We know that summer is notorious for storm activity, which means we can expect an increase in storm damage clean-up from fallen trees and debris in the months to come, with Australia’s tropical cyclone season officially running from November until April.

The end of December 2023 saw a tornado hit the Gold Coast and Scenic Rim regions in Queensland as part of the devastating storms that were wreaking havoc, causing widespread destruction with winds of 150 kilometres per hour, including rooves ripped off houses, boats turned upside down, and more than 45,000 people without power.

Local councils set aside large areas for debris and materials to be dropped off, inviting tree-care and land clearing local businesses to come and process the waste with horizontal grinders and chippers, amongst other equipment. Vermeer Australia tree-care customers and arborists were out in full force, travelling as far north as the Sunshine Coast on clean-up duty.

Vermeer Australia Area Manager, Jack Farrell, took it upon himself to end his holiday early and make his way back to Brisbane to help with the clean-up by being on hand to support Vermeer Australia customers and the local communities. Carrying with him crucial parts like chipper blades and basic essentials like water, he spent days on-call, driving up and down the coast offering a helping hand to customers who needed it.

While we don’t have a crystal ball to tell us when and where storms will hit – and how severe – the best thing tree-care crews can do this summer is be prepared. This includes ensuring machinery is maintained and spare parts are on hand.

Here are five simple checks for your Vermeer chipper to be prepared for the upcoming storm season:

1. Chipper knife maintenance – We recommend checking your chipper knives around every 10 service hours. Be on the lookout for any cracks or distortion of the knives, the condition of the bolts and the knife sharpness.
2. Replace your hydraulic filters – The number one cause of damage to hydraulic equipment is poor filtration. Failure to remove contaminants from hydraulic fluid results in fluid pressure blockage that can cause damage to pumps inside your chippers, as well as excess contaminants damaging seals. Your work environment plays a big part in contaminating your hydraulic filters, with dirt, sawdust and water breaking down seals and allowing even more contaminants to enter.
3. Clean your air filters – An engine with a dirty air filter will produce less power and use more fuel. Don’t just knock the dirt, dust, sand or sawdust out of the air filter and put it back in, give it a good clean out to make sure the filter does the job properly.
4. Check engine oil filters – Most Vermeer machines use full-flow oil filters, so there is no way oil can get to the engine without first passing through the filter, ensuring a supply of clean, lubricating oil. However, if the filter becomes blocked by dirt or impurities that prevent the oil from passing through, a bypass valve in the filter may allow unfiltered oil into the engine, which could be filled with damaging particles.
5. Daily maintenance – Don’t forget the essential daily maintenance checks once storm season is underway. Your chipper’s manual will provide exact information on what to check and where to lubricate. The list will typically include a check of oils, fuel, tyre pressure, safety device/interlock operation, and greasing/lubrication schedule.

Your Vermeer Australia team is here to support you. We’re proud to be part of a network boasting 29 dealerships across regional and metro locations, meaning our parts, service and sales teams are ready to support you when a storm hits. We also have mobile service teams available in case you need onsite support with your Vermeer machinery.

Get your equipment serviced and stock up on parts today. Get in contact with your local Vermeer Australia team: call 1300 VERMEER or visit your local team.