Kenworth Hydroseeding
Standard Operating Procedure

Fill the tank and mix the load before heading out. Fertilizer is the one thing you do NOT add here.

1. Check the hydroseeding sheet for what this job needs — mulch (bales), seed, fertilizer, and soil binder. Have the mulch staged and ready to add as the tank fills.
2. Check the tank through the hatch: it should be empty and clean. If material is left, confirm with the office whether it can be used or needs draining and cleaning.

   

3. Load mulch bales through the upper side gate so they can be forklifted up.
4. Start the bowie up top: open the hatch, turn key to ON, wait for the glow-plug light to go out, then turn to START. If the screen stays dark, check the red E-stops (above and below) are set right.

   

5. Engage the mixers/augers with the main control lever.

   

6. Connect the water source. At the shop: use the fuel-tank hose — press the green button (water flows ~30 sec later; red button stops it). Off-site: use a fire hydrant with the hydrant wrench, plus a meter/Chapman valve if required (all in the side bins).

   

   

   

   

7. Add soil binder while water is actively flowing, before anything else. Pour it lightly into the chute in the direction of the water. For a full tank in the hydroseeder see what level it is at to begin with and use about ½ to 1 inch of binder.

   

8. Rev the bowie engine up for mixing.

   

9. Add mulch: at least half the bales in by the time the tank is half full, adding as the water rises. One person cuts the casing, the other loads — keep plastic out of the tank.

   

   

10. Add seed: cut a horizontal line on the short end of the bag and pour into the chute.

    

Once you arrive at the jobsite.

1. Start the bowie and mixers again (same as the shop start — key start, then engage the mixer lever).
2. Add fertilizer through the chute now — cut and pour the same way as the seed.

   

1. Get the Pelican comms case (two headsets + satellite box).

   

2. Hang the satellite box in a good spot to relay between you and your partner; press the black button until you see a flashing green light.

   

3. Put the headset on (soft band over head, hard band behind), power on at the right ear, and note the battery level — if low/medium, charge it at the office at day's end.

   

4. Confirm the headset is connected to the satellite box and you can hear your partner.

Doing cannon work instead? Skip to the cannon section below.

1. Unlatch the hose reel (pull the pin toward you, twist up/north), untie the hose, and unreel it through the guide.

   

2. Attach the gun and fitting. Never leave the fitting on the hose during transit — road vibration twists it off.

   

   

   

   

3. Confirm both levers are CLOSED (yellow = product, red = air), remove the cap, then move the main supply hose from the stow markers (red) to the tank-feed markers (blue) and clasp it tightly.

   

   

   

4. Open the yellow lever (point UP). Product can now flow to the hose.

   

The valve and switch positions below are what keep product and air under control.

1. Confirm the sprayer is ready before you pressurize — make eye contact and get a clear go-ahead first. Only then flip the PUMP switch UP; the indicator lights up.

   

2. Set RPM with the THROTTLE switch to what the sprayer wants; rev up for distance.

1. Throttle all the way down, PUMP switch OFF. Confirm the truck engine is running to build air.
2. Climb up and put the yellow lever DOWN.

   

3. Point the red air lever DOWN to purge the hose. Air comes out sporadically — watch the gun.

   

4. The moment the line is clear, return the red air lever to HORIZONTAL.

   

1. Double-check the engine is idled all the way down, then pull the mixer lever to the off position.

   

2. Turn the key to OFF.

   

1. Unlatch and remove the hose from the tank, then latch it back on the stow-away point.

   

2. Return the cap.

   

3. Reel up the hose, keeping it unkinked so nothing dries inside. Near the end (20–40 ft) hold the end in a 5-gal bucket or grassy area — it will squirt green goo. Hand-squeeze the last ~10 ft. Tie off the end.
4. Latch the hose reel.

   

   

Use instead of the hose. Skip to End of Day when finished.

1. Remove the cap, unlatch the cannon from the deck, and lift it to the rear position.

   

   

   

2. Choose and attach the nozzle tip: smaller hole/stream for long distance, fan tip for close range. Don't use a long-distance tip up close — it cuts ruts and lays unevenly. Push in one latch, pull the pin, seat the tip, re-secure both latches.

   

   

3. Loosen the knob to extend the control arm, then tighten it back up.

   

   

4. Lift the yellow lever UP, aim the cannon in a safe direction, press the red PUMP button to spray, and adjust RPM with the arrows (rev down before stopping).

   

   

5. Cannon blowout: yellow lever DOWN, red air lever DOWN to purge, then red lever back to HORIZONTAL immediately.

   

   

   

6. Turn off mixers & bowie: pull the mixer lever off, key OFF.

   

   

7. Return the cannon to the stow-away point: remove and return the tip, put the control arm back with the knob, unlatch, then latch back securely.

   

   

1. Clean out the garbage from the truck and deck.
2. Return the sheet to the office with square-footage notes and the initials of everyone who worked the job.
3. Charge comms: take the whole black case into the office, plug in both headsets and the red satellite box, find the comms charger cord, and plug the black box in.

   

   

   

4. Confirm with the office whether the tank needs to be emptied or deep cleaned.
5. Empty tank: if you stopped before the tank was empty, spray the remaining slurry out on the dike (if authorized).
6. Deep clean: back up to the shop drain, remove the bottom cap, and let all remaining product drain out.

   

7. Turn on the shop cleanout-water timer. Climb the ladder and hose off the deck, hose off inside the chute, and clean the tank by entering through the hatch.

   

   

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   CRITICAL — remove the key and put it in your pocket before entering the tank so no one can start the mixers while you're inside. Being caught in the augers inside the tank can be fatal.
8. When finished, re-install the drain cap, then return to the assigned Kenworth parking spot.