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Scott Brening, product manager with Husqvarna Construction Products, adds, "Check the bolts that attach to the blades. If these bolts were loose it would be very dangerous when the rotors begin to turn. It could also affect the balance of the machine and make the trowel wobble during use."

Brening also suggests, "Just as we do in our cars, it's important to let the trowel motor idle in the morning before putting it on the concrete."

Weekly
Weekly inspections emphasize a closer look at your trowel's bottom end. A bent spider arm — the part of the trowel that holds the blades or pans — can result in a swirling pattern or waviness to the finish. An experienced operator can recognize these problems during operation, but noticing these problems during a job can often be too late to fix them in time to save the slab without re-work. Most manufactures offer spider assemblies with adjustable arms. This allows you to compensate for a bent arm and ensure your blades are all working on the same plane.

Another maintenance item you should add to your weekly checklist concerns the drive belt. Rubber drive belts will disintegrate with heat. Make sure your trowel's belt is in good condition, and change it when you begin to notice wear. "A lot of people use third-party belts and usually that's not a problem, but with variable-speed trowels with a torque-compensating drive system those belts are very specific to the application, and you need an exact match," Halverson warns.

Monthly
Monthly maintenance items take a step beyond your daily engine maintenance checks. In other words, while you're checking oil levels and air filters or coolant daily, you should plan on monthly replacement or cleaning. Be sure to examine your engine manufacturer's recommendations to determine the best engine maintenance schedule. Not all engines are the same — air cooled engines will generally need more frequent oil changes than liquid cooled engines.