BE THANKFUL

November is the month to reflect on being thankful for things we have in our lives. For many centers, a walking lane machine is something to indeed be thankful for. While the machine cleans and conditions your lanes, the operator now has time for other tasks. Cleaning approaches, maintenance on the pin setting equipment or even a trip to the bank can be done while the lane machine is operating.

The key to using your walking lane machine is to keep your machine maintained. Do a quick check of the walking at least once per week during a slow time to prevent problems from happening.

Before making any software adjustments for the walking settings, check the hardware:

·       Check the set screws on all drive wheels and chain sprockets.

·       Check the chain tension for the drive wheels.

·       Inspect the gaps on the Approach Drive Wheel proximity sensors.

·       The drive motors can build up carbon dust from the brushes. Remove the brushes, inspect them, and then blow the dust out of the motors.

·       Balance the drive motors using the resistance wire.

·       Inspect the gutter transition ramps. Bad transitions can cause the machine to come off the lane crooked.

Once you have checked the above items, you can now use the settings in the approach walking settings section of your machine to adjust your walking. Due to differences in software, please consult your manual for your machine for detailed instructions to fine tune your machine. This link will lead you to the Kegel website and the online manuals: www.kegel.net/machine-manuals

It is always a good idea to write down or take a photo with your phone any current settings before making changes. This will allow you to go back to the previous settings if needed.

This is also a great time to check the function of the whiskers and the bumper switches. These adjustments not only help keep your machine working correctly but can also prevent damage. Both adjustments are in the manual in the Drive System section.

Take a few minutes each week to ensure your machine is walking correctly and you should enjoy years of trouble-free operation. And that is something we all can be thankful for.