CASE Construction Equipment: A 7-Point Pre-Start Checklist That Prevents Costly Mistakes

I'm a service manager at a CASE construction equipment dealer. For 8 years I've handled parts and service orders for CASE machines, and I've personally made—and documented—14 significant mistakes. Total cost: roughly $23,000 in wasted budget. Not proud of it. But those mistakes taught me exactly where equipment owners lose money. This is the checklist I now use to train every new operator and service tech in our shop.

Use this list if you own or rent CASE excavators, compact track loaders, backhoes, or skid steers. It's designed for daily pre-start checks, and it catches the small issues that become $5,000 repair bills if ignored.

There are 7 points. They're not in order of importance—they're in the order I do them. In fact, point #3 is the one most people skip, and it's cost me the most money.

1. Check the Bucket and Attachment (Yes, Really)

I know it sounds basic, but the fastest way to ruin a day is a cracked bucket or a missing tooth that you didn't notice. In 2022, we sent a CASE CX210 excavator to a site without checking the bucket pins. The bucket fell off during the first dig. The repair and downtime cost $1,800.

Look at the bucket edges, welds, and teeth. Wiggle the quick coupler to make sure it's locked. And here’s the thing nobody tells you: a worn bucket changes the machine's entire balance. On a golf course job in 2022, we used a heavy digging bucket for fine grading and tore up the surface. That's what we now call "bucket golf"—the expensive mistake of using the wrong bucket for course work. The right bucket is just as important as the right machine, whether you're digging foundations or shaping bunkers.

2. Check Hydraulic Fluid Levels and Leaks

In my first year, I thought a small leak under the pump was "normal sweating." It wasn't. By the time we noticed the fluid was low, the pump was already damaged. That lesson cost $2,400 for a new pump plus labor.

Before starting, check the sight glass or dipstick with the machine on level ground. Look for puddles or wet spots around cylinders, hoses, and the valve bank. Also check the hydraulic filter's indicator if your CASE has one.

If you use hydraulic attachments like a breaker or auger (say, for drilling into concrete), the fluid level matters even more. Running a hydraulic hammer with low oil is a fast track to overheating and seal failure.

3. Use the Right Attachment for Drilling into Concrete

This is the point that most people skip. You might be tempted to use a standard bucket to knock out a concrete slab. Don't. A bucket is not a hammer. If you need to drill into concrete for footings or anchors, use a hydraulic hammer or a combination of core drill and rotary attachment.

In 2023, we had a client who used a CASE CX160 excavator with a straight tooth bucket to claw through a reinforced concrete wall. The bucket ended up cracked, the stick got bent, and the concrete wasn't even broken properly. That one mistake cost them $7,500 in bucket repairs and a week of delayed work (ugh).

Here's the rule: match the attachment to the material. For concrete, choose a hydraulic hammer rated for the excavator weight. For soft ground, use a digging bucket. For grading, use a smooth bucket. It's not just about speed—it's about preventable damage.

4. Inspect Tracks, Tires, and Undercarriage

Tracks are the number one hidden cost on compact equipment. Check for wear on sprockets, idlers, and track tension. Most CASE manuals recommend 1–2 inches of slack in the top track run. Too tight or too loose causes premature wear.

In 2021, I ignored a squealing track on a CASE SV280B skid steer. A week later, the track snapped on the highway. The tow and replacement cost $1,200. The squeal had started three days before. (Surprise, surprise.)

For wheeled machines, look at tire wear patterns—they tell you about alignment and inflation problems before they get serious.

5. Check Warning Lights and Electrical Systems

This is another "easy to ignore" item. The warning lights on your CASE dash aren't there for decoration. In 2020, an operator said, "That alarm has been on for a month, but the machine runs fine." Within two hours, the EGR system failed, costing us $4,800.

Before starting the engine, turn the key to the ON position and verify that all warning lights come on briefly, then go off. If any stay lit, address them before the shift. Also check alternator output and battery connections for corrosion, especially after a wet night.

And while you're at it, check that your backup camera and beeper work. That's a safety issue, not just a convenience. If you're running lights off a portable power source, a Westinghouse generator on site can keep diagnostics and accessories powered during cold starts—we carry one in service trucks.

6. Train Operators on the Specific Machine

I'm a big fan of preparing operators, but you can't assume a good operator can jump into any machine. Different models have different controls, hydraulics, and attachments. In 2023, I assigned an experienced loader operator to a CASE backhoe without training. He accidentally hit the quick-attach lever while traveling, dropping the bucket in traffic. Nobody was hurt, but it was a close call.

Spend 15 minutes with every new operator on the machine: controls, emergency stops, safety interlocks, and proper use of the bucket for the tasks planned that day. That 15 minutes is cheaper than any repair. Personally, I now require a sign-off checklist before anyone starts a shift on a rented or newly assigned unit.

7. Keep a Logbook and Communicate

The final check is documentation. After the pre-start inspection, jot down the hours, fluid levels, and any issues you noticed. When the machine changes shifts, the next person should know what was checked and what wasn't.

This habit saved us when a rental customer complained about a leak. Our log showed the machine was fine when it left our yard. The leak developed during their rental, so the repair was their responsibility. That log saved us $1,100.

Communication also means telling the mechanic what you actually did. I once had an operator say the machine "wouldn't move." Turned out he'd left the parking brake on. A 30-second check could have saved a service call.

Common Mistakes and Notes

Here are a few things I've seen over the years that don't fit in the main list:

• Don't buy cheap replacement parts. The cheapest airpod pro 2 case replacement works fine for earphones, but a $15 hydraulic filter isn't worth the risk. Buy genuine CASE or high-quality aftermarket parts with proper specs.
• Don't skip the pre-trip inspection just because the machine ran fine yesterday. That's exactly when problems happen.
• Don't assume a generator is needed only for night work. We keep a portable Westinghouse generator on site to power lights and diagnostic equipment during cold starts or service calls. It’s saved us many times.

Finally, remember: 5 minutes of checking beats 5 days of repair. Every issue in this checklist cost me real money when I ignored it. The total? About $23,000. That's why I now run this checklist every single morning.

Prices and specifications are based on my experience as of 2025. Verify current guidelines in your equipment manual and local regulations.