To do this, clamp the winch cable in a vice, grasp the loose end with a suitable turning tool, and heat the winch cable in the range ≈ 100 mm / ≈ 3.94 in with a welding torch. When the winch cable begins to glow, you slowly turn it counterclockwise three to four turns using the tool. You are virtually twisting the winch cable shut! The winch cable finally breaks in the glowing area. It is important that you increase the force slowly and evenly when turning the winch cable in order to achieve as smooth a break as possible. Finally, allow the winch cable to cool completely and then remove the burr with a suitable grinder.

As you know, the new PistenBully 600 EU 5 has a Cummins X12 engine, which has the following advantages over its predecessor: 

• Additional torque
• The best power-to-weight ratio
• Lower fuel consumption
   

We recommend to hold the engine speed at 1,300 revolutions per minute. At this engine speed, the highest torque with the lowest fuel consumption and optimum hydraulic performance can be achieved.

Namely, it's about calibrating the remaining rope length. After a rope change of the 4.5 and 4.6 ton drive drum winch, you should carry out various calibrations via the iTerminal. This includes the calibration of the layers and windings on the reel. You need the exact number of layers and windings to correctly calculate the available remaining rope length. The information also allows you to correctly detect rope winding errors.

To avoid having to count the layers and windings on the reel all the time during rope spooling, we recommend the following tip: Spool up the new winch rope about five windings so that the rope is firmly seated on the reel. Now briefly interrupt the spooling process. Enter the current number of layers and windings on the calibration page in the iTerminal (e.g.: zero layers, five windings) and confirm your entry.

Now the winding can be continued. This allows you to concentrate fully on winding without being distracted by counting. For control purposes we recommend - after the end of the process - to recount and compare the number of windings again.

Today we show you how easy it is to get started with the digital maintenance of your PistenBully. SNOWsat Maintain Basic is the name of the free maintenance software.

In SNOWsat Maintain Basic you can add your PistenBully including additional equipment and thus keep an eye on your fleet - with newer vehicles, you can even see the current operating hours. We keep all technical documents up to date for you on an equipment-specific basis. You can also plan, perform and document maintenance at an early stage. So the first steps in digitalized maintenance are quickly taken!

To register, please contact your service partner. They will create an account for you and support you in setting up your account. And when you have become really digital, you can easily upgrade the software to SNOWsat Maintain Professional, where all assets (equipment and facilities) can be managed!

Refueling vehicles is not difficult. Nevertheless, there is an important tip for the PistenBully: Always top up your vehicle's fuel tanks after you have finished driving. This prevents condensation from accumulating in the fuel tanks!

To explain: The fuel and the tanks heat up due to warm returning fuel and the waste heat of the components. If the vehicle is parked with empty tanks, the heated air in the tanks cools down and the moisture bound in the air condenses on the tank walls. This moisture accumulates at the bottom of the tanks and, in the worst case, is sucked in and freezes in the lines during a cold start. It is then no longer possible to start the vehicle. If the tanks are full, there is no room for air and the condensation effect is prevented.

A checklist to help a PistenBully get through the summer well:

• Wash vehicle, tracks and attachments
• Perform pending maintenance / summer overhaul
• Dismantle chains, cover spike tips and wind up, store upright
• Jack up vehicle in order to relieve the suspension of the chassis
• If necessary, cover the intake and exhaust openings
• Protect vehicle, tracks and attachments from sunlight
• Fill fuel tank completely to avoid condensation water
• Drain water from water separator
• Fill DEF tank
• Check hydraulic oil and fill up
• Lubricate
• Let oil out of high-pressure hoses of the dismantled auxiliary equipment in order to relax them
• Disconnect the battery and connect it to the trickle charger

The shortage of skilled workers is currently hitting hard, and ski resorts are urgently looking for PistenBully operators. But how do you actually become a professional operator?

The PRO ACADEMY of the PistenBully manufacturer KÄSSBOHRER offers beginner training courses for slope grooming: Important, manufacturer-independent basic knowledge for everyone – from the technical functioning of a snow groomer to its correct operation and basic knowledge of slope preparation. But also information on safety and necessary daily maintenance work are part of these courses. After passing the exam, the graduate receives a recognized PRO ACADEMY certificate at the end of the theoretical operating training, in which the training contents are documented.

