--- title: The 10 Heavy Equipment Parts Most Likely to Fail description: Knowing which heavy equipment parts are most likely to fail gives great information in terms of determining which spare parts to keep on hand for emergencies. image: https://info.depco.com/hs-fs/file-597044045-jpg/images/heavy_equipment_parts_most_likely_to_fail.jpg --- [![Depico Power System](https://info.depco.com/hs-fs/hub/142125/file-1581455924.png)](http://www.depco.com/index.aspx) [Dealer Login](https://info.depco.com/login) 800-723-3726 9am - 6pm CST +1.713.675.6100 Int'l # [The 10 Heavy Equipment Parts Most Likely to Fail](https://info.depco.com/blog/bid/195566/The-10-Heavy-Equipment-Parts-Most-Likely-to-Fail) Posted by [Jack Barry](https://info.depco.com/blog/author/jack-barry) on Wed, Mar 19, 2014 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![heavy equipment parts most likely to fail](https://info.depco.com/hs-fs/file-597044045-jpg/images/heavy_equipment_parts_most_likely_to_fail.jpg?width=200&height=150&name=heavy_equipment_parts_most_likely_to_fail.jpg)The bad news about replacing [heavy equipment parts](http://www.depco.com/parts/search/) in your diesel engine or power generator is that it costs time and money. And if you don’t have ready access to a part, you’re going to lose more of both. The good news is that it means your equipment is able to be repaired – and that you’re not having to shop around for a new, used or rebuilt generator or engine. Here is a rundown of some of the more common parts that require replacement – and what may be the cause of their failure: **10. Resistors** When managing certain voltage levels, it’s not uncommon for resistors to overheat. **9. Engines and Related Heavy Equipment Parts** Some might argue that an engine isn’t a part – that it’s a machine in and of itself – but it’s critical to the functioning of whatever it’s powering. Engines that are fired up for short and inconsistent bursts as well as those that don’t undergo proper maintenance are most likely to fall short of their shelf life. **8. Radiators** The heart of your cooling system, a radiator can fail and cause overheating for any number of reasons, from bad fans to blocked coolant passageways to aging belts and other heavy equipment parts. **7. Fuel Tanks** Leaks in fuel tanks not only bring your heavy machinery to halt, but they pose very serious safety concerns if not identified and repaired early on. **6. The Controller **This key generator part helps monitor all the engine’s functions, various gages, and levels. **5. Transmissions** From lack of fluid to poor upkeep and computer errors, there are a multitude of reasons why transmissions can trip up your heavy machinery operation. **4. Bearings** Proper lubricant selection and mounting are critical to keeping these critical heavy equipment parts doing their job right. **3. Battery** Always check to see if any corrosion has built up around battery terminals before considering other causes for battery failure. Sometimes batteries die, and in this scenario, replacing the unit should be one of the easiest troubleshooting drills for your operation.  **2. Pumps** Leaks are a surefire sign that a pump has failed, but the reason for leaks can run the gamut from rotting seals and calcium displacements to corrosion and cavitation caused by a coolant. 1. **Switches** Switches are key to electrical load management, but can fail for many reasons. Often, improper installation and inadequate maintenance are the primary reason for switches breaking down. When you’re operating out at sea or in a remote location, it can takes days and even weeks for some heavy equipment parts to arrive. It’s always a good idea to keep some critical spare parts on hand, and to have an action plan for quickly getting the more expensive, hard-to-find parts to your operation at a moment’s notice. 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