Focus on primary chassis to get sweepers ready for spring Philadelphia PA

The first steps contractors should take as they ready their sweeping equipment for spring is to check the primary chassis according to manufacturer's specifications. All sweeper manufacturers provide this information and contractors can assure optimum performance from their units by following these specs.

This checklist will get you off to a good start.

• Check hydraulic oil for contamination or water
• Check blower bearings wear or seal damage; the blower should turn freely by hand
• Check the blower belt for damage or premature wear. A good rule of thumb is "when in doubt change it out!"
• Change the front hydraulic pump belt on engine at least once a year
• Check and change the gutter broom drive belt
• At this point if everything is as it should be and you've made the necessary changes, turn sweeper unit on and make sure all pressures are up to specification according to the manufacture.
• Look at the pick-up head and make sure that the pick-up cylinders are not pitted or and make sure chrome is not coming off
• Check cables for fraying
• Check and adjust drag shoes
• Check the unit's rubber flaps. These flaps need to be the proper length to seal to the pavement.
• To make sure the sweeper operates as efficiently as possible make sure door seals and hopper seals are in proper working order
• Change hydraulic fluid annually, and make sure to use the fluid specified by the sweeper manufacture
• Check hydraulic hoses for dry cracking or leaking
• Make sure each sweeper in your fleet has an emergency kit. Each kit should contain:
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Disposable camera (to document accidents)
  • Paper and pen,
  • CPR instructions,
  • Contact list with phone numbers for operations manager,
  • Flashlight,
  • Duct tape,
  • Basic set of tools
  • Gloves.

Information for this article was provided by Casey Patterson, SK Sweepers, Kalamazoo, MI, manufacturer of the Silent Knight single-engine sweeper.