PRE-SEASON SPRAYER SERVICE
PUMP: Strip your pump and check for wear especially in diaphragms and valve springs. Look for wear marks on the diaphragms - particularly around the diaphragm plates and flex the diaphragm to see if there is any sign of them staring to crack. Check that the valve springs aren't worn thin and press them with your finger to check that all have the same tension. If in doubt put a repair kit through your pump, we recommend that larger growers put a kit in their pump about every 3 - 4 seasons although this will vary with how the pump has been looked after. Give your pump an oil change while you are at it and check that the pressure in the air chamber is correct (generally around 30 psi - ensure you refer to your owners manual).
HOSES: Fairly obvious, but spend 10 minutes checking all hoses for wear and rubbing. This could save you an annoying breakdown down the track. Check where the hoses are run near the chassis, underneath the sprayer, boom fold points etc. If any hoses look like they have rubbed replace them and wrap them in some of the old hose where it was rubbing.
SOLENOIDS: Check that your solenoids are all working effectively. The simplest way to do this is to put a pressure gauge on each boom section to check that the pressure in each boom section is the same. This 5 minute check is essential for effective spraying and should be carried out regularly during the year.
NOZZLES: Check nozzles for wear, the easiest way to do this is to put a new nozzle somewhere in the boom line and check its output over 1 minute. Compare this to the other nozzles on your sprayers and if they are flowing over 10% that of the new nozzle replace them all.
BOOM: Again, fairly obvious, but check thoroughly for any cracks or stress points so that you can fix the problem early. Check especially the centre section and fold points. Adjust springs / cables if necessary to ensure booms are correctly aligned. Grease and lubricate well.
CONTROLLER: Re-calibrate the flowmeter and speed sensor as they can get out of calibration. Check that the electric regulating valve is working and that excess liquid still isn't bypassing back to the tank when the valve is completely closed. This is an important check especially on Hardi Sprayers.
FILTERS: Check and clean all filters. Check that o-rings aren't stretched or damaged and carefully inspect screens to make sure they don't have any rips or holes.
FOAM MARKER: Where do I start? I could probably fill the whole website with servicing and trouble shooting for foam markers! A thorough clean and flush out of the whole system can do wonders. Other things include checking and serving the compressor, checking all the lines to make sure there are no air leaks or kinked hoses, disassemble the foam generators and give them a good clean. Check air and liquid solenoids to make sure they are changing sides properly.
Following the above steps and spending half a day in the workshop servicing your sprayer can save you time and some stress and dollars by nipping any problems in the bud. On a final note, the best thing you can do maintenance wise on your sprayer is KEEP IT CLEAN. Always flush your sprayer thoroughly between uses and don't leave chemical sitting in it for extended periods.
