As we enjoy the warmer weather, winter snow and ice removal are no longer a priority. However, this is a good time to perform a preseason site inspection on the properties you regularly service and perform snow and ice removal. Performing a yearly preseason site inspection is a beneficial documentation process that can save you headaches and money in the future. It will also help present your business as a serious, professional snow and ice removal company. Setting you apart from other competitors in the industry.

Frequent maintenance is a key to keeping your BOSS spreader ready for use during the season and when putting the unit into storage for the off-season. Today we will go over the proper maintenance of BOSS hopper spreaders and tips for keeping everything in good working order. Keeping up with the factory maintenance schedule on your spreader is easy and well worth the time when you compare it to the downtime of replacing prematurely worn components due to neglecting maintenance.

Every 20 hours of use, the bearings should be greased. On pintle drive spreaders, there are two bearings on the front side of the unit where the chain tension is adjusted and one bearing on the opposite side of the spreader from the drive gearbox. These three bearings should be greased with multipurpose lithium-based grease. The large black plastic cover will need to be removed on the rear of the spreader to access the grease fitting of the rear bearing. The grease fittings on the front bearings can be accessed by removing the small black plastic coverings just forward of the chain tension adjustment bolts.

Every 20 hours of operation, the conveyor chain should also be greased. With the spreader empty, the spinner assembly can be pivoted out of the way. The spreader drive can then be turned on, so the conveyor chain is moving. You should see the conveyor chain going around the sprockets on the end of the drive assembly. To lubricate the chain, spray chain and cable lubricant on the drive links on both sides of the chain as it passes around the sprockets. Lubricating the chain once every 20 hours will help increase the life of the conveyor chain.

On auger-driven spreaders, there is only one bearing that will need to be greased every 20 hours. This bearing will be on the front side of the unit. There is a cover on the front side of the drive assembly held in with push clips that will need to be removed to access the grease fitting on this bearing.

Chain tension should be checked every day or every use, along with the tension of the hold-down straps securing the unit to the truck. To check drive chain tension, pivot the spinner assembly out of the way so you can see underneath the pintle chain to gauge how much play or sag is in the chain. The chain should have enough tension to not drag across the bottom of the cleanout tray but is loose enough that there is roughly 1 inch of sag in the chain. If the chain is over tensioned, it will cause accelerated wear of the chain, drive sprockets, and will cause an increase in the amount of power the drive motor will use to turn the conveyor chain. The hold-down straps should be tight enough not to allow any movement of the spreader but not overly tight as to pull down and distort the mounting points molded into the hopper.

The wiring connections on the spreader are often overlooked when performing maintenance. The wiring connection ends on the vehicle, and the spreader should be clean and free of water, ice, dirt, and corrosion. A light film of dielectric grease can be applied to the connector's pins, but care should be taken not to over-apply it. These connections only need a thin film of dielectric grease to prevent corrosion. If the connector is jam-packed with grease, it could cause a poor connection due to the pin’s hydro locking. Also, it is a common misconception that dielectric grease helps conduct electricity. Dielectric grease is used to help seal the connector from water, dirt, dust, and sand preventing corrosion. If more than a light film is used on the connection of low voltage communication circuits, such as the communication circuit of our hopper spreaders, you may see issues with the controller in the truck communicating with the control module of the spreader. This is an application where a little goes a long way.

Another preventive maintenance measure is to use the weather caps on both the vehicle and the spreader connector ends when the unit is off the vehicle in the off-season. This will help protect the vehicle side connectors from accumulating dirt, dust, and debris in the off-season. On the spreader side, when used with a light film of dielectric grease, the weather cap will help keep moisture out of the connector and help prevent corrosion during the off-season while the unit is in storage.

The oil in the gearbox of the drive system should also be checked at the end of every season. This oil is synthetic 75w-90 gear oil and should only be changed if moisture has made it into the gearbox and the fluid appears white or milky. This happens very rarely but is still a good thing to check while you are doing maintenance.

Always remember that continual and proper maintenance will ensure the longevity and reliability of your BOSS equipment.

