Organising the WORKSHOP


PATRICK (CAL) CALLABY, Head Mechanic at the Celtic Manor Golf Resort, gives us his thoughts


I HAVE a commissioning process for new machines that helps me to order parts and claim warrantees when the machine may not be readily to hand, and to record other information relevant to that machine that will be required at some time in the future. It goes something like this: ~


1.Number the machine where the number can be seen easily front and rear.


2.Take the engine number and any other numbers relevant to the engine i.e., code, type, family, c.c. and horse power.


3.Take the model and serial number of the machine.


Get the basics


JOHN REYNOLDS talks about the new generation decompactors


“SOIL compaction is now a major issue for all sports turf facilities worldwide,” claims Felix Peters, MD of Imants BV, based at Reusel in Holland. “In fact, it is probably the prime cause of poor grass root development.” “Heavily compacted soils will not encourage roots to develop vertically, they will take the line of least resistance and spread laterally just below the surface. This makes them very prone to drought conditions and burn-off in hot weather. Applying wetting agents as a short-term solution does nothing to deal with the fundamental problem of shallow rooting due to poor aeration and soil compression caused by countless numbers of human feet and regular use of maintenance machinery.” “The introduction of a good aeration


programme is vital and the single most important factor for success in turf management. Get the basics right and the rest will be relatively easy to achieve, get them wrong, and you will be performing continuous remedial action for ever and a day. You can apply costly consumable products like fertilisers and root stimulants by the bucketful with very little effect, unless you create the means for them to penetrate the surface, enter the rootzone, percolate and circulate


throughout a well structured and aerated soil profile, and finally, be taken up by the root system.”


New Design Concept


ACCORDING to Imants Production Director, Hans De Kort, their new models feature numerous original and highly creative engineering solutions. These changes have resulted in a highly advanced new design concept, giving the machines increased durability and reliability in every respect. Imants decompactors have a well- deserved reputation for unfailing reliability, and producing an improved product at significantly less money was never going to be easy. However, we have achieved just that and the latest machine is around 30% less money to buy and 30% stronger than it’s predecessor. We believe it is by far the best of it’s type available.” Imants have departed from the earlier


well-established chain drive system, opting instead for a central all-gear-drive to the rotor shaft. This is powered directly from the gearbox via a pto shaft from the tractor. This system guarantees perfect torque characteristics and optimum balance throughout the machine. It also results in a drive train, which, the company claim is much stronger than any other system. Because there are no chains to adjust or replace, failure through metal


fatigue or wear is minmal. Next up for re-design, was the old


system of shear bolts, which had previously been fitted to every blade and the pto. Local authority health and safety officers had sincere reservations about their personnel replacing the bolts in the close proximity of razor sharp blades when working out on site. To resolve this problem the Imants engineers have opted for the fitting of a torque limiter (similar to a slip clutch) on the pto set at normal shear bolt breaking pressure. When encountering an underground obstruction such as a large rock or brick this device immediately disengages the pto and prevents the blades from rotating until the offending obstacle has been passed. This now means that the machine is


fully protected against accidental damage without the use of a single shear bolt.


Virtually zero maintenance


Imants designers were given a brief of ‘virtually zero maintenance’. All new models use sealed-for-life ultra heavy-duty bearings throughout. The only maintenance required is regular routine checking of the gearbox oil level, plus occasional specified gearbox oil changes, together with, daily common sense checks for bolt tightness etc.


4.Take the model and serial number of all the units or decks and where they are mounted on the machine.


5.Take any available numbers from major component parts such as axles, pumps and transmissions.


6.Take the type of machine.


7.Record all of this as the opening page of the machines service record together with the date it was purchased.


8.Look through the service book and see when it needs the first engine oil and filter change. Check to see if the correct filter is held in stock, if not put one on order ready. Do the same


for the hydraulic filter(s).


This way when asked by a supplier for information such as model number and the like, it is always to hand rather than looking for it and having to ring back or waiting until the machine returns from a work period, this goes for workshop equipment as well, after all a


vehicle/machine lift or a MIG welder may also have problems. We now have the nucleus of a workshop and some machines, some equipment to help us maintain it, a phone/fax, hopefully a computer, desk and chair, kettle (most important or have I said that) and a box of hand tools. All set to go or are we?


RIGHT


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