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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2015)
8 CapitalPress.com October 2, 2015 Fall is best time to get irrigation gear ready for spring By LACEY JARRELL For the Capital Press Farmers need to make sure irrigation equipment is completely drained to prevent freezing damage when winter temperatures set in. Howard Neibling, exten- sion irrigation water manage- ment engineer for the Uni- versity of Idaho, explained if water is left in mainlines and wheel lines, it can freeze and break the line. “Next year when you are trying to run water, and you need to move a lot of water in a hurry, all of a sudden you have mud hole there and you’ve got to shut the system down for several days,” Neib- ling said. He said low spots that won’t drain are usually the first to freeze. If a pipe has a low spot, Neibling suggested connecting a riser or anything the water can be pumped out through using a portable pump. Centrifugal pumps, used to pump water from canals to irrigation lines, also need to have all the water drained from them. “You don’t want it freezing because freezing water will break a nice cast iron housing on a pump,” Neibling said. “It will just split it wide open.” Fall is also a good time WINTER SERVICE October 1, 2015 – SPECIAL February 29, 2016 10% OFF PARTS & LABOR for all makes & brands we carry. to inspect hoses that connect mainline to wheel line outlets, according to Neibling. “It’s a time to look your equipment over and see what could go wrong or cause you problems later in the spring and summer. Anything you can fix should be fixed in the fall,” he said. “The spring gets so crazy — you’re trying to do so many things — you don’t have time to deal with any of these maintenance issues.” He said worn hoses and worn nozzles, or nozzles that are the wrong size, should be replaced. “When it’s still working, make a note of what gaskets are leaking and replace those once fall is here,” he said. According to Neibling, results from testing dozens of wheel lines revealed the average water loss from leaks was about 12 to 14 percent of total system capacity. Worn Lacey Jarrell/For the Capital Press Water left in a drooping wheel line can freeze and damage line pipe. Experts recommend draining all sprinkler equipment before winter. Wheel line motors should be removed or covered for the season. nozzles or wrong-size nozzles added 12 to 14 percent loss to that. “That’s 25 percent loss in water just due to those items,” he said. 0,000 Over 35 f Sq. Ft. O e Spac Display Equipment owners should also inspect pivots for worn bearing seals and joints that need to be greased. Ensuring joints are greased and seals are secure will help keep wa- ter out of the joints, Neibling said. Oil in center pivots gear- boxes needs to be checked and filled to proper levels at the end of the season. Neib- ling recommends using the oil recommended by pivot manu- facturers. He said pivot tires that look low should be filled or repaired right away. “You don’t want a flat tire in the hottest part of the sea- son next year,” he said. Wheel line engines need pre-winter care, too. They can be removed or left on the line. Fuel should be emp- tied by running the engine until all the fuel runs out, or by siphoning the tank. The oil and the air filter should be replaced if necessary. The engine and other mechanical parts should be covered until the threat of extreme cold and moisture has passed. FIFTEENTH ANNUAL We Service All Makes & Models • Kubota • MacDon • Versatile • Krone • Weiss McNair • Great Plains • Vermeer (541) 926-1811 TWO LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU: 33599 Hwy. 99E • Tangent, OR • (541) 926-1811 812 McClaine St. • Silverton, OR • (503) 873-5355 www.linnbentontractor.com WSG15-4/#5 $4 ion Admiss FREE G PARKIN Linn County Fair & Expo Center • Albany, OR Pesticide • Free Core g and Trainin nsion Other Exte s Classe ertification • Forklift C ses Clas Added 50,000 Sq. Ft. Indoor Heated Space! Back by Popular Demand: • Dine Around Oregon • Antique Farm Equipment Show Visit our website for details www.wvaexpo.com 1-800-208-2168 WSG15-7/#5 Call Roy today to schedule your service