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Equipment Focus | By Tim Rohrbach Equipment Maintenance W e've all heard the sayings: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure; a stitch in time saves nine. Old-fashioned clichés? Perhaps. But when it comes to maintaining your lawn care equipment, they continue to hold true. Unfortunately, many contractors and operators overlook, neglect or just plain ignore equipment maintenance. This can lead to unexpected downtime, costly re- pairs, and lost revenue. But proper mainte- nance can help you avoid those problems. In fact, it might be the single-best thing you can do to keep your equipment run- ning smoothly throughout the season. And, it's easy. Performing a bit of simple, routine upkeep on your lawn care equip- ment will save you time and money. As summer winds down, here are six key tips to keep in mind this fall and next spring: Service intervals It's essential you know the service in- 16 Landscape and Irrigation July/August 2012 tervals of your equipment. These are im- portant, as they tell you what point in time you'll need to carry out a particular service operation. If you're not sure what the intervals are, take a look around in the mower's engine compartment and look for a decal. Or consult your owner's manual. If you recently bought a new piece of equipment, the first five hours after a ma- chine is run are critical. Be sure to change the oil, tighten bolts, and familiarize your- self with the internal workings of the mower. It's also important to record your serv- ice. Proper service is important for keep- ing the machine running smoothly, but it affects the value of the machine. A log book will help keep track of all mainte- nance — what was completed and when it was done. When the time comes to sell or trade-in your equipment, the buyer will see it was well maintained — thus increas- ing the machine's value. Cleanliness It sounds simple, but keeping your ma- chine clean will go a long way in keeping it in service. First, cleaning the machine helps prevent rust and corrosion. On a clean piece of equipment, it's easy to see any parts that might need attention — such as loose bolts — or if any oil, gas or fluids are leaking. If the machine is caked in grass clippings or mud, it will be ex- tremely difficult to find the source of any leaks, and you might not even detect them at all. A shiny machine presents a positive image to your customers, and will also aid in the machine's resale value when the time comes. This doesn't mean you need to scrub machines down every day. If your crews keep an air compressor on their trucks, they can simply blow off any collected dirt or grass. Lubrication When reviewing the owner's manual, understand what parts the manufacturer recommends be lubricated. How much and what kind of oil, grease and coolant will be specked out in the owner's manual. Keep these fluids in the shop and on your truck. It is important to use the manufacturer-recommended fluids and lu- bricants, as they were designed to perform www.landscapeirrigation.com All photos provided by John Deere