When choosing a compaction wheel, you need a rugged piece of equipment that will work hard and require very little maintenance.

It may be tempting to go for a self contained, engine driven unit, but the complex nature of these means they can often break down. You also need to consider the significant extra cost of buying this type of standalone compaction machine, whereas with a compaction wheel you can simply attach it to your existing excavator —providing you with a much lower-cost solution.

When deciding which type of compaction wheel attachment is best for you, it’s important to consider the following factors…

1. Does the compaction wheel incorporate a sealed axle bearing?

A sealed bearing is vital for the smooth running of your compaction wheel. This prevents dirt, dust and mud getting in and causing unnecessary wear and tear, and also means there’s no need to grease the bearing. If your compaction wheel doesn’t have a sealed bearing axle then it can get clogged with debris, leading to increased maintenance time and related costs.

2. Is it the right size?

Compaction wheels are normally subjected to robust handling, and need to be specifically engineered and manufactured to handle these conditions. It’s best to choose a compact, robust wheel that will enable you to easily compact trenches or other small, hard to reach areas.

3. Does the compaction wheel have tall feet?

Tall feet enable your compaction wheel to effectively break down the structure of the soil — particularly clay material — resulting in a superior compaction effort. Well designed compaction wheels have an optimised feet layout which enhances the compaction effort — resulting in a solid foundation on which to build the required infrastructure.

To find out more about our compaction wheels for excavators, call the OZ Excavator Buckets team today on 1300 246 009 or visit the compaction wheels page on our website at www.ozbuckets.com.au