Hard learned lessons drive service schedule For rural contractors, keeping their machinery running is vital. That’s why they take maintenance so seriously. Here, two members of Rural Contractors New Zealand share their experience. It’s early March and Mark Forde, who manages maintenance for North Canterbury-based Gilchrist Brothers Ltd spraying contractors, is yet to have his Christmas holidays. Not that he’s too worried. The former Southland farmer says he’s never been a big one for long breaks – and that’s a relief to Peter and Andrew Gilchrist, whose Swannanoa-based business keeps growing.
Integral to that is a robust maintenance
That includes a thorough check for any
programme on the company’s fleet
cracks or damage; if a part is showing
of four spray trucks, a Case Patriot
any signs of wear it’s replaced, even if
self-propelled sprayer and associated
it might still have some life in it, by an
trucks, pumps, two 8000 series John Deere tractors and other equipment. Mark, now 57, started a diesel mechanics apprenticeship in Southland many years ago but that opportunity dried up when the business went
a cheap replacement is cheap for a reason. “If you buy the correct item first, you don’t have to buy it again.” He sometimes shudders at the monthly
learning on the job. “I’m sort of an
parts bill the brothers have to pay, not
all-round handyman.”
to mention the huge investment in spare
One thing he certainly has learned has
parts that the business carries. These
been the critical importance of regular
are not only for servicing their own
maintenance, especially through the
vehicles but many of the other spraying
busy spraying seasons.
units Mark and his team have built for
The four Landcruisers and the
other contractors.
equipment they carry for spraying
Mark says there’s a sound reason for the
hours of operation, which might only be 3,000km travelled. “They get a complete going-over.” Mark says they face some tough
rigour of servicing and maintenance at the company – the consequences of any avoidable breakdown. “You can’t afford a failure in the season.
conditions – either dealing with deep ruts
The day you miss out on spraying is a
left by pivot irrigation or the random rocks
day you’ve got to catch up on.”
sticking out of Canterbury hill country.
In often variable seasons – and this
“They do hit those ruts and rocks pretty
summer has been no exception in
hard at times.”
Canterbury – a spraying business can’t
So he and his offsider, Ryan
afford to miss a day’s work. Mark’s
Schumacher, who form the vehicle
holidays, such as they are, may have to
repair and maintenance team at Gilchrist
wait a while yet.
Brothers, give the vehicles and sprayers
18 | THE FARMLANDER
Mark says you learn after a while that
bust and since then he’s continued
are given a service after every 150
| Mark Forde gives one of Gilchrist Brothers’ four Landcruisers a well-earned service.
authorised factory replacement.
a service at intervals that can be less
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than a month apart.
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