Manufacturers continually change mowers to increase their lifespans and make them more durable. But this doesn’t mean much if they’re not regularly and properly maintained. Neglecting scheduled maintenance tasks can cost contractors time, money and eventually the entire machine.
Whether contractors maintain their mowers in-house or rely on dealerships to perform service, regular checkups can prevent problems before they start and maximize equipment investments.
MISSED MAINTENANCE. Some maintenance tasks seem so simple and routine it can be easy to forget how critical they are. One of the most common tasks contractors forget to perform is greasing the spindles, says John Hollenbeck, technical service specialist, Everride, Auburn Neb. Contractors should check their owner’s manual or the bottom of the floor plate to determine all the grease points, he suggests. On some mowers, the floor plate will show where the grease fittings are located and how often they should be lubricated. In general, spindles should be greased at least every 24 hours, according to Hollenbeck. This may need to be done more frequently if the mowers are being operated in dry, dusty conditions, he says.
When greasing spindles, it’s critical that contractors check the mower’s manual to ensure the right type of grease is applied. Mixing different greases or applying the wrong type of grease can cause more problems than not greasing at all. “If you put a barium-based grease or calcium-based grease in with a lithium-complex grease, it turns to a plastic-like substance and locks everything up,” Hollenbeck says. “The incorrect grease usage or lack of greasing is the No. 1 enemy of a greaseable roller bearing spindle.”
| COLD STARTS |
To prevent startup problems or potential repair issues when a new season arrives, contractors should consider preventive maintenance before storing their machines away for the winter. For starters, contractors should clean the mowers using either pressurized air or water, says Bob Walker, president, Walker Mfg., Fort Collins, Colo. If water is being applied, contractors should cover all electrical components with plastic bags, he says. Removing grass buildup, especially under the deck, is a good way to prevent corrosion. From there, contractors should lubricate the spindles just in case the water from the pressure washer forces the old grease out, Walker says. As for the gas tank, Mike Anderson, technical service representative, Toro’s Consumer and Landscape Contractor Businesses Division, Bloomington, Minn., recommends operating the engine until it quits and then pouring a fuel stabilizer in the tank to treat any remaining fuel in the system. The fuel cap should be left loose for evaporation. After completing the final maintenance tasks, mowers should be stored in cool, dry areas where temperatures are between 0 and 40 degrees, Hollenbeck says. The battery also should be fully charged before storing the mower. A fully charged battery should have 12.5 volts or more, says Fred Hemmer, field service manager for the Toro Co. To minimize battery power loss during storage, Hemmer also recommends disconnecting the negative cable on the battery. Whenever possible, mowers should be stored in a sheltered area, like a garage, but if they are being stored outdoors, they should be covered with a breathable material to minimize corrosion buildup, Anderson says. Even if the mower is stored indoors, it’s still a good idea to at least cover cushioned areas such as seats and armrests to protect them from damage caused by rodents and other animals. Hemmer recommends placing some type of rodent control near or around the mower to prevent mice or rats from building nests under the engine shrouds. |
The price for neglecting proper spindle care can be significant. Retail price for a new spindle is $150 to $250, and if all spindles fail at once, contractors could pay $600 to $700 for parts and labor to fix the problem, Hollenbeck says.
Spindle performance can also be affected by dirt and debris buildup under the deck. When grass clippings and other dry material aren’t removed from the deck’s underside they can get trapped inside the spindles and shorten the life of the bearings, says Fred Hemmer, field service manager for the Toro Co.’s Consumer and Landscape Contractor Division, Bloomington, Minn. The deck’s underside should be cleaned each day using a pressure washer or a putty knife to remove hardened material, says Bob Walker, president, Walker Mfg., Fort Collins, Colo.
Other maintenance tasks that should be performed daily include checking the engine and hydraulic oil, the air filter and blade sharpness. Typically, engine oil needs to be changed every 100 hours, but that can vary depending on manufacturer recommendations, Hemmer says. Gabe Freda, the head shop mechanic at KW Landscaping in Severn, Md., says he checks the oil in every company mower once per week, performs oil changes every 100 hours and changes oil filters every 200 hours.
