Winterizing Your Spray Rig

After a prosperous year of spraying it’s always a good idea to properly clean and prepare your skid sprayer for winter. Here are a few tips that may help you begin your spring start up with no problems. Remember to always wear protective gear.

1. Rinse your sprayer as thoroughly as possible. It is best to spray your final tank at the last job prior to winterizing the unit. If you don’t have a drain on the tank then you will have to fill the tank with small amounts of water, then spraying the residual product out in an application area and refilling several times with small amounts of water repeating the process till the unit is clean. Be sure to be aware of any area that you may contaminate during this process and be sure you give yourself several feet of set-back in case any run off may occur.
2. After the tank has been completely drained, open all valves and filter assemblies. If you have compressed air, try blowing any liquid that might remain from the hose/lines on the unit. Leave the valves and the filter assembles open in case there is fluid left and expansion occurs.
3. Remove any of the spray guns and drain the fluid from them. Store in an area out of the weather. This will insure no cracked guns during the cooler freezing temperatures.
4. If your sprayer is equipped with a gas engine then you will need to take steps to insure that it will start at the beginning of the season. When gas sits in an engine carburetor for a significant length of time it will have the tendency to clog up. We suggest you add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel. Turn the gas to the off position and run the engine till it stops running. Be careful when doing this because some pumps can’t be run without water for long periods of time. Once the engine stops running, this will insure no fuel being left in the carburetor thru the winter. You can also loosen the carburetor drain plug and drain any fuel that maybe left in the bowl. Be sure to retighten the drain plug. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!

Winterizing Gas Engines

1. Shut off gas valve to carburetor.
2. Start engine and run carburetor dry.
3. Empty gas tank or add gas stabilizer to remaining gas in tank.
4. Drain and change oil.
5. Remove spark plug, and add small amount of oil or WD-40 to cylinder and replace spark plug.

Winterizing Electric Motors

1. Oil bearings on both sides of motor.
2. Check cord and plug for nicks, breaks or other damage.
3. Check switch assembly, if installed on cord.

Winterizing Treating Tools/Sub-Slabs, JD-9 Guns, Etc.

1. Drain tools of all pesticides.
2. If necessary, remove fittings to allow for WD-40 or other lubricants to be sprayed into gun or tool. Work trigger of tool to allow lubricant to pass through entire tool.
3. Clean exterior of tool.
4. Wrap in a plastic bag.
5. If possible, store in a warm place.