W
inter weather hit the nation early this
year, affecting many landscape contrac-
tors' schedules.
Whether operating or storing equipment during
the cold season, it's important for owners to take
care of their machines.
"Preventative maintenance goes a long way to
protect your investment and should be done at the
beginning, as well as the end, of each working
season," says Gary Bryan, national warranty man-
ager, Takeuchi. "A little bit of maintenance goes a
long way in ensuring that your equipment is ready
to roll once spring comes around."
Here are tips for winterizing loaders.
1. Fluids. Operators should change the fl uids and
lubricants to cold-tolerant products that can handle
extreme conditions.
"For proper lubrication, it's important to use
low-temperature grease on pivot joints," Bryan
says. "Fuel and hydraulic fi lters, which have likely
gathered moisture, dirt and debris from the sum-
mertime, will need to be replaced."
For extreme cold conditions, operators also need
D E C E M B E R 2 014 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m 3 3
equipment matters
Deere's SB84B two-stage
hydraulic blower throws snow
up to 45 feet. It's compatible
with most skid steers and
compact track loaders.
Winterizing
Loaders
Get equipment
ready for the cold
weather, plus top
attachments
BY LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE
Machines with Tier 4 engines that include a
diesel particulate fi lter (DPF) use a regenera-
tion process to covert soot build-up in the DPT
to an ash byproduct. As a result, owners should
not idle their machines in cold weather for long
periods of time because the idling will cause the
DPF to soot up and clog, Bryan says.
TIER 4 TIP
