Your Irrigation Maintenance Checklist

Avoid headaches and downtime in the heart of irrigation season

Don’t let an irrigation system breakdown put the squeeze on you later this summer. Ensure your pivots are ready for action now.

“Spending a handful of hours ahead of planting could translate to thousands more dollars in growers’ pockets come harvest due to reduced downtime and in-season service calls,” says Brad Dunbar, regional sales manager with Lindsay Corporation.

Extra diligence is needed this year, he says, as many irrigation systems were used late into the fall last year due to dry conditions and then faced a brutal winter. That kind of weather can take a toll and require additional maintenance.

“Visually inspecting the sprinkler in operation before the irrigation season starts can help identify whether water application is uniform and adequate and whether repairs are needed,” adds Chuck Burr, University of Nebraska Extension water/cropping systems educator.

Dunbar and Burr recommend the following checklist for your irrigation systems.

1. Pay special attention to components that could have been damaged by prolonged freezing temperatures, ice and snow, including: sand traps, drain valves, end gun valves and the automatic valves that control water flow.
2. Lubricate the pivot head to keep the pivot point moving freely during operation.
3. Run the motor at the normal operating speed for 45 minutes.
4. Update any remote management and scheduling technology for your systems.
5. Inspect drivelines. Worn joints and driveline bolts are easy to repair at the beginning of the season, but can be challenging to repair later.
6. Check spark plugs on gas, propane, or natural gas motors.
7. Check sprinkler nozzles and replace as necessary to ensure proper pressure. Nozzle wear depends on the quality of the water and the system operating pressure. As a rule of thumb, sprinkler replacement should be considered after approximately 10,000-12,000 hours of operation. Be sure to replace malfunctioning nozzles with ones listed on the computer printout you received from the manufacturer.
8. Check oil in gear boxes and center drive motors.
9. Replace filters (air, engine and fuel).
10. Check tire pressure to help maintain adequate flotation and prevent excessive gearbox wear.
11. Record the outlet pressure, flow rate, hours of operation, and energy use each month to evaluate pump and motor performance. The pivot should be in the same position each time the operating pressure is recorded since the pump will produce different outlet pressures depending on whether it’s facing uphill or downhill. Compare the current flow rate and pressure to last year and the years before. Any changes noted in pressure and/or flow rate may indicate issues with the pump or pressure regulators.