MAINTENANCE : Proper operation of a seamless guttermachine?and a long machine life'is highly dependent on regular maintenance andcare given to the machine. All the machine manufacturers will tell you amachine can last 20, 25, or 30 years, perhaps even more. A few olderfirms will say a few of their machines have operated for more than 40 years.But you will also hear that the life of a machine is more dependent on theowner and operators and the way they treat a machine than on what themanufacturer did in designing, building, and testing the machine
In the opinion of atleast one machine manufacturer, the most successful gutter companies use anenclosed trailer, van, or truck to transport their gutter machines. Why does this make such a difference? Because it keeps your machine cleanand dry. Dirt, debris, and the direct effects of weather can prematurelyage your machine and turn a valuable asset into a sad piece of junk. So,how successful do you want to be?
MAINTENANCE PLAN : In order to protect your investment andassure proper and timely operation of your machine at the jobsite, you shoulddevelop a plan for maintenance, inspection, and cleaning of the guttermachine. Implementation of this plan will require the involvement andparticipation of the machine operators as well as the individual tasked withlubrication, inspection, and cleaning of the machine.
Each day, beforeoperating the machine, the operator should inspect the electrical componentsand wiring. Look for loose wires or components, discoloration that mightindicate overheating, or any other signs of damage. While performing thisinspection also look for any dust, dirt, or debris inside the machine. Ifany is detected, it should be removed before commencing operations.
LUBRICATION : Lubricate the shear blade daily with therecommended lubricant. Often this will be one that contains Teflon orsilicone. Avoid overspray on parts where it doesn't belong. Lubricate the other parts of the shear mechanism WEEKLY with oil (sometimesSAE-90 non-detergent oil is recommended, other manufacturers recommend chainoil).
Lubricate the drivechain MONTHLY with a recommended lubricant (maybe motorcycle, farm, orindustrial chain oil). Check the tension of the chain. Adjust it ifnecessary.
Most machinemanufacturers object to the use of WD-40 as a lubricant. It is intendedmore as a penetrant, and has the effect of removing oil or grease from theparts. Check your operating manual and follow the recommendations of themachine's manufacturer.
CLEANING : A thorough cleaning of the machine should be done regularly. Besure the machine is turned off and disconnected from the electric power sourcewhile you are performing the cleaning. A monthly cleaning is consideredoptimum by some machine manufacturers. Remove any dust, dirt, or debrisfrom inside the machine. This can be done with compressed air or a vacuumhose. If compressed air is used, avoid blowing dirt or debris onto movingparts or the motor.
Some manufacturerssuggest using a pressure washer. If this technique is used care must betaken to avoid spraying the pressure wash on or in electrical boxes or components.
Empty the shear chipbin. Be careful not to spill any chips or debris inside themachine. Look for any sign of burrs, chips, or buildup on the guides androllers. If buildup is present, clean the parts using the recommendedsolvent on a soft, clean rag. The solvent should be one that will notleave any residue on the parts. Acetone, paint thinner, or lacquerthinner are often recommended?check your operating manual.
REMOVING RESIDUE BUILDUP : If cleaning with solvent and a rag does notremove any marks, burrs or buildup, try to remove them by lightly sanding thepart with fine Emery cloth. Polish out any remaining marks with a ScotchBrite pad.
Keep covers andsafety panels closed except when working on the machine. Never have thepanels open when running gutter.
ABOVE ALL, PROTECT THE MACHINEFROM DIRT, DUST, WORK SITE DEBRIS AND FOREIGN OBJECTS OF EVERY KIND.
In just a few seconds a nail orscrew can be pulled through your machine, inflicting $1,000 of damage ormore. How many jobs do you have to complete to earn $1,000 of profit topay for the repairs?
STORING YOUR MACHINE : If you will not be using the gutter machine for 30days or more, store it in a well-protected area (preferably indoors). Make a plan to run it for a few minutes every week, just to keep the lubricantson the bearings and chains smoothly distributed. This gives betterprotection against any rust or corrosion.
MACHINE ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS: Incorrect alignment of the material in the machineis cited as the most common cause of incorrectly formed gutter. Themachine was carefully aligned at the factory. Technicians from thefactory or from a dealer are available to make alignments and corrections whenrequired. Because this is something they do regularly, they are skilledin making such adjustments.
Although the proper adjustmenttechnique is complicated and involves many steps, some manufacturers recommendthat someone in the company be trained to make these adjustments. Thismay merely serve as an emergency backup to outside service personnel, or theowner may elect to undertake the alignments when they are needed. It isgenerally recommended that, after learning to make such adjustments, you willbe better off to alter the adjustments as infrequently as possible. Thetendency to tinker with the adjustments often creates more problems than itsolves.
Sock Woodruff isfounder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer anddistributor of gutter supplies, gutter machines, andrelated tools and equipment.
