BENEFITS OF REGULAR CENTRE PIVOT SERVICING

As any grower will tell you, it’s incredibly reassuring knowing another successful year is in the bag, come the close of growing season.  

As that combine does its last sweep of the paddock, what should be going through any farmer’s mind is next season and just what shape their equipment is in.  

When the gear is running smoothly, from the combine through to the irrigation set-up, efficiencies improve, downtime becomes a thing of the past and yields increase. It’s critical then to stay on top of regular machine maintenance and servicing, especially after a long season.  

KEEPING ON TOP OF IT 

Yet, perhaps the most important bit of infrastructure for any grower is their centre pivot irrigation system.   By way of some theory, the best approach is of course preventive maintenance and having an established routine of inspecting all of your critical gear is paramount to extending the life of the system and avoiding costly operational breakdowns.  

Here’s a few hints and tips you can add to your own preventative maintenance schedule...  

1. DRAIN GEARBOXES AND CENTRE DRIVES 

Accumulated water doesn’t mix well with any machinery, so it’s best to regularly drain any excess water from gearboxes and centre drives. Whilst doing this, it’s a good time to check oil levels and air pressures – this will do wonders for overall efficiency and lifecycle.  

2. GREASE AND FILL 

Like any steel-on-steel machinery, all mechanical systems of your centre pivot should be regularly greased to lubricate any moving parts. Focus on your pivot point bearing, towable hubs, corner rollers and any other moving parts.  

To protect the gear from damage, it’s also good practice to fill any deep wheel tracks in the off season. If wheel tracks become a recurring issue, talk to your suppliers – there’s a few different options out there such as altering tyre configurations and tweaks can be made to your sprinkler heads to keep the tracks dry. 

3. ALIGN AND FLUSH 

The critical one here is flushing your pipes regularly during irrigation season, but also in the off-season to keep the machine free of accumulated sediments and prevent accelerated span pipe corrosion or clogging.  Another one that’s usually overlooked when the centre pivot is parked up is checking in on your microswitches to ensure alignment is correct. These switches are of course critical to the operation of the system, and if alignment is out, it can cause serious downtime.    

4. POWER SOURCE 

A final key consideration is attending to your centre pivot’s power source. For many Australian growers, their systems are typically powered by stationary diesel engines or generator sets, so it’s critical this power source is firstly well specified and reliable, but also well maintained at all times.   

Some basic steps include… 

• Clean and degrease at least once a year (keep covered if possible) 
• Check for leaks  
• Change oil at (annually) 
• Change oil filter (annually) 
• Change air filter (annually) 
• Add fuel stabilizer (if idle for more than a month)   

Alternatively, and perhaps for ultimate peace of mind, bring in the experts from your local supplier or dealership to ensure all mechanical and operational control (panels) components are operating as they should. Many will offer a yearly audit service, which is a great way to steer clear of any trouble.  

NOW IS THE TIME 

Coming into Summer, now is a critical to time to consider these preventative maintenance steps and make sure your gear is ready and rearing to go when its needed.  It might be wet as an otter’s pocket right now, but we all know too well the weather extremes of this beautiful land we call home.  

Indeed, no matter the crop, they all need water, so ensuring optimal performance for your irrigation system is simply a must.  

Want to know more about Isuzu’s diverse range of power units and generator sets? Check out the range at isuzupowersolutions.com.au