BOMAG Jumping Jack Compactor Checklist: Parts, Tools, and Documentation Tips

I've been handling BOMAG parts and service orders for about 11 years. In 2017, I made the classic mistake: I ordered two hydraulic hoses for a BW 120 AD-3 using a free parts manual PDF I found on a forum. The revision was old, the hoses were wrong, and the job sat for three days. That mistake taught me a simple habit: check the revision date before ordering anything.

Since then, I've kept a checklist. It's not a repair manual—it's a way to stop yourself from repeating the expensive, embarrassing mistakes that I've already made on your behalf.

Who This Checklist Is For

This is for small fleet owners, rental operators, and anyone who has a Bomag jumping jack compactor on the truck and needs it to keep working. If you have a BOMAG BW 120 AD-3, the same steps apply. I also included the support tools that deserve space in your shop: a reliable air compressor, a brush, and a paint roller. Yes, a paint roller. I'll explain.

When I was starting out, the dealers who treated my $200 parts orders seriously are the same ones I now call for bigger purchases. Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential.

Step 1: Find the Model Plate and Serial Number First

The model plate on a Bomag jumping jack compactor is usually on the frame near the handle or engine base. On the BW 120 AD-3, it's on the right side of the main frame. It lists the model, serial number, and manufacturing year. Take a photo of it and keep it in your phone. When you call a dealer, they will ask for the serial number. If you don't have it, you'll get the 'let me transfer you to someone else' treatment.

Step 2: Get the BOMAG BW 120 AD-3 Parts Manual PDF from a Reliable Source

You can find a BOMAG BW 120 AD-3 parts manual pdf online, but not all of them are current. As of February 2025, the most reliable source is the BOMAG dealer portal or an authorized dealer. Before you download, check the publication date and revision number.

Why does this matter? Because part numbers change. In my first year, I ordered an air filter using a PDF from an older revision. The PDF was correct for the machine series, but the part number had been superseded. I spent a week waiting for the dealer to receive the part from another warehouse. The actual filter cost the same—I just ordered the wrong number.

Once you have the PDF, name it with the machine serial number: BW120AD3_SN-1234_parts.pdf. That habit saves you from the 'which manual did I print this from?' moment.

Step 3: Match Your Support Tools to the Job

For compactor maintenance, the tool list is shorter than you'd think. You need a socket set, a torque wrench, a magnetic tray, and an air compressor to clean engine compartments.

I keep a DeWalt air compressor in my shop. Not because I'm loyal to the brand—actually, I am somewhat, but only because it's survived years of abuse. The point is to get a compressor you can drain easily. If you forget to drain the tank, water gets into the airline. That's how I once contaminated a fuel cap I had just cleaned. Not ideal. A five-second drain after every use prevents it.

And now the paint roller. I know it sounds odd, but a short-nap paint roller is great for applying primer to flat metal surfaces like a compactor's top deck. I learned the hard way that a fuzzy wall roller leaves lint in the primer. Use a short-nap roller for flat panels and a brush for cast fins and frames.

Step 4: Inspect the Bomag Jumping Jack Compactor in This Order

For a Bomag jumping jack compactor, the inspection order matters. This is the order I use after every 50-hour service interval:

1. Check engine oil and hydraulic oil levels before starting.
2. Inspect the rubber shock mounts.
3. Look at the fuel lines and air filter housing.
4. Check the base plate and the boot between the engine and the exciter.

Cracked shock mounts? The handle will vibrate more than it should. The machine will still run, and you'll be tempted to ignore it. Then one of those mounts will fail at seven in the morning on a job. Replace them when you see cracks.

Fuel lines are another one. A $6 hose can become a much more expensive problem if it splits and drips onto a hot engine. And for the air filter, use the air compressor to blow out the pre-cleaner. Do it outside, away from bearings and open oil fill ports.

Step 5: Record the Machine Condition—and Don't Forget the Crane Shot

When you're documenting a machine for a rental return or an insurance claim, you need photos that show the whole unit. That's where a crane shot comes in.

So, what is a crane shot used for in equipment documentation? It's an overhead shot that moves above the machine. It shows the full footprint, the base plate, leaks underneath, and the general condition of the unit. A ground-level photo can miss an oil seep that's visible from above.

You don't need a movie crane. I've used a phone mounted on a painter's pole to get a 10-foot-high shot. A drone works too if the job site allows it. The point is to take a shot from above, not just a selfie-level photo of the handle.

Step 6: Measure the Old Part Before You Order a Replacement

Even with the right manual PDF, the part you're removing may not be the original. Previous owners sometimes install non-standard filters, belts, or pins. Measure everything: diameter, width, length, and thread pitch if it has threads. Write it down.

I once ordered pins for a Bomag jumping jack compactor based on the manual. The manual said 25 mm. The old pin measured 24.6 mm because someone had already replaced it with an undersized pin. I almost installed the correct pin into a worn bore. Measuring saved me a return shipping fee and a longer delay.

Step 7: Decide Which Parts Should Be Genuine BOMAG

I'm not against aftermarket parts. For a small operation, aftermarket filters and belts can be a reasonable choice. But for anything in the vibration system or engine mounting, I use genuine BOMAG parts. If that part fails in the field, the repair costs will dwarf the savings.

Ask your dealer which parts are safety-critical. A good dealer will tell you. If a dealer makes you feel small because you're ordering three parts, find another dealer. Good service shouldn't depend on order size.

Common Mistakes I've Made So You Don't Have To

• Using a PDF without checking the revision date. The BOMAG BW 120 AD-3 parts manual pdf I used years ago was technically the right model, but the part numbers had changed.
• Letting an air compressor tank sit without draining it. A DeWalt air compressor works hard all summer. If you forget the tank drain, the next user gets a sputter of water.
• Using a paint roller on a textured surface. It works on flat metal, but not on cast housings. Use a brush for anything with fins or ridges.
• Skipping the overhead shot. I once missed a leaking seal during a rental return inspection because I only photographed the machine from the side. A crane shot from above showed the oil puddle on the base plate.

One More Mistake: Trusting Your Memory

I spent years telling myself 'I'll remember that this bolt size is M10.' Then I didn't. Now I keep a small field notebook in the machine's tool box. On the first page is the serial number, the correct manual revision, and the torque specs. You don't need a complicated system. A notebook is enough.

This was true ten years ago, and it's still true: the guy who writes things down avoids the worst equipment headaches. Not every part purchase needs to be an adventure. Check the manual, measure the old part, take the overhead photo, and you'll be fine.