From lubricating booms to cleaning and replacing spray tips, ace mechanic Dan Anderson emphasizes the importance of prioritizing upkeep during the season.
1. RTV silicone is an alternative to “pipe dope” or Teflon tape when assembling plastic pipe fittings used on sprayers. The silicone sealant allows adjustment to align fittings after assembly, and it doesn’t permanently cement connections.
2. Some sprayer manufacturers specify molybdenum grease when lubricating spray boom hinges, suspension flex points and other components that oscillate rather than rotate. The molybdenum embeds in the metal to provide at least minimal lubrication when high pressure or oscillation-without-complete-rotation squeezes all the grease out of a joint and prevents “refreshing” of the grease.
3. An aerosol can of contact cleaner or brake cleaner is a handy and an easily portable way to clean spray tips. Water from the “clean water” tank works, but a pressurized blast from the spray can often works better.
4. If your fingers get sore from replacing the twist-on/off nozzle caps on a 120-foot boom, find an old socket that fits over the cap, then file, grind or machine notches to fit the “ears” of the cap. Be sure to use an old ratchet wrench that won’t be ruined by frequent exposure to chemicals. An appropriately sized and notched piece of PVC pipe is an alternative to a metal socket, and a chunk of small-diameter PVC pipe makes a lightweight handle.
