October 4, 2016

Winterize Your Self Propelled Sprayer

RoGator RG700B Following these guidelines will ensure that your application equipment is properly stored for the winter. Therefore, when spring application season rolls around, you can focus on tasks like fluid changes, simple checks of light operation, tire inflation and controller calibration. You’ll be up and running with fewer delays and headaches if you put your sprayer away properly for the off season.

Essential guidelines for servicing and storing your self-propelled sprayer this winter:

Clean the machine thoroughly to prevent premature rust from fertilizers and crop protection products. Touch up any chips, scratches and rusted areas with the appropriate protective paint.

Replace damaged or missing decals/safety signs.
Grease all service points after cleaning.
Flush the spray system with water.
Clean the liquid system thoroughly.

If you anticipate below freezing temperatures:

Put an antifreeze solution of 55% propylene glycol and 45% water in main product tank and rinse tank.
Before flushing with propylene glycol and water, put plugs in all boom nozzle bodies except the outside nozzle bodies for each pipe of boom plumbing.
Install a hose with a fitting in open-nozzle bodies and run hose to a container for proper collection and reuse.
Open and close tank sump valve and reload valve several times before operating liquid pump.
Operate engine at idle speed. Make sure tank valve is open, increase engine speed to 1,500 rpm and engage liquid pump.
Turn on controller. Increase or decrease flow after you have engaged liquid pump.
Open sparger valve completely for several minutes to fully mix antifreeze.
Open by-pass valve to flush the by-pass line.
Close bypass valve.
Open clean water valve to draw antifreeze solution from rinse tank and properly flush clean water lines.
Open tank rinse valve to flush tank rinse line
Close tank rinse valve.
If equipped with chemical eductor option, open chemical eductor valve to flush line going to eductor. Operate each function of eductor to properly flush all lines.
Close eductor valve.
Move boom spray controls on and off several times to flush pressure plumbing. Collect solution that comes out of end outlets on boom for use again.
Move boom spray controls to off.
Disengage liquid pump. Open reload valve and let solution flow into a container until tank is empty.
Pivot down each end of boom by hand to let remaining liquid flow out.
Leave all valves half open.
Open hand rinse valve on safety water tank.
Remove product line strainer.
Remove boom strainers if installed.
Disconnect all hose quick couplers to remove any remaining liquid.
Remove plug from bottom of product pump.
Remove drain plug from rinse tank.
Remove plug from bottom of boom manifolds.
Store loose parts [strainers, nozzles, plugs, etc. in a labeled container.
Open drain valve on bottom of foam markers and let liquid flow out.
Remove the control console if specified by the console manufacturer.

Following these winterizing tasks will help prepare and protect your assets throughout the harsh winter weather. Contact your nearest Altorfer Ag Parts Counter today with your questions or concerns.

This article is featured in an AGCO customer publication.

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