InTents August/September 2020 - 27

KEEP MACHINES
RUNNING SMOOTHLY
Preventative maintenance isn't limited
to tents. Tools that are powered by an
engine, from forklifts to post drivers
and post pullers, also require regular
maintenance. A well-maintained
machine will provide years of reliable,
safe service. A neglected machine
will break down more frequently,
require replacement sooner and, most
importantly, put the operator at risk.
"A properly maintained post driver
drives faster and runs more efϐiciently,"
says Ashley Haffner, marketing manager
for Kewanee, Ill.-based Rhino Tool Co.,
which manufactures hydraulic and gaspowered post drivers and post pullers.
"It's also safer."
She offers this three-point
maintenance checklist for post drivers:
1. Check the oil level and air ϐilter
weekly. Tent stakes and post drivers
get heavy use during the height of the
tent season. A Rhino gas-powered post
driver, for example, strikes 1,720 times
per minute. "We recommend checking
the oil level, air ϐilter and bolts on the
Honda engine each week," Haffner says.
"Also, check the crankcase lubricant
level and the tightness of the bolts on the
post driver." Rhino post drivers rely on
lubrication to drive properly. Not enough
lubricant-or too much-can cause
performance issues.
2. Clean the air ϐilter monthly. The
air ϐilter in a post driver engine should
be cleaned monthly, especially in dusty
working conditions.
3. Perform routine maintenance
at the beginning and end of the tent
season. At the beginning of the season,
inspect the spark plug to determine if
it needs to be replaced. Reϐill the tool
with fresh gasoline. Replace the air ϐilter.
Inspect the piston, hammer, anvil and
O-rings for wear. "Look for ϐlattening or
tears in the O-rings, chips in the metal
components and excessive scraping

on the sides of the internal metal
components," Haffner says. "Replace worn
parts as needed." Make sure the internal
components are put back together in
the correct order. Also ensure that bolts
on the post driver are tight. "Using the
proper torque speciϐications and applying
Loctite® [threaded fastener adhesive]
correctly is crucial to keeping the bolts
tight," Haffner says. When storing the
post driver at the end of the season, make
sure the unit is stored upright, with the
topmost handle facing upward.
No matter how busy things get
during the tent season, taking time for
equipment maintenance pays off. "The
time and money spent keeping a tool
maintained properly is far less than
trying to ϐix or replace parts on a tool that
has not been maintained," Haffner says.
With timely preventative maintenance,
equipment can last for years. Metal
components can last indeϐinitely with
proper care, while tents can last a decade
or more, Dunstan says. "All these things
are simple, easy ways you can protect
your equipment investment, keep
customers happy and keep business
moving along well."
Darcy Maulsby is a writer and owner of a marketing/communications company based near Lake
City, Iowa. Visit her at www.darcymaulsby.com.

Routine care and maintenance of
tents and equipment saves a lot of
hassle and cost later on. To store
tents properly, make sure they are
completely dry before storing them
on racks. Don't store the tents on
concrete, as moisture can wick up
from the concrete and encourage
mildew to grow on tent fabric. Photo
courtesy of Charnecke Tents Inc.

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InTents August/September 2020

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