December, 2009
“Maintaining the Farmall H”
In the almost 80 years of my dad’s life, there are 3 major purchases which he or his dad bought new:
On occasion, I will be talking with someone regarding their pole plant maintenance and the value of protecting that investment. Several times a year, I will hear something along the lines of “Mother Nature does our pole inspection”.
When I hear that sentence, I think back to my dad’s purchases and think how it is the same thing as the pole plant. They were both purchased new. They both benefit from maintenance.
There is a tractor parade annually in my hometown of Dalton, MN in conjunction with the Thresherman’s Reunion. My dad has taken such good care of that 56 year-old tractor, that he could put it in that parade and it would fit in just fine. It is not restored, it has been used every day.
The analogy is one of maintenance. Maintenance of the pole plant through inspection and targeted re-treatment not only exposes the bad ones for replacement, it covers a lot of other bases along the way:
1) Reduction of Liability – (Improve Safety)
2) Reduction of Premature Replacement due to decay
3) Improve Public Relations – your members and shareholders see you doing maintenance
4) Reduce Costly Non-Scheduled Replacement. Replacing a pole in adverse weather conditions is costly.
5) Covers Line Patrol Requirements
6) Gather or Update GIS Data
7) Extends Asset Life by Targeting preventative maintenance
8) Perform Additional Services at the pole, reducing repeat trips to the same pole. These may include:
a. Install Guy Markers
b. Take Ground Resistance Reading
c. Repair Ground Wire
d. Drive Ground Rod
e. Measure Line Clearance
f. Install Ground Wire Moulding
9) Isolate poles that need to be replaced with a time-proven method.
10) Identify Maintenance Issues and compile them in a form that can be queried.
The list could no doubt be expanded. Item #9 is the one that people think of first, but is in all actuality only one part of what can be done on a visit to the pole.
The idea that poles are static and should be run to failure for the most value is an expensive venture. My dad is not unique and the fact that a lot of sheds, both rural and in small towns house these vintage, working tractors are a testament to the value of maintenance.
RUS Bulletin 1730B-120 is a good, unbiased document to give credence to the value of pole maintenance.
Joel Rovang
“Maintaining the Farmall H”
In the almost 80 years of my dad’s life, there are 3 major purchases which he or his dad bought new:
- A 1953 Farmall H tractor, which remains on the farm to this day.
- A 1960 Minneapolis Moline 400 tractor
- A 1996 Toyota Camry.
On occasion, I will be talking with someone regarding their pole plant maintenance and the value of protecting that investment. Several times a year, I will hear something along the lines of “Mother Nature does our pole inspection”.
When I hear that sentence, I think back to my dad’s purchases and think how it is the same thing as the pole plant. They were both purchased new. They both benefit from maintenance.
There is a tractor parade annually in my hometown of Dalton, MN in conjunction with the Thresherman’s Reunion. My dad has taken such good care of that 56 year-old tractor, that he could put it in that parade and it would fit in just fine. It is not restored, it has been used every day.
The analogy is one of maintenance. Maintenance of the pole plant through inspection and targeted re-treatment not only exposes the bad ones for replacement, it covers a lot of other bases along the way:
1) Reduction of Liability – (Improve Safety)
2) Reduction of Premature Replacement due to decay
3) Improve Public Relations – your members and shareholders see you doing maintenance
4) Reduce Costly Non-Scheduled Replacement. Replacing a pole in adverse weather conditions is costly.
5) Covers Line Patrol Requirements
6) Gather or Update GIS Data
7) Extends Asset Life by Targeting preventative maintenance
8) Perform Additional Services at the pole, reducing repeat trips to the same pole. These may include:
a. Install Guy Markers
b. Take Ground Resistance Reading
c. Repair Ground Wire
d. Drive Ground Rod
e. Measure Line Clearance
f. Install Ground Wire Moulding
9) Isolate poles that need to be replaced with a time-proven method.
10) Identify Maintenance Issues and compile them in a form that can be queried.
The list could no doubt be expanded. Item #9 is the one that people think of first, but is in all actuality only one part of what can be done on a visit to the pole.
The idea that poles are static and should be run to failure for the most value is an expensive venture. My dad is not unique and the fact that a lot of sheds, both rural and in small towns house these vintage, working tractors are a testament to the value of maintenance.
RUS Bulletin 1730B-120 is a good, unbiased document to give credence to the value of pole maintenance.
Joel Rovang
Barn Built in 1919
