ForConstructionPros.com

The sweeping season is about to pick up steam for northern contractors. Giving equipment a pre-season tune-up will allow for better performance on the job and less down time. Even for their southern counterparts, taking a little time to routinely check critical wear components and parts will help ensure optimum performance.

“There’s no better time than now to give your sweepers a once over,” says Casey Patterson, shop foreman for Michigan-based Superior Sweepers. “This is a slow time of year for most shop mechanics, and no matter what type of sweepers your company operates, there’s always a list of items to check and double check.

Patterson says different types of sweepers require different types of maintenance and preventive service to get them ready for the season. “For broom trucks and other mechanical-type sweepers, check the chains for wear and stretching; check the sprockets, elevator pans, bearings, and hopper for rust damage. Give the hydraulic lines a ‘once over’ to ensure they’re not cracked, and examine the hoist and cylinders to make sure the seals are not leaking and the chrome on pistons isn’t pealing or pitted.”

He adds that gutter broom pins and bushings; lift arms, tilt system, down pressure system, rear broom, and drag shoes all require inspection to ensure the sweeper is operating properly. Patterson’s tune-up list also includes checking drive belts, changing hydraulic fluid, and adjusting the gutter broom. All hardware should be checked, too, including that which attaches latches and hinges. Replace missing or broken hardware, including clamps and springs, and remove any trash left over from the previous season.

Air sweepers, he adds, require a slightly different maintenance regimen. “Check the pick-up head for wear and sandblasting and replace the flaps,” Patterson says. “Make sure all seals are working and the blower fan is in good shape. Make sure the hopper is in good shape. If it has a few holes the air system will lose its vacuum.”