Winding Down for Winter

by Allan Heydorn
Created: October 1, 2005

Properly preparing your equipment for winter storage will make spring start-up easier.

"Once the coolant system is cleaned and/or flushed, fill the cooling system with the correct antifreeze/coolant mixture. It is a common practice to mix water and antifreeze at a 50/50 mixture and this can protect the cooling system to a maximum of -34 degrees Fahrenheit (-37 Celsius). Remember only ionized or distilled water may be used for the antifreeze mixture. After system is filled with correct coolant mixture run engine to insure coolant is circulated throughout coolant circuit," he says.

Storage. Before storage, wipe down your machine and the engine to remove any dirt, blow out any dirt that's in the fins, and check for loose bolts.

In a perfect world, you would be able to store your equipment in a dry, heated facility all winter long. However, that sort of room is often difficult to come by.

"If the equipment must be stored outside, cover the engine with a weather resistant tarp and frequently inspect to insure proper snow and water drainage occurs from the tarp," Johnson suggests.

Spring check-up
Completing your maintenance needs before storing your equipment leaves you with less to worry about in the spring when your business operations start up again.

"If they're done everything in the fall, they don't have to do too much in the spring, just basically put some gas in there," Gabrielse says. "I think the springtime is a good time to change air cleaners, and you should recheck your oil and retighten the bolts."

Johnson offers the following suggestions for a spring check-up.

Perform a thorough visual inspection. For example, inspect belts for any dry-rot damage and look for moisture ingress and/or rust. In addition, after prolonged storage, it is always necessary to inspect for animals and insects that may have relocated within the equipment.
Insure battery is correctly charged.
Remove the sealing tape on intake and exhaust manifold.
Perform a comprehensive preventive maintenance service according to the operation manual.

Winter work: Prepare hydraulics for summer productivity

When mothballing equipment for a long period of time there are steps you should take to protect hydraulic systems. But if you're shutting down equipment for only a month or two, the most important thing to do is to use that downtime to perform preventive maintenance on your hydraulic systems.

Start by changing filters and fluids. Consult your owner's manual but consider anti-wear fluids, which protect against wear when water is present; fluids with a viscosity index over 100 are better equipped to handle extreme temperatures and pressures. Many manufacturers now recommend multi-viscosity fluids with a high-viscosity index because they offer high and low temperature protection.

Examine all hoses and piping. Make sure all connections are tight. If you wait to get a few extra hours out of a line or coupling you can end up with a rupture in the field, making the equipment inoperable. Even small leaks in worn hoses can result in higher fluid consumption, reduced power, and increased operating temperatures. So replace any problem hoses during the off season.

Train your operators. A crucial factor in making sure your equipment operates at peak performance during the season is the skill and knowledge of your equipment operators. Winter is a great time to bring in an hydraulics specialist to teach your crew not only about how the hydraulic system operates but also how to diagnose problems in the system, what to look for each day at start up, and when to shut a machine down to prevent additional damage. Most equipment manufacturers will provide training at little or no cost.

Performing preventive maintenance during the winter means your equipment is ready to go when the season starts and you will be less likely to have to pull the equipment from service during the season to repair it.

Gear up for snowplow season

While fall brings the end to paving and sealcoating in many areas of the country, it brings the beginning of the snowplow season. Below are some tips for preparing your equipment for snow removal.

Clean and tighten all electrical connections and coat with dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.
Check hydraulic system for leaks and cracked or damaged hoses, repair, or replace as necessary.
Drain and flush hydraulic system and refill with high performance hydraulic fluid.
Replace any worn or damaged parts.
Check all mounting points and tighten fasteners.
Repaint blade assembly and attachments, as necessary, to protect the metal.
Check head lamps, auxiliary lights, heater, and windshield wipers for proper operation.
Ballast may be necessary, or beneficial, on some vehicles to provide maximum traction, braking, and handling.
Any ballast material (such as sand and blocks) must be solidly secured to the vehicle preventing it from moving under plowing conditions.

Information provided by Western Products