Mark Burns, Case IH marketing manager for application equipment, covers sprayer topics in this new series. In his second guest blog post, Mark provides maintenance tips to help you keep your sprayer running at peak performance. His insights will help you Be Ready throughout the growing season.
Sprayer maintenance is probably the most important, and often overlooked, factor contributing to proper application practices and machine longevity. A good washing, which includes flushing the product tank and plumbing, goes a long way in maintaining the performance of your sprayer.
These units apply a wide variety of products, which can cause machine deterioration if not washed routinely. Proper rinsing of the tank and plumbing greatly reduces the potential for cross-contamination when switching chemicals. And, keeping the cosmetic appearance of your sprayer in good condition pays rewards when the time comes to trade it in.
Follow the recommendations for fluid and filter changes and use quality components. Self-propelled sprayers, like the Case IH Patriot® sprayer, have many functions that rely on fluids to make things move, including hydrostatic drive systems, so timely service is critical to maintaining component life and durability. Make sure to hit all the grease points as directed by the operator’s manual.
Sprayers have lots of moving parts that require lubrication and they also apply products that can be corrosive, so regular greasing is one key action that pays great dividends when it comes to minimizing downtime. Don’t forget about product strainers, flowmeters and spray tips. These items require cleaning or inspecting on a routine basis and are important components in getting the right amount of product on the plant or ground.
Spray tips and flowmeters should also be calibrated regularly as they wear out. If they’re not in good condition, you could have problems achieving the correct application rate, the right nozzle pattern or the right droplet size.
Mark’s next blog post will help you minimize sprayer drift. Send us your questions about spraying and share your maintenance tips with others.