Now that the plowing season is over, what should I do to my
truck and plow as far as maintenance items?
Let us start with the truck first, since you will be using it again before you
will be using your plow. Probably the most important thing to do, or have done,
is to have the automatic transmission serviced. Have the fluid replaced and the
filter changed. Having the fluid and filter changed is cheap preventative
maintenance considering the costs of transmission repairs or replacement. It is
also a good idea to have the engine oil and filter changed now. Excessive engine
idling is a part of plowing, and it is also more harmful to engine oil that
driving. Just because you did not put that many miles on while plowing this past
winter, does not mean that the engine was not under a heavy load for many of
those miles, and idling for many hours during that same time frame. When you
have the oil changed, also have the front end greased. Be sure to grease the
front axle universal joints (if applicable) and the front drive shaft slip yolk
and universal joints, as well as the rear driveshaft universal joints and slip
yolk (if applicable). Have the drive shafts, front axle, and front end
components inspected for worn parts. Have the tires and wheels removed, and the
front and rear brakes inspected, cleaned, and adjusted.
Having the aforementioned services performed can be messy as far as lubricant
spillage under your vehicle. This is why I did not mention washing the truck
first. Now that these services have been performed, it is time to wash the
underside of the truck thoroughly. There are a few ways to accomplish this. One
is to take the truck to a car wash that can wash trucks. Elect the optional
'undercarriage wash' if they offer it. Another is to go to a self serve truck
wash station and wash it yourself using their high pressure washing equipment.
Take care in using the high pressure washer not to "force" water into places you
do not want it to go, such as axle vent hoses and engine air intake openings. A
third option is to wash it yourself, in your driveway or yard. If you choose to
do it this way, there are a few tips to make it go easier. First, rinse the
undercarriage thoroughly. While it is still wet, use a scrub brush on a long
handle to reach under the vehicle and scrub it down with a soapy water solution.
Believe it or not, a typical 'toilet bowl' scrub brush is a second handy tool to
have, as its shape will allow you to get into places that a standard rectangular
shaped brush will not. It is great for scrubbing tires and wheels too. Rinse the
undercarriage thoroughly. The idea is to get off as much salt residue as
possible, and this usually involves scrubbing, since rinsing alone will often
leave much of the salt residue on the vehicle.
Moving on to the plow, rinse it thoroughly with water. Get out your toilet bowl
brush again, and scrub down the entire plow assembly with a soapy water
solution. Modern plows that incorporate complete assembly removal as a 'unit'
can be heavy, and difficult to tip onto the face of the moldboard. Be extremely
careful when tipping the plow, as it is extremely heavy, and can be dangerous.
If you are not comfortable tipping it, then do not tip it. Tipping the plow
forward will allow the bottom of the A frame to be cleaned, which is important,
since it takes much of the stress of plowing, and will need to be clean before
inspecting the welds, and other areas for signs of damage. Rinse the plow
assembly thoroughly, and allow it to dry, leaving it tipped forward.
Begin by inspecting the bottom side of the A frame, looking closely at all the
welds for fatigue or cracking. Once it is clear that the underside is in tact,
tip the plow back into the 'mounting' position (if you did in fact tip it
forward). Inspect all the hydraulic hoses for chaffing or damage. Inspect the
fittings for leakage or damage. Inspect the angle rams for damage. Inspect all
the welds for fatigue or cracking. Look for bent parts. If you find any damages,
you can repair them now, or wait until the fall to have them repaired. Apply a
light coating of waterproof grease to the exposed piston rods of the angle
cylinders to prevent rusting during storage.
Change the hydraulic fluid in the plow pump. Follow the maintenance instructions
in your owner's manual. If the fluid is milky, that is a sign that water got
into the hydraulic system, and you have a leak some place. If you did not find a
leak during the previous inspection mentioned above, make sure to note it
someplace so you can locate the leak and repair it at a later time. Clean the
pump filters and strainers. Fill the pump with new hydraulic fluid. Fully extend
the plow lift ram, and a light coat of waterproof grease to the piston rod to
prevent rust during storage.
The above article originally appeared in the February 2003 Issue of Snow Business Magazine. Reprinted with permission.
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