With the months of winter quickly approaching, it’s important to prepare your machine for operation or hibernation over the cold months. Whether you plan to use your equipment or store it away for the colder months it’s important to take several actions to keep your equipment in good standing. Depending on what equipment you’re using, winter maintenance may be just a few steps for your Vermeer machine as not every type is built the same.

When working on your machine, be sure to use genuine Vermeer parts to ensure your equipment stays as reliable as possible. You can request any required parts from our parts department using the button below, or alternatively rest assured with our dependable service team that can ensure your equipment can stay healthy over the winter period.

Winter Tough

Vermeer equipment is built to withstand the harshest conditions of the four seasons. Features like all round cab protection, operator stations separate to the engine heat and snow removal attachments allow you to take advantage of your machine’s capabilities even in the cold months of winter. Should you be working with your Vermeer equipment over the winter here are some key maintenance tips to keep you up and running smoothly:
1. Keep antifreeze topped up to protect from the cold conditions. Monitor levels often to avoid any unexpected issues.
2. With all the moving parts of your machine, its key to keep bearings greased appropriately to maintain working order.
3. In the cold tire pressure can often fluctuate, thus, you should watch closely and top up tires to a consistent level to avoid damage or tire failure as temperatures fall.
4. If temperatures drop below freezing consistently in your area its wise to use engine block heaters to avoid costly and time-consuming issues that can result from these conditions. Some equipment have block heaters fitted so it’s key to check if your machine has this functionality if you’re experiencing such conditions.

Keeping Your Equipment Healthy in The Cold Downtime

If you’re planning to shut down your brush chipper or stump grinder for the cold months its important to take the necessary maintenance steps to ensure the equipment is ready for use the following season without any issue. Vermeer have suggested the following actions for your machine during this period:

1. Install a new fuel filter, fill the fuel tank and add a fuel stabilizer. Then run the engine for 10 minutes.
2. Clean the machine so it is free of dirt and debris, and remove anything that could corrode over the winter.
3. Change the hydraulic oil and filter to remove any water from the hydraulic system. After putting in new oil, operate the machine for five minutes to cycle the oil through the system.
4. Grease all grease points well, making sure to have a good build-up of grease for winter and don’t forget the axle hubs. Vermeer chippers have bearings that rotate the cutter mechanism that need to be purged; grease while bearings are at their normal operating temperature.
5. If you have a model of stump grinder that has a gear box, drain and replace the oil.
6. At work temperatures below -15 degrees F (-26.1 degrees C), consider using a lower-weight engine oil, as long as it is approved by the engine manufacturer.
7. Remove, clean and store the battery. Put it on a trickle charger.
8. Make sure the air pressure in the tires is at the recommended psi.
9. Check the coolant ratio to insure proper 50/50 mixture of antifreeze and water.
10. If you plan to use your machine at times during the winter, be sure to set aside time for springtime maintenance before beginning a full-time schedule.

If you own a Vermeer machine and cannot locate your unit’s manual, contact customerdata@vermeer.com to order a free manual. Contact us to find our more about how you can protect your machine and how we can help keep your machine in top condition!