Curb And Gutter Machine
Anyone who is going to operate a gutter machine must first read and understand the manual provided by the machine manufacturer. The first reason is the safety of the operator?the manual will guide you on safe practices that will help you avoid personal injury. The second reason is to properly operate the machine so it will produce hi-quality gutter and avoid damage to the machine. A seamless gutter machine typically produces about 30 feet of gutter per minute. It usually only needs to be operated a few minutes per day to produce the gutter required for that day's work. In most cases the gutter machine will have been transported to the worksite with a coil of material on the machine and then run through the machine. Remove the cover tarp from the machine, if present. Verify that the coil of material in the machine is correct for the job to be run.
Obtain an electric extension cord of the necessary length and appropriate size (based on the line cord length and load) to reach electric power. Verify that the power circuit has adequate capacity. Connect the power cord through a ground fault detector, if possible. If connecting directly to a generator, verify that the generator capacity is sufficient to run the gutter machine. The operator should not wear any loose-fitting clothing, jewelry, etc., which could be caught in moving parts of the machine. Safety goggles and gloves are highly recommended. Because of the danger of electric shock, and the possibility of damage to the machine, it is recommended that the gutter machine never be operated when rain or snow can fall onto the machine unless the machine is mounted inside an enclosed trailer or truck.
Before starting operation, the operator should:
?Visually check the electrical components and wiring to assure there are no signs of any heat discoloration or damage.
?Be sure all safety covers on the gutter machine are closed and secured in place to prevent dirt, dust, and foreign objects from entering the machine.
?Remove the spool retaining pin from the spool of coil that is threaded through the machine.
?Verify that the Forward/Reverse switch is in the Forward position.
?Position run out stands at 8- to 10-foot intervals to support the gutter that will come out of the machine.
?Lubricate the blade of the shear with the lubricant recommended in the operation manual. DO NOT use WD-40 on the shear blade or the machine unless specifically recommended by the operation manual.
Start the machine and run out enough gutter to clear all material that was in the machine path during transport. Cut off and discard. This step is only necessary for machines that have a steel rolled drive system (Knudson, Panther, Watertite). Free floating polyurethane drive roll systems do not require coil in the machine for transport (Ironman, New Tech).
Run about seven to ten feet of gutter through the machine as a check sample. Stop the machine and cut off the piece. Inspect the gutter carefully for:
If any problems are detected, diagnose the cause and make corrections before proceeding. If adjustments are required, shut off the machine and disconnect the power line. Incorrect alignment of material in the machine is the most common cause of problems with a gutter machine. This can result from:
?Incorrect adjustment of the entrance guides
?Incorrect adjustment of the stations
Be sure that necessary adjustments are performed by someone who has been properly trained in how to adjust the machine. When it is verified that the gutter sample meets the job requirements, proceed with the production of the necessary pieces of gutter. The operator should learn what the machine sounds like when running properly and make a practice of listening to the machine when running gutter. If the machine begins making unusual sounds it probably means something is wrong and needs to be cleaned, lubricated, adjusted, or repaired.
Changing Spools
If it is necessary to change the material to be run (for instance, because of paint color requirements):
?Make sure the loading area is clean and free of debris.
?Cut the existing material between the spool and the entrance guide system.
?Install the spool retaining pin.
?Run the end piece of material out of the machine. Discard this piece.
?If the alternate material coil is already on another spool on the spool rack, remove its spool retaining ring and proceed with threading, as below, according to the operation manual.
?If the coil must be removed and a new coil loaded on to the machine, follow the instructions of the operating manual.
A COIL OF MATERIAL IS EXTREMELY HEAVY. USE APPROPRIATE LIFTING EQUIPMENT AND ASSISTANCE, AS REQUIRED.
?Pull the end of the coil off the spool. Cut both of the leading corners of the material at 45? angles, approximately 3 inches in from the corner. Insert the trimmed edges of the material into the entrance guides and push forward to the first drive rollers. Jog the material through the machine. Stop at each station to verify that the material is feeding properly and running smoothly through the rollers. If any problems occur, reverse the material a short distance, determine the problem, and clear the obstruction.
?Jog the material until the end has passed the shear.
?If any problems developed, after they have been corrected, run the distorted material out of the machine, cut it off, and discard.
?Close and secure all safety and access covers before proceeding to produce gutter.
When the required gutter has been produced, turn off the machine, disconnect it from the electric power circuit, and reinstall the spool retaining pin. If this is the last run before transporting the machine to a new site, confirm that material is threaded through the entire machine to protect the rollers from roller-to-roller impact damage. (This does not apply for New Tech Machinery and KWM Ironman units which can be safely transported without coil material between the rollers.) Cover the machine with a tarp or gutter machine cover to protect it from external debris and weather. DO NOT DUMP OLD GUTTER OR DOWNSPOUTS FROM A CUSTOMER'S LOCATION INSIDE THE TRUCK OR TRAILER WITH THE GUTTER MACHINE. DIRT, LEAVES, AND OTHER DEBRIS MAY GET ON OR IN THE GUTTER MACHINE AND CAUSE DAMAGE.
Sock Woodruff is founder and partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading manufacturer and distributor of gutter supplies, gutter machine, and related tools and equipment.
Both Paul & Paul Collins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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