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WWW.POTATOGROWER.COM 15 experienced when a piece of equipment fails in the middle of the season is far more costly than preventative care. Reinke Manufacturing reminds farmers about the significance of performing proper inspections of their pivots in order to help their bottom lines. Consulting the maintenance section of your owner's manual for all irrigation products helps to ensure the reliability and longevity of every pivot. Many pivot manufacturers, including Reinke manufacturing, offer a warranty that gives farmers the option of working with their local dealer to have a certified technician perform preventative maintenance and use genuine parts for any repairs that may come up. "Preventative maintenance is the key to providing reliability and longevity of your pivot system, making sure it will run when farmers need it most," says Todd Merryman, manager of technical services at Reinke,. "And those preseason checks are less expensive than a hurried repair when there are crops in the field going without the water they need." Following is a general checklist of the steps a certified Reinke technician can go through each spring to keep irrigation systems operating at peak efficiency. By taking these steps to prevent issues from developing in the first place, farmers can have confidence and peace of mind regarding the system's reliability: 1. Verify the system's electrical ground 2. Look for any structural or electrical hazards 3. Check the pivot center 4. Check gearboxes (center drive and wheel) 5. Check wheels and tires 6. Check other drivetrain components 7. Check the alignment of the system 8. Check the condition of the water-carrying conduit 9. Remove the sand trap and thoroughly flush the system with water Some inspections are done annually, while others should be completed both before and after the growing season. For example, swing arms' legs and steering gear boxes need to be greased twice a year—once in the preseason and a second time after harvest. To further extend your irrigation system's longevity and protect your equipment investment, don't forget to have postseason maintenance and winterization performed as well at the end of the season. "Our technicians are trained and ready to assist farmers whenever they need our help," says Klingeman. "But if we can maintain their irrigation systems and take care of repairs in advance, we want to do that for them." For a detailed checklist of preseason irrigation system preventative maintenance, visit www.reinke.com/preseason-preventative-maintenance. Producers in eastern Washington can visit www.skoneirrigation.com for more information on the products and services available from the Reinke Gold Pride award-winning dealership. Skone Irrigation and John Klingeman can also be reached at (509) 545-8420.