Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/423413
equipment matters to change the type of oil used. "If you're very far up north, you may want to change the oil to a higher-viscosity oil for the winter just because of the low temperatures," says Sam Norwood, manager, CWP Sales and Marketing, John Deere Construction & Forestry. Landscapers should also fi ll their equipment with an anti-gel fuel before freezing conditions set in. To minimize the risk of frozen or gelled-up fuel lines, owners should check the operator's manual and use manufacturer-approved fuel additives, Bryan suggests. 2. Systems. Operators should keep a close eye on hydraulic systems and attachments. "A loose connection could cause moisture to build up inside, potentially causing the internal components of the machine to freeze and possibly burst the hoses," Bryan says. For comfort, owners should check the heating and defrosting systems, as well as making sure the windows are tightly sealed. 3. Tires. Tires defl ate a little when going from warm to cold to freezing, so operators should make sure they stay at the proper PSI. The PSI can be found in the operator's manual. 4. Battery. Owners should check battery con- nections for corrosion and wear. They should also perform a load test on the battery. "During the winter, we see batteries die because they need to generate nearly twice the amount of amps to turn over a cold engine," Bryan says. 3 4 To t a l L a n d s c a p e C a r e . c o m D E C E M B E R 2 014 1. Augers. They offer landscap- ers a quick and effi cient way to dig holes in the soil with speed and accuracy. Augers are most often used to dig holes for fence posts, as well as for planting trees, large bushes and shrubs. 2. Land Levelers. Landscapers use these attachments to shape soil, spread and level material, backfi ll trenches, remove existing sod and grade existing terrain. The angled grade blades on the front and rear of the attach- ment allow operators to level effi ciently moving in forward and reverse. 3. Multipurpose. Also known as 4-in-1, these buckets enable compact loader operators to dig, load, grab, doze and level with one attachment. These buckets are often used in land- scaping projects to shape soil and pick-and-place rock and other objects into a landscape feature, as well as to shape soil for proper drainage. 4. Rake. Power box, or Harley, rake attachments can be used to grade, shape, plow, restore trenches, windrow debris, aerate and dry soil, recondition turf and prepare seed beds. Removable and reversible end plates give operators the fl exibility to box rake or windrow, and the front tires mounted on swivel casters can be adjusted for height and length. 5. Trenchers. These attachments can dig trenches while effi ciently placing the spoil material in a windrow along the trench. Tren- chers are most often used by landscapers to run irrigation lines and underground utilities. SOURCE: GREGG WARFEL, TEREX CONSTRUCTION AMERICAS TOP 5 LOADER ATTACHMENTS Operators should make sure the cab door and window are tightly sealed to not let the cold air inside of the cab. They should also check the heating and defrosting systems as part of routine maintenance.