Ensure your plow is ready for winter by scheduling a preseason plow inspection with your Authorized BOSS Dealer!   

How to store your BOSS FORGE stainless steel spreader?

De-icing is a key element of public safety during the winter months. It is important not to forget about maintaining the sidewalk quality during this time. Sidewalks can be a very profitable addition to your winter service arsenal, but only when done efficiently. Whatever your sidewalk maintenance needs, we have a whole line of innovative products that will get the job done quickly and effectively. Check them out here:

The height of a vehicle can vary greatly causing your BOSS V-plow to sit uneven with the ground. Check your Push Beam height first should you notice your cutting edges are uneven with the ground. 

Plowing is tough on equipment; there is no way around it. Snow removal is done in some of the harshest environments and hidden objects often wreak havoc at the most unsuspecting times. There are a few items on BOSS plows that are considered normal wear items due to the rugged abuse they encounter. Trip springs are one of the most replaced items on a plow, whether it is a straight-blade or v-plow. V-plow users will notice that as trip springs wear, they have the tendency to sag in “scoop” mode as well as trip much easier while windrowing in straight mode. Straight-blade users will notice their plow tripping at a much earlier rate over objects the plow would normally not trip over. Proper spring tension will prolong the life of the springs. Fortunately, replacement of the trip springs is a quick task that requires only a few tools to accomplish. 

Straight-Blade Trip Spring Replacement
The trip spring replacement process is the same across BOSS’ entire line of straight-blade plows.  
Number of Replacement Springs:  
HTX and Sport-Duty Plows

The BOSS EXT is built with all of the toughness and innovation you expect from BOSS products. With expandable wings that enhance productivity and efficiency to put winter in its place, BOSS built in a blade-leveling feature to accommodate the variations of push beam heights. Because the wings on the EXT sit forward at a 20-degree angle, you need the ability to adjust the angle of the moldboard to ensure the cutting edge is scraping across the width of the blade, including the length of the wings. This will also reduce any chattering caused by the blade not sitting level. 

Set Push Beam Height
Push beam height is crucial to keeping the push frame level while plowing. Equipping a vehicle with an in-bed spreader will also greatly vary push beam height. The 15-1/2” push beam height should be set up with the vehicle in normal plowing conditions, i.e. full v-box hopper spreader, ballast, tailgate spreader, etc.

Cam Stop Adjustment
The second set in ensuring your blade is level is to adjust the cam stops. BOSS built in a feature to perfect the blade level with our adjustable Cam Stops. There are four Cam Stops located on the backside of the main blade. By turning the cams, you can adjust the angle of attack to level the cutting edge, ensuring it makes contact with the ground for optimal scraping performance. 

Factory Setting


Cam Adjustment Forward



Cam Adjustment Backwards


Directions for Adjusting the Angle of Attack
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and lower the plow completely. If the plow is not flush against the ground, adjust the angle of attack.
2. Loosen the trip springs.
3. On the cams, remove the bolt in the square hole and loosen the bolt in the center (See Figure 29).
4. Rotate the cam clockwise to angle the bottom of the blade back. Rotate the cam counterclockwise to angle the bottom of the blade forward.
*Use a 1/2 inch ratchet to help rotate the cams.
5. Insert the previously removed bolt, and torque it to 76 N-m (56 ft-lb). 
6. Tighten the center bolt, and torque it to 76 N-m (56 ft-lb). 
7. Tighten the trip springs until there is a gap of 0.8 mm (1/32 inch) between the trip spring coils. 

Watch the video below as a quick reference about the BOSS blade-leveling feature. 

Adjust Wing Urethane Edges 
Once the push beam is set and the cams have been adjusted, the last step is to adjust the wing urethane edges. 

1. 1. Loosen three bolts on the front of the cutting edge and three bolts on the side. 2. Adjust the cutting edge to approximately 1/8” off of the ground. 3. Tighten all six bolts, securing the cutting edge.
   
   If you have any questions throughout this process, please contact your local BOSS dealer or our Technical Service Department at 800-286-4155 ext. 2.