Freda says he knows how many hours each mower has been operating because each one is equipped with an hour meter. The meter is located on the control panel of the mower. It’s either preinstalled or can be purchased as an after-market item for less than $10, he shares.
Contractors should check the hydraulic oil when the machine is cold to get an accurate reading because the fluid will expand when it’s hot. If the hydraulic fluid has a milky appearance that likely means there’s water in the oil and it needs to be changed, says Hemmer, adding that typically hydraulic oil should be changed once each year along with the hydraulic oil filter. Some manufacturers also recommend that contractors change the hydraulic oil filter after the first eight hours of operation because the original filter may contain some debris left over from the manufacturing process.
The air filter can be checked daily, but operators shouldn’t remove the air cleaner on a regular basis or blow on it with an air gun, Walker says. “The No. 1 way engines are ruined is by overservicing air filters,” he explains. “If you’re taking them on and off every day, you have a high probability of damaging the ceiling of that air filter to the point where you will let dust into the engine by damaging the media itself, blowing on it with an air gun or mechanically damaging the sealing that seals the filter in place.”
Nowadays, many air filters are protected by a pre-cleaner that catches most dust and debris before it reaches the filter. Oftentimes with pre-cleaners, air filters can remain unchanged for six months to a year, according to Walker. Perhaps the simplest way to determine whether the air filter needs to be changed is by checking the restriction indicator, which is a gauge located on the intake side of the filter on some mowers. This gauge notifies the operator when airflow has become too restricted for the engine to operate properly, Walker says.
The mower’s cooling fins should also be cleaned anytime dirt or debris collect inside of them because dirt that collects inside the fins and isn’t removed can shorten the engine’s life by 60 percent, Hemmer says. In the worst-case scenario, it can cause the engine’s head gasket to blow. The best way to clean the cooling fins is blowing out the dirt with an air compressor by following the same path as air that’s drawn into the engine, Hemmer recommends.
These maintenance tasks should help contractors get the maximum life out their mowers, but it’s cut quality that really matters to customers. Sharp blades are essential for ensuring the best possible cut. Dulled blades will result in browning of the grass blade tips. A new blade might be required if the end appears to be coming to a point instead of typical full-body width, says Jim Forrester, distributor manager, Encore Mfg. Co., Beatrice, Neb. Walker recommends that contractors inspect mower blades daily and sharpen them at least every other day. Hemmer suggests sharpening blades after no more than 10 hours of use.
Tire pressure will also affect the cut quality. Uneven tire pressure on a zero-turn mower can impede the machine’s ability to turn, Hollenbeck says. Overfilling a tire can cause the mower to damage or leave unsightly marks on the turf, Hemmer says. Typically, mower tires should be filled between 12 and 13 psi, according to Hemmer.
IN-HOUSE MECHANICS. With so many maintenance tasks to manage, contractors can have a difficult time keeping tabs on how often and how well the mowers are being serviced. In a move made to standardize maintenance practices, South Walpole, Mass.-based D. Foley Landscape hired a full-time fleet supervisor to regularly service the company’s equipment.
All of the company’s crews get an equipment inspection once a week by the company’s fleet supervisor, says John Dinsmore, the company’s operations manager. Every week, each crew will trade its set of equipment at the company shop for backup machines. This ensures all routine maintenance tasks are performed on a regular basis.
During the weekly service, company mechanic Rick McComb pressure washes all the mowers, scrapes the decks, sharpens the blades, greases all critical points, checks for wear and tear and other typical maintenance tasks, Dinsmore says.
Having this regular service schedule has made D. Foley Landscape less dependent on dealerships for repairs and has brought consistency to the company’s maintenance program. “In the past, we had seven crews doing maintenance seven different ways,” Dinsmore explains. “Before, one crew might have invested a lot of time in cleaning their mowers, whereas another crew invested very little.”
Since hiring an in-house mechanic, D. Foley Landscape has sped up turnaround time on repairs by several days and in some cases, several weeks, Dinsmore says. Also, when a mower is out of service, crews are immediately provided a backup machine, which helps prevent downtime.
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