Maintaining your turfcare machinery all year round can be stressful, challenging, and sometimes hard to manage, but it is necessary.

Even during the seasons you’re not using it as much, your machinery will always need maintenance to ensure it’s in the best condition possible for when you use it next.

So what can you do to maintain your machinery all year round, and how can you make this task easier?

There are many ways you can ensure that your groundskeeping machinery stays maintained, but today we’re going to take you through four essential tips that will help keep your machinery in top condition throughout the seasons.

By following these professional maintenance tips, you’ll be able to avoid breakdowns and stay on top of your grounds care jobs.

1. Always do your daily checks

The number one thing you should do throughout the year is to check your machinery daily for faults, issues, damage, wear and tear and anything unusual. 

We’d also recommend cleaning your machinery regularly to ensure nothing gets left to rust. It’s essential to clean the moving parts and make sure they’re lubricated enough to work smoothly. 

Keeping your machinery in top condition by checking for wear and damage will help prevent the machinery from breaking down and causing unnecessary issues. 

Here’s an easy daily checklist to go over every time you use your machinery:

• Clean your machine
• Clean and lubricate moving parts
• Check for wear and tear
• Listen out for unusual noises 
• Note down any issues you’re having with your machine’s performance
• Treat any rust or scratches before they get worse 

Doing all this will help keep your machine going for longer, and it’ll help reduce the amount of money you have to spend on your annual service.

2. Store it properly during winter

Proper storage is an absolute must when it comes to groundcare machinery maintenance. If you’re not using your machines during winter, you must store them correctly and with the proper care. 

If you’re using a petrol machine, make sure the fuel is drained from the engine unless it’s a long-life fuel. If it’s a battery-operated machine, ensure the battery is disconnected before you put it to bed for winter. 

Before closing the garage door on your machine, you should also make sure it’s clean. You don’t want it rusting while you’re enjoying your turkey dinner! Make sure it’s clean and kept covered throughout the winter – especially if it isn’t stored in a shed. This will help stop it from getting damaged by the harsh weather the UK winter brings. 

If you do all this before settling down by the fire in the winter, your machine will make it to spring with no difficulties at all. While you’re getting toasty and warm inside, your groundskeeping machinery will be happy, healthy and secure inside your shed.

3. Do a proper spring time start up

So we’ve talked about what to do when you store your machine during the summer but what happens when you take it out of storage a couple of months later? What should you do when you first wake your machine up for the season?

Before you do anything else, you should make sure the battery is fully charged and reconnected to your machine otherwise, you won’t be getting very far. 

Once the battery is connected, we’d recommend checking the oil level and topping it up if it’s too low. Don’t forget to survey the area and make sure no oil or other fluids have leaked over the winter. If you do have a leak, getting that fixed first should be your top priority. 

Check the floor around your machine and ensure there isn’t any fuel on the floor either. Sometimes mice and rats can be a real pest and cause havoc with machines. If there’s no sign of damage, then you’re almost good to go!

Double-check the fluid level and give it one more look over for any damage before starting it up.

4. Take it for annual service

Finally, the most important thing to remember when it comes to machine maintenance. The annual service. 

An annual service is an absolute must for any grounds care machinery. Without a yearly service, your machine could break down in the middle of a job and ruin all your plans for the week. 

When you get an annual service from a professional maintenance team, you’ll be able to rest assured knowing your machine will work as it should throughout the year. 

An annual service usually includes:

• Cleaning the machine
• Changing the oil and filter 
• Fixing any worn or damaged parts
• Checking every inch of the machine for issues
• Replacing any worn bearings and bushings 
• Replacing any worn bolts
• Checking any known problems 
• Checking the hydraulic system 
• Checking the cylinder
• Providing preventative maintenance

An annual service is designed to prevent problems through preventative maintenance. At Middlewich machinery, we’re here to advise you on the condition of your machine and provide you with solutions that help prevent issues from occurring and enhance the longevity of your machine. 

We’ll work with you to ensure your machine doesn’t break down and that you only have to visit our shop every 12 months instead of multiple times during the year when your machine breaks down due to something that could have been avoided. 

If you’re looking for a bit of extra help taking care of your machines, then our team is here for you when you need us. We’re here to provide you with an experienced service that catches problems before they happen. We know our way around grounds care machinery, so we will spot known issues before they wreak havoc on your work. 

At Middlewich Machinery, we provide groundskeepers, homeowners and landscapers with the best grounds care machinery servicing, repairs and parts. 

If you want your grounds care machinery to stay running all year round, get in touch with our team today and book your machine in for an annual service.