Snow and ice can conjure up unpleasant images – slick roads, walkways to shovel and shorter, colder days. But for some, snow and ice means dollars. Private contractors and government agencies all rely on snow removal equipment to keep streets and parking lots safe and passable.
This equipment presents an opportunity for you to capture lucrative parts and service business from this seasonal niche market.
While heavy-duty vehicles are used in snowplowing applications, smaller pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles also can be outfitted with plows. Customers with these vehicles present a good opportunity for your service department; uptime is critical and they may not be able to get quick service from an automotive dealer or repair garage.
In addition to repairing their vehicles quickly, you also can win over these customers by setting up a preventive maintenance program that keeps their plows out in the worst winter weather.
Servicing the Plow Attachment
According to Meyer Products, some of the things that should be included in a PM program for the plow apparatus include tightening the trip spring and adjusting the eye bolt, greasing the pivot and cotter pins, checking the cutting edge of the plow, tightening mounting bolts, checking oil levels, monitoring the condition of hoses, couplers and rams and checking the electrical system and battery terminal connections.
The cutting edge of the plow should be inspected for excessive wear. As soon as it appears worn on either corner it should be replaced, Meyer Products advises on its web site.
When checking the oil level, make sure it is 11/2 inches below the filler hole. If the fluid is low or appears excessively dirty, change it.
