Slurry Applicator Maintenance Checklist

Between seasons, slurry left in the system dries out, bare metal corrodes, and a blade that was nearly worn at the last load is still nearly worn when you hook up again next season.

An hour of work after the last load, and a shorter check before the first one, keeps the machine out of the workshop when you need it most. Below is what to check, at both moments.

After the last load: the machine

This is the important one. Everything you do now decides what you find in spring.

Clean the machine thoroughly and flush it through with water.
Make sure no liquid is left in the macerator.
Check all mechanical connections for tightness and wear.
Grease all lubrication points according to the maintenance schedule.
Touch up any damage to galvanised and painted parts.
Apply a preservative to exposed metal parts.
Replace damaged hydraulic hoses.
Carry out the annual safety inspection.

The preservative and the hydraulic hoses are the two that get skipped most. A hose with a cracked outer layer holds pressure for the rest of the season, which is why it gets left. It fails in the first week of spreading instead.

After the last load: the Alrena macerator

The macerator does the precision work, and it is the part that suffers most from slurry drying inside it.

Clean the macerator thoroughly and flush out the inside.
Clean the air intake and the air hoses.
Empty the debris trap and leave it open.
Preserve the blades, cutting plates and cutting surfaces, and check them for wear.
Grease the macerator fully.
Store the macerator dry.

Leaving the debris trap open matters: a closed trap holds the last of the moisture against the cutting surfaces all winter.

Before the first load

Most of this repeats what you did in autumn. The point is to confirm that nothing changed while the machine stood still, and to catch the wear you noted last season before it costs you a day.

Check that the hoses and outlets are clear and that nothing has hardened inside them.
Grease every point again. A machine that stood for months has lost grease to gravity and condensation.
Re-check the mechanical connections, especially anything you moved during storage.
Inspect the hydraulic hoses and cylinders for leaks and cracking.
Check the blades and cutting plates, and order replacements now rather than mid-season.
Check that the debris trap closes properly after you have left it open all winter.
Run clean water through the system before the first load of slurry.
Confirm that the safety inspection is still valid.

Order wear parts before you need them

A worn blade or a cracked hose is a small part with a large consequence in the middle of the season. If the check turns up something, order it while the workshop is quiet. We keep parts in stock, so your slurry application does not stop halfway through the season. Order directly from us at parts@bomech.nl or +31 546 782 484.