Reminders for Proper Equipment Maintenance

By:  Kyle Schlegelmilch, Field Service Technician

Routine maintenance ensures a smooth running machine.  Most everyone knows what to do and when to do it, but things get put on the back burner when the season gets busy.  Although Amerimulch equipment is built strong and will continue to operate for extended periods with minimal attention, when something does go wrong due to neglect, it is usually an expensive and time consuming repair.  Here are some things that can be done to reduce downtime, maintenance costs, and service calls.

Inspections:   Inspect your machine daily.  Know how it looks and sounds when it is “healthy” so you can spot a problem before it is too late.  Identify squeaks, leaks, rattles, and high-wear items before they become a problem.

Lubrication:   This is very important on anything with moving parts, and especially on mulch equipment that is constantly subjected to dirt, dust, wood, water, and all weather conditions.  Your machine should be greased weekly.  Add grease so the bearings get a fresh supply, but don’t blow out the dust seals.  Over greasing can be as dangerous as under greasing.  Serviceable gearboxes should be checked monthly and maintained as needed.

Adjustments:  The proper adjustment to all drive chains, hopper floor chains and all V-belts will greatly extend the life span of all these components.

Clean:  Your machine will never be perfectly clean.  However, you should keep mulch, dirt, and fines from collecting in areas.  It will promote rust, decay, bind moving parts, and reduce the life span of bearings, shafts, sprockets, belts and chains.  Buildup in and around your electrical panel and connections will also cause problems. This will also aid in inspections and servicing.

Special Attention:  The following parts meter and apply the water and color, and directly affecting the quality of your final product.  They are the: color pump, the water and color manifold, and the spray bar and nozzles.

• Color Pump:  This includes the motor, gearbox, pump head and hose, suction and discharge tubes. Keep this area clean and easily accessible. Flush with fresh water at every shut-down and inspect it thoroughly. Check the pump hose and lube daily, and replace them annualy
• Water and Color Manifold:  Inspect and check for proper operation daily.  Color buildup in the manifold will restrict flow, clog small ports, impede operation and usually means there is a faulty check valve.  The most overlooked aspect of the manifold is winter shutdown. Ice  can and will destroy most components in your manifold.  When freezing conditions are expected, be sure to fully drain all water from the system. It is also a good idea to use antifreeze to protect from ice damage.
• Spray Bar and Nozzles: Inspect daily and flush with fresh water at every shutdown.  Look for cracked, bent, broken or clogged nozzles.

If your finished product looks bad regardless of the changes you make, start looking for problems in your mixer.  On the Mill series mixers, first look at the shafts. They should be clean and straight with no bent paddles.  The shaft timing is also very important, so please contact Amerimulch Equipment with any timing questions.  The ColorTrom series mixers should be fairly clean inside with the lifting paddles clearly exposed. Buildup in your drum will slow production and mixing ability, and could also lead to a clogged drum.

I know you’ve heard this all before, but please take these tips as friendly reminders. There will always be breakdowns on any piece of equipment no matter how well it is maintained, but you can greatly reduce operating cost, downtime, and visits from me by keeping up with regular maintenance.  Remember to follow all safety procedures when servicing machinery. Be sure that all guards and safety devices are in place and operational before starting.  If your machine does not have current safety labels installed please contact Amerimulch.  Don’t forget, if you have any problems with your machine, I am only a phone call away.