How to Clean and Maintain your Farm Weighbridge

Whatever industry you’re in, cleaning and maintaining a weighbridge is critical to ensuring this core piece of equipment is operating as it should.

Conducting thorough cleaning and regular maintenance is especially important for the agricultural industry, however. This is because, in farm environments, weighbridges are particularly prone to the build up of dirt, soil, mud and stray crops or other agricultural waste.

By implementing a comprehensive cleaning and maintenance routine, you can extend the lifetime of your weighbridge, and ensure that it is consistently operating at full efficiency and peak performance.

So, below, we have shared our complete guide to cleaning and maintaining your farm weighbridge. We have outlined how to conduct different parts of your cleaning routine, listed our recommended maintenance checks, and answered some of your most common cleaning FAQs.

Regular Visual Checks

Regular checks and cleaning (whether daily, weekly or monthly), includes the removal of cover plates, and wash through of debris.

• Conduct a visual inspection – check that there are no materials blocking the pit underneath the weighbridge. If there is any debris or wastage present, remove it.

Weekly Checks & Cleaning

Daily cleaning process:

• Manually remove any large debris (such as rocks or dropped crops, for example) from the surface of the weighbridge.
• Sweep the weighbridge with a stiff-bristled broom, to remove any dirt or dust.
• Check your rubber T section insert (positioned between the main platform and the weighbridge’s surface), and remove any contaminants that have built up there.

Note: not all models of weighbridges come with a rubber T section.

This is key because trapped materials or debris could impact the accuracy of the weighbridge’s measurements.

Recommendations for weekly weighbridge checks:

• Conduct weighing checks – to test the accuracy of your weighbridge, measure the weight of your vehicle when it is positioned at one end of the platform.
• Then, repeat with the vehicle in the middle of the platform, and at the other end. If there are noticeable differences in the three readings (don’t worry about small variants) then this is a clear sign of an issue.

By conducting a weekly weighing test, you can test the accuracy and mechanics of your weighbridge. This is a great way to spot any potential flaws in your model, and get it resolved promptly (before the issue is allowed to develop).

Monthly Checks & Cleaning

Monthly cleaning process:

• First, complete the same steps that are outlined in the weekly cleaning process.
• Then, once the weighbridge has been power washed, use a scrubbing brush and cleaning solution to clean any areas of dirt that have not yet been removed.
• Rinse away the cleaning solution with clean water.
• Finally, before you use the weighbridge again, allow it to air dry completely.

Recommendations for monthly weighbridge checks:

• First, complete the same steps that are outlined in the weekly maintenance process.
• Zero the weighbridge, and conduct another test.
• After you have completed the first test, clean the weighbridge (following the steps above). Then, ‘zero’ your weighbridge, and repeat the weighing test. This will allow you to confirm that the successful first sets of readings weren’t just a fluke.
• Thoroughly inspect the weighbridge. Carefully inspect the weighbridge, looking out for any signs of wear, tear or damage.

Safety Notice – Please Note

The loadcells used in weighbridges are IP69K rated, which does allow washing, but only to the guidance below:

IP69K means a product is completely dustproof and can withstand washdown at pressures of 80 to 100 bar/1,160 to 1,450 PSI, in phases of 14 to 16 l/min, and at temperatures up to 176°F/80°C.

What are the differences between cleaning a pit mounted and surface mounted weighbridge?

The main difference between the cleaning process for these two weighbridges types is down to the presence or absence of a pit.

Since pit-mounted weighbridges have a pit, you will need to clean any debris and dirt from the pit itself.

In comparison, the process for a surface-mounted weighbridge does not require you to clean a pit, because it does not have one. Instead, you can simply clear, sweep and wash the surface of the weighbridge.

Can you use a pressure washer to clean a weighbridge?

Yes – you can use a pressure washer to clean a weighbridge.

In fact, it is highly recommended that you do so, as this is one of the most effective and efficient ways to tackle the build up of dirt, mud and other farm waste.

However, it’s important that you are careful when using a pressure washer. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging the weighbridge components.

When using a pressure washer to clean a weighbridge, it is recommended that:

• Your pressure washer has a maximum pressure of 2000 PSI
• You use a wide spray pattern, to avoid too much direct pressure to one single area
• You avoid spraying the pressure washer at any electrical components or connections directly
• You hold the nozzle at an angle that is at 45-degrees to the weighbridge’s surface

When maintained carefully and cleaned regularly, weighbridges are invaluable tools for agricultural businesses.

And, by following these steps, you can not only ensure that the results that your weighbridge provides are consistently accurate, but that you get the maximum possible return from your investment.

If you have any further questions about weighbridge cleaning, weighbridge maintenance, or the benefits of using either pit mounted weighbridges or surface mounted weighbridges, the Parker Farm team is on hand to answer your queries. Contact the team today.