Equipment Maintenance

Equipment Maintenance

Your personal safety and that of your family member,

employees and your crops make it important that you

thoroughly clean and decontaminate your sprayer as

follows:

During the season,

Between crops and

Before you store it for the for the next planting season.

SIMPLE RULES TO KEEP EQUIPMENT IN TOP SHAPE                                                                                           

The following simplei rules are needed to keep the equipment in top

condition.

Reading the service manual to check for any specific service requirement

of your piece of equipment

At the end of each spraying job, thoroughly clean the inside and outside of

the sprayer, disassemble it, and clean each part meticulously

Check for wear and correct fitting of "O" rings (it may even be advisable to

have a few spare "O" rings on hand)

Complete the service by reassembling the unit and returning it to storage.

Plastic sprayers should not be left out in the sun, as the ultra-violet radiation

harms the plastic and shortens its useful life.

STEPS OF MAINTENACE AND STORAGE PROCESS

A complete maintenance and storage process consists of five steps:

1. Read 2. Rinse and Drain 3. Clean 4. Inspect 5. Store

Read

Before you begin cleaning your sprayer, be sure to review the product label.

The label will:

Tell you how to dispose of residues or excess product.

Provide cleaning instructions that might be necessary.

Recommend decontaminating products.

Advice on the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) you need to safely

clean your sprayer.

Rinse and Drain

The goal of rinsing and is to remove any concentrated or large areas of

the product that might still be in or on the sprayer.

STEPS OF MAINTENACE AND STORAGE PROCESS-Contd

Clean

After your sprayer has been rinsed and drained, it’s time to clean or decontaminate it.

Be sure to decontaminate both the interior and exterior of the machine, running liquid

through the boom structure and out the nozzles

Inspect

After the final rinse you can inspect your sprayer and make the necessary repairs and

modifications. Here is a checklist of what to look for both during and after cleaning:

• Mismatched and worn nozzles

• Damaged nozzle screens

• Damaged strainer screens

• Cracks, leaks and overall performance in the pump.

• Hose condition, especially brittleness or cracks

• Valve condition, identifying any possible leaks or areas where seals may have

loosened

STEPS OF MAINTENACE AND STORAGE PROCESS-Contd.

Store

Now that the sprayer has been thoroughly cleaned, you may want to

remove parts of it that may be damaged during storage.

Remove strainers (filters) and wash them by hand with soapy water

(remember to wear chemical- resistant gloves), rinse them and either

store them or place them back in the sprayer.

Pay special attention to nozzles, nozzle bodies and check valves.

Chemical residue can build up in these areas and get hardened,

dramatically reducing the sprayer’s performance next season.

Remove nozzle tips, screens, check valves, caps and nozzle bodies

from the nozzle body assemblies. Correctly plug the assemblies.

Clean and rinse out the nozzle tips, nozzle bodies and check

valves. Store

STEPS OF MAINTENACE AND STORAGE PROCESS-Contd.

How to Clean Out a Knapsack or Backpack Sprayer

Step 1 - Dump remaining product.

Step 2- Add soap add approximately to your tank.

Step 3- Add hot water fill tank with clean hot water and let sit for one hour. Using water as hot

as you can get it from the tap should work.

Step 4- Remove water after your tank has been sitting at least an hour or longer it is time to

dump the water. Lock the handle open and let the water run through the wand.

Step 5- Cleaning the Wand In order to clean out your wand, you will need to refill your tank

with hot water. Let the clean water run through the hose and wand.

Step 6- Cleaning Filter Sometimes your filter screen may become clogged, scrub it lightly with

a bristle brush or toothbrush.

Step 7- Rinse Shut off Valve The shut off valve of your sprayer could have chemicals on it, be

sure to rinse it off. This is just a basic easy way to clean out your sprayer. Always remember to

follow the instructions in your owner’s manual for cleaning your specific sprayer.

TROUBLE SHOOTING OBSERVED PROBLEM

SUGGESTED CAUSE PROPOSED REMEDY

No pressure or reduced or intermittent pressure 

Piston seal worn or damaged

Replace piston seal

  Brass ball dirty or corroded 

Replace or clean brass ball

Little or no spray from nozzle

Nozzle blocked  

Remove and clean nozzle

  Filter in trigger valve blocked 

Remove and clean filter

Spray continues after trigger valve is closed 

Dirt or particles in trigger valve 

Disassemble and clean trigger valve

  Spring in trigger valve weakened 

Insert spring spacer

  Seal in trigger valve damaged or worn 

Replace seal