SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/43432
By learning to expect the unex- pected, snow contractors will be poised to handle any winter weather scenario. And knowing how and for what to prepare when a snow event hits is critical to success. Strait recommends you answer a few questions before- hand to gauge your preparedness. PROPERTY POINTS Although all parking lots may seem the same to the average per- son, snow removal contractors know each is vastly different. In order to clear each unique prop- erty well, snow contractors must consider several factors before ever arriving onsite. The first aspect is the property's size. Imagine a building contractor preparing for a new home con- struction job. When drawing up blueprints, he or she must know the dimensions of the empty lot. This will help determine the size of house that can fit on the prop- erty, how large of a crew is needed, the quantity of supplies that will be required, and how long it will take to complete the project. In the same way, a snow removal contractor won't be pre- pared to plow without first knowing the size of the property being cleared. The property size will dictate the type of equipment necessary, and the number of machines and personnel required to expediently handle the situation. However, when attempting to estimate equipment needs, Strait stresses the importance of using machines and plows currently owned. "You should always estimate based on the plows and equip- ment you currently have," he ex- plains. This touches on Strait's next point: knowing the prop- erty's size can help prevent over- stocking, and reduce the likelihood of time and money wasted on excess machines and staff. It will also avoid bringing equipment that may be too large for the job. "Everyone always wants to push more snow, faster. Efficiency drives the majority of our deci- sions," Strait says. But he stresses that the largest plow may not al- ways be the best for the job. For example, a snow contractor with a large 19-foot loader-mounted snow pusher may want to opt in- stead for his 10-foot skid-steer snow pusher to properly handle a Four tips to keep your spreaders running WHEN WINTER STARTS UP, the last thing you want is for your spreader to stop working. Fortunately, a routine maintenance program is simple. Some units may require more care than others, but, in general, there are four simple, yet important, rules to follow. 1 2 3 4 >> EVEN THE SMALLEST PRACTICES will have a big impact when it's time to handle a snow event quickly. Rich Johnston, a snow contractor from Westville, IN, stands with his fleet, faced out and ready to go at all times. Photo courtesy of Johnston Landscape and Maintenance. www.stma.org WASH DAILY Washing the spreader is the most frequent mainte- nance requirement, since corrosion is the number one enemy of snow and ice professionals. In fact, a spreader should be washed after every use in order to prevent corro- sion from eventually forming. This task is most crucial when dealing with steel hoppers, which are highly prone to rust, but it's also good practice with polyethylene hoppers. It's a good idea to wash out old salt and sand, as well as foreign materials. USE PLENTY OF GREASE Next on the list is to regularly grease all moving parts, such as bearings, chains, conveyors, rollers and augers. Of course, this requirement varies based on the type of spreader being maintained. For any electric-powered spreaders or those with electrical connections for compo- nents, such as lights, all terminals should be coated with di- electric grease. This helps prevent corrosion and ensures easy reconnection. For best results, apply dielectric grease to the terminals anytime they are disconnected. TIGHTEN THE BELT With any spreader that uses belts, chains or con- veyors, the tension should be properly adjusted throughout the winter to reduce slippage and performance problems. The owner's manual will provide specific informa- tion, but some points are universal. First of all, be careful not to over tighten the drive belt or chain, as this could lead to damage. Furthermore, before adjusting conveyor belt tension, make sure that deicing material or sand is not trapped or frozen between the conveyor belt and the surface below. If the spreader doesn't have a conveyor belt, it likely uses an auger to deliver material to the spinner. CHECK THE ENGINE AND HYDRAULICS Maintenance for electric-powered spreaders ends here. But for gas-powered units, one must also follow the maintenance schedule outlined in the engine owner's manual to check or replace the oil, air filter, spark plugs and more. If the spreader is powered by a hydraulic system, change the hydraulic fluid periodically. Replace any hoses or fittings that are damaged or leaking, and be sure to cap all hydraulic connectors to prevent system contamination.-James Truan, vice president of sales & marketing, SnowEx. ■ SportsTurf 27