Spreading windows are short. Weather, ground conditions and rules all line up for a few days and that’s it. If the spreader breaks then, you miss it. A simple muck spreader maintenance routine keeps you spreading.
Always follow the manual first. Here’s a practical routine.
Before each day
- Walk around. Look for loose bolts, cracked welds and leaks.
- Grease daily points.
- Check tyre pressure.
- Check lights and safety chains for road travel.
Floor chain and slats
The floor chain does a lot of work.
- Check tension. Too loose, it skips. Too tight, it wears fast.
- Check slats for bending and cracks.
- Look for stretched or broken links.
- Clean manure out of sprockets.
Beaters
- Check teeth or paddles for wear and damage.
- Replace bent or broken teeth.
- Check beater bearings for play.
- Check drive chains or gearbox oil.
Side discharge expellers
- Check expeller paddles.
- Check augers or chains moving material.
- Inspect hydraulic hoses.
After use
- Wash it out. Manure is corrosive. Leaving it in rots steel and chains.
- Grease after washing.
- Store under cover if you can.
Seasonally
- Change gearbox oil.
- Inspect wheel bearings.
- Check floor for thin spots or rust.
- Touch up paint.
- Have your dealer do a check before the busy season.
Spare parts
Keep shear bolts, a few floor chain links and beater teeth on hand.
Floor chains
Floor chains move manure back to the beaters. Check tension regularly. Too loose and they skip; too tight and they wear sprockets. Look for broken links and worn slats.
Beaters
Check teeth, paddles and flights for wear. Worn beaters spread unevenly. Replace worn teeth before they cause bigger problems.
Bearings
Grease to schedule. Check for play and noise.
Gearbox
Check oil level, change at the interval in the manual, and look for leaks.
Floor and body
Manure is corrosive. Look for rust and thin spots. Clean out after use.
Shear bolts
Keep spares and use the right grade. Using a stronger bolt risks expensive damage.
Tyres and brakes
A loaded spreader is heavy. Check tyre pressure and brakes before road travel.
Storage
Store clean and under cover when possible. Grease before storing to keep out moisture.
Season start checklist
Chains, beaters, bearings, gearbox oil, shear bolts, tyres, lights and brakes. Run empty before loading.
Quick questions
How tight should floor chains be? Follow the manual. Usually some slack, not tight as a drum.
Can I use any grease? Use the type the manual specifies.
Why do shear bolts keep breaking? Overloads, frozen manure, foreign objects, or worn parts. Find the cause.
From the show floor
Most spreader breakdowns I hear about start with a manure-caked machine parked outside all winter. Wash it, grease it, park it under cover. Spring goes a lot better.
End of season service
- Wash thoroughly.
- Let it dry.
- Grease all points.
- Check chains, beaters and bearings.
- Order worn parts now.
- Store under cover.
Mid-season checks
Every few loads, walk around. Look for loose bolts, broken teeth, chain tension and leaks. Five minutes now saves hours later.
The short version
Chains, beaters, bearings, gearbox oil, shear bolts and the floor. Check them through the season, wash out after every use, grease after washing, and store the spreader clean and dry. Most spreader breakdowns trace back to manure left sitting in the machine. Keep a small stock of shear bolts, teeth and chain links on the shelf, and spring goes a lot smoother. None of this is complicated. It just has to be done every time.
One more thing to ask
When you buy a spreader, ask the dealer for a list of wear parts with prices and expected life on your manure type. Chains, slats, beater teeth, bearings. Ask which they stock locally. Ask what service they recommend at the end of each season and whether they offer it. A spreader that sits broken in spring while you wait for a chain costs more than any part. Know your parts before you need them, and keep the common ones on your own shelf.
Know your dealer
Find your nearest dealer before you need parts. See LEO rear discharge spreaders for current models.
Bottom line? Wash it, grease it, check the chain. Simple stuff stops most breakdowns.
