’s Machinery. Construction machinery is increasingly high-tech, so it’s more important than ever to consider an agreement that is tailored to your specific needs. A Planned Maintenance Agreement takes the headache out of budgeting and tracking maintenance and assures future work at a fixed price.

CASE ProCare comes standard on new heavy equipment orders, providing:

Planned maintenance and special seasonal attention are essential. CMI is here to help take care of your investment, your business and your fleet! Do you have questions about service or parts? Call CMI parts and service at 865-982-6452.

CMI-CASE celebrates its 50 year anniversary!

Happy 50th Anniversary to CMI and the Nash family!

Contractors Machinery

CMI – A Heavy Duty Legacy for Heavy Duty Construction

Power, performance, and practical innovation drive the construction industry. The Nash family knows that full well, as it celebrates 50 years of serving East Tennessee as owners of Contractor’s Machinery Inc., the area’s official CASE dealer! CMI not only provides heavy duty equipment, it was built on the heavy duty legacy of the Nash family, and they proudly stand behind that name!

Designed with productivity in mind, CASE light, medium and heavy duty construction equipment offers industry-leading features that satisfy the needs of owners, fleet managers and operators.

CMI, established and family-owned in 1976, offers the full line of CASE construction equipment, including the flagship CASE 580 Loader Backhoe, as well as Rubber Tire Wheel Loaders, Hydraulic Excavators, Crawler Dozers, Compact Track Loaders, Mini-Excavators, Skid-Steer Loaders, Compactors and Motor Graders.

CASE is equipment you can trust. Nash is the name you have trusted for 50 years to bring it to you. These are names you can rely on for constructing a HEAVY DUTY legacy that will last a lifetime!

A sincere THANK YOU from the Nash family to the many faithful clients who have made Contractor’s Machinery Inc. the premier CASE dealer in this community. Here’s to 50 more years or serving together!