With margins tight in today's economy, it's imperative your equipment is well taken care of and running at the height of productivity. When your finishing trowel is running the way it should, you'll see fuel efficiency and a safe, reliable machine that keeps on running at the jobsite.

A smooth finish
Since the purpose of a trowel is to flatten a floor, failing to properly maintain your trowel will negatively affect a floor's finish. A trowel with a poorly maintained engine might sputter or jerk on the slab, resulting in dents on the floor, commonly referred to in the industry as "furrows." In addition, inability to properly pitch your blades, a bent arm or spider, or a worn out blade can cause a swirling pattern on the floor.

Grease, oil and fuel leaks will also negatively affect the finish. "Troweling begins after most of the bleed water from the slab has evaporated," explains Ed Varel, engineering project manager with Stone Construction Equipment. "If oil gets on the slab, it's going to cause problems on the top. The remaining bleed water will evaporate and leave the oil on the slab, creating a finish problem."

Cleanliness is also important in achieving a smooth finish. "A poorly maintained trowel that isn't clean is going to drop dry concrete on the floor and scratch the polished surface on those last few passes. There is no way to go back and repair that damage," says Ben Wiese, product manager with Multiquip and Whiteman trowels.

Routine maintenance
The daily/weekly/monthly/annual maintenance guidelines in this article should be examined and customized to your rental company's trowel utilization. Check with your trowel manufacturer's maintenance guidelines to determine the best maintenance intervals for your rental company's trowel utilization.