As harvest finishes in the majority of the country, the time
of year has come to put most farm machinery away, including your Apache, until
spring. One of the keys to keeping your sprayer in working order for next
spring is proper winterization before the freezing temperatures settle in for
the season.
1. Clean your Apache
Cleaning the sprayer includes both the inside and outside of the machine. While it is important to thoroughly rinse the wet system, it is equally important to give attention to the exterior of the sprayer. Proper cleaning will help prevent premature rust and corrosion. Using a pressure washer, clean the outside of the sprayer including the booms, frame and undercarriage. Additionally, remove all filters, screen tips and check valves to wash them, and then reinstall all parts to keep moisture out during the winter.
Cleaning the sprayer includes both the inside and outside of the machine. While it is important to thoroughly rinse the wet system, it is equally important to give attention to the exterior of the sprayer. Proper cleaning will help prevent premature rust and corrosion. Using a pressure washer, clean the outside of the sprayer including the booms, frame and undercarriage. Additionally, remove all filters, screen tips and check valves to wash them, and then reinstall all parts to keep moisture out during the winter.
To clean the inside of the sprayer, completely rinse the
entire system to ensure any chemicals aren’t left from the last application. Here is a video with a few reminders on properly flushing the wet system.
2. Inspect the sprayer
After washing the sprayer, check it over for any cracks, chips or scratches in the paint and touch up these areas to avoid corrosion. While inspecting your Apache, take this opportunity to grease all service points on the sprayer. If any leaks are found inside the spray tank, repair them before storing the sprayer.
After washing the sprayer, check it over for any cracks, chips or scratches in the paint and touch up these areas to avoid corrosion. While inspecting your Apache, take this opportunity to grease all service points on the sprayer. If any leaks are found inside the spray tank, repair them before storing the sprayer.
3. Winterize the wet system
After cleaning the sprayer’s exterior and rinsing the inside of the system, it is important to circulate antifreeze through the entire wet system to keep it from freezing during the cold months. Recreational Vehicle antifreeze is recommended since it is less toxic to animals and may be sprayed on the ground.
After cleaning the sprayer’s exterior and rinsing the inside of the system, it is important to circulate antifreeze through the entire wet system to keep it from freezing during the cold months. Recreational Vehicle antifreeze is recommended since it is less toxic to animals and may be sprayed on the ground.
To start, put approximately 30 gallons of RV antifreeze in
the product tank, although more may be required depending on the boom length. Following
which, put an additional 5 gallons of RV antifreeze in the rinse tank. With your
Apache running, turn on the product pump to circulate agitation of the antifreeze.
While the pump is running, turn on each boom section until RV antifreeze comes
out of the nozzles. If you are operating a 2011 or 2012 Apache model, turn on
the flow back rinse switch to winterize the flow back line.
To winterize the rinse tank, turn the fill station control
valve to rinse-to-pump and the agitation valve to rotoflush. After circulating
for a few seconds, turn the product pump off, the agitation valve back to
agitation and the fill station control valve back to product-to-pump.
If the sprayer is equipped with an eductor, put the eductor
in the operation position and turn on the product pump. Open the eductor safety
valve, the main eductor valve and the red tank valve. Following which, open the
lid rinse valve and let the antifreeze circulate in the eductor for a few
seconds and finish by closing the valves and turning off the product pump.
To run the antifreeze through the entire wet system, don’t
exclude any components such as the lines that connect to the agitation and pump
pressure gauges. Make sure they have antifreeze in them as well to avoid frozen
gauges. Finally, open the strainer drain valve to ensure RV antifreeze is
present in the strainer.
Check out this video for a more detailed step-by-step guide on winterizing your Apache’s wet system.
4. Winterize the foam marker system
If your Apache sprayer has a foam marker system, don’t forget to include it in
the winterization process. Start by draining the foam tank and disconnecting
the hoses from the foam chamber. Next, replace the strainer bowl. Then, add two
quarts of windshield washer fluid, and finish by running the foam markers until
windshield washer fluid comes out of the hose at the foam chamber. RV
antifreeze can be used in place of the windshield washer fluid, but depending
on the size of containers, the windshield washer fluid may be easier to handle.
5. Store the sprayer
The best place to house a sprayer during the winter is in a dry, storage building. Cover all openings on the sprayer to keep insects and dirt out of the system. If the sprayer is stored outside, take the time to remove all hoses. To complete the winterization process, remove the fully charged battery and any consoles from the cab and store them in a warm area. Finish by filling your Apache’s fuel tank to reduce condensation and moisture build up.
The best place to house a sprayer during the winter is in a dry, storage building. Cover all openings on the sprayer to keep insects and dirt out of the system. If the sprayer is stored outside, take the time to remove all hoses. To complete the winterization process, remove the fully charged battery and any consoles from the cab and store them in a warm area. Finish by filling your Apache’s fuel tank to reduce condensation and moisture build up.
By taking good preventative practices with your Apache
sprayer this fall, you will save time and repair costs in the spring.
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