Bring Rollers in out of the Cold

Annual maintenance
While you're going through the steps to prepare your roller for a winter break, it's a good time to perform some annual maintenance so the machine is ready to go in the spring.

"Check the hydraulic system thoroughly; repair all leaks and replace the necessary hoses," Bauleth says. "Also check the electrical system thoroughly and restore it to its original condition. Replace all missing bolts and nuts and check all control cables."

Golka recommends a thorough inspection of machine operations. "Do an operational check, which ensures that all components and functions are working properly, such as the vibration system, scraper bar, RPM and travel speed," he says. "After completing your operational check, make a list of things that need to be worked on over the winter."

After the thaw
If you did your maintenance properly before storing your machine, you should have few problems when it comes time to start the roller up again in the spring.

Do a visual inspection of the machine, looking for any dry-rot damage or moisture ingress. Also check for any leaks that may have happened over the storage period, and repair these areas as necessary. It is also a good idea to check for any animals or insects that may have made your equipment "home" over the winter.

After the visual inspection, getting things running again should be pretty quick and easy. "Refresh all the fluids, test the battery before you try to start the engine and do another operational check to make sure everything is working," says Golka.