Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1225206
www.SugarProducer.com 17 www.SugarProducer.com 17 of every pivot. With a Reinke warranty, farmers have the option of working with their local Reinke dealers to have a certified technician perform preventative maintenance and use genuine Reinke 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 with Reinke Manufacturing. "And those preseason checks are less expensive than a hurried repair when there are crops in the field going without the water they need." By taking steps to prevent issues from developing in the first place, farmers can have confidence and peace of mind regarding the system's reliability. Following is a general checklist of the steps a certified technician can go through each spring to keep your irrigation system operating at peak efficiency: 1. Verify the system 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 arm 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 at the end of the season as well. "Our technicians undergo routine training so that they're ready to help farmers whenever they're needed," says Boyd. "But if we can run preseason and postseason preventative maintenance checks, we're much more likely to catch repairs in advance to keep downtime to a minimum." n For a detailed checklist of preseason irrigation system preventative maintenance, visit www.reinke.com/preseason-preventative-maintenance. Farmers in Montana can visit www.watsonirrigationmt.com for more information on the products and services available from the Reinke Diamond Pride award-winning dealership. Watson Irrigation's dealership in Townsend, Mont., can be reached at (406) 266-3741; the Rockvale, Mont., dealership can be contacted at (855) 654-2846.