EDWIN’S machinery maintenance
EDWIN ROBERTS’ company, Classic Mowers, has been in existence since 1999 specialising in maintaining older pedestrian mowers and sports ground equipment. In this issue he looks at the Sisis Truspred, a simple machine who’s working life can be extended with basic maintenance.
Standard 24” Sisis Truspred
approximately 1mm it will drop seed on to the green with no waste. The spreader will hold more seed than a spinner spreader thus making it quicker to use.
The Sisis Truspred comes in two sizes - 24” and 36”. Construction is simple and reliable.
The rubber conveyer belt is driven by two wheels and one driven shaft with idler shaft between two cast iron side plates with adjustable hopper for dressing materials.
Early models had fixed drive on the wheels with an “R” clip through the wheel and shaft. Later models had one way drive bearings in the wheels.
The Sisis Truspred is a good basic machine. It is used for top dressing, grass seed and fertiliser. For small areas such as cricket squares and bowling greens, it will speed up application and be more economical. It is particularly good for grass seed. If the hopper is adjusted to
The hopper volume is increased with home made greedy boards
Maintenance is straightforward. Before use, oil the small wheels on the back of spreader. There are two grease nipples on each of the side plates.
On later models, with drive bearings, it is best to remove the wheels and
clean wheel bearings and shaft bearings (the dressing materials and oil mix can cause wear on axle and bearings). Oil and refit.
After four or five seasons use it is best to strip down the spreader to clean and re- grease the side plate bearing housing. If the shaft ends are rusty polish with strip emery tape, clean inside of the rubber conveyer belt and clean the two shafts.
If the rubber conveyer belts slips, there is a knurled area approximately 8” long, at each end of the drive shaft, to assist driving the belt. This may wear. Alternatively, it can be because the belt is stretched or the shafts do not turn freely. The shafts may also have built up with old dressing and possibly rust. There is no facility for any adjustment of the belt, therefore if the belt will still not drive, a new one will be required.
If the spreader is used for fertiliser or rock salt for de-icing paths make sure the machine is thoroughly cleaned to prevent corrosion.
Rusty shaft Knurled belt drive
the locking bolt and swivel adjuster to the required hopper mouth setting. Repeat on the other side
To adjust the hopper undo
Grease Nipple
Hopper pivot
Grease Nipple (missing on this example)
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