No less important, of course, is the practical operater training. Here, the newcomer learns the basic functions of a snow groomer and how to use it in practice. German-language beginner training courses in presence take place in October in southern Germany, Austria or South Tyrol.

If there is no service contract with a ski resort yet, interested parties can find some job offers on the job portal of KÄSSBOHRER.

AdBlue is a well-known brand name, as used by Mercedes, for example. The manufacturer of the PistenBully engines, Cummins, calls the liquid Diesel Exhaust Fluid – DEF for short.

Whether you call it DEF or AdBlue, both fluids reduce exhaust emissions in diesel engines. They are a mixture of 32.5 percent urea and 67.5 percent water.

DEF freezes at minus 11 °C / 12 °F – but can be thawed without loss of quality. However, the storage temperature should not exceed 30 °C / 86 °F. DEF has a shelf life of one year, provided the containers are tightly sealed. Be careful, because evaporation of the water content leads to a change in the mixing ratio of urea and water and can cause errors in use. In addition, DEF must not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Efficient slope and snow management is becoming increasingly crucial to the success of a ski resort. Especially in the current times, resources are also more valuable than ever for ski resorts. Through the SNOWsat trainings, PistenBully operators and slope managers can get the maximum out of the individual SNOWsat solutions.

The SNOWsat trainings are now offered under the PRO ACADEMY umbrella. The aim is to prepare employees in the best possible way for efficient and resource-saving work in the ski area.

In the 2022/23 season, basic courses on SNOWsat in the vehicle and in the office can be booked in the PRO ACADEMY portal. In addition, PRO ACADEMY provides advice and training on efficient snow management with SNOWsat, on maintenance with SNOWsat Maintain – and how to optimize and expand maintenance.

Proper care for batteries is important so that they function flawlessly (whether or not they are maintenance-free). If there is an extended downtime, the battery switch should be disconnected to prevent leakage current and discharge current. After a downtime of six months at the latest, check the open-circuit voltage. This must not fall below 12.4 volts at the individual battery, otherwise it has to be recharged. Use a regulated battery charger (10% battery rating), but do not use any rapid charging functions. Instead, the charging time should be several hours to avoid sulfur formation along with damage, heat and outgassing. After the battery has been charged and has cooled off, the open-circuit voltage should be at approximately 12.7 volts. 

For batteries that are not labeled as maintenance-free on the type plate and have end covers or maintenance openings screwed/plugged in on top, the following applies: Additionally check the fluid level and add distilled water up to the MAX line. 

In general, make sure you store the battery in a dry and cool area at a temperature from 0 °C to +25 °C. Always follow the maintenance instructions. There is a danger of chemical burns from liquid, a short circuit from a chemical reaction or an explosion from gas!

Think about the annual review of your PistenBully vehicles. The inspection and maintenance of snow groomers is an important topic—one that we would like to talk about with you. 

This is why we are now making you this offer: Conclude a maintenance contract for your PistenBully with our Service department. As part of the summer promotion, we are offering a complete inspection of the vehicles with highly attractive terms. After the inspection, you will receive a maintenance report. The maintenance contract includes at least one annual inspection by qualified service personnel in accordance with the PistenBully maintenance guidelines. Customers can order the required service materials cost-effectively from PistenBully service technicians. 

Curious? Then get in touch with your Service contact person

Particularly at the on/off points of transport equipment, their turnstiles and drag lift lines, it is always important to have an exact snow depth. But also when a park or cross run is being constructed, the setup has to be the same every day or even every year. 

You can receive support for this from the SNOWsat snow depth measuring system with what is called the DSM (digital surface model). The DSM (= target profile) can either be created on a computer or be generated from measured snow depth data. Then it is provided in the vehicles. If necessary, the DSM can be selected in the SNOWsat system. Then the SNOWsat system shows you not only the measured snow depth under the vehicle, but also the difference from the target profile. As a result, the operators each know where they have to build up snow or remove it.

If changes were made to the terrain over the summer, the snow depth measurements will differ in these areas because the original terrain model no longer corresponds to the real situation on-site. 

This is important, however, for ensuring snow depth measurement that is consistent and highly accurate. In the event of changes, therefore, a new or at least partially (at the modified locations) updated terrain model should be created. Especially in autumn, you have one last chance again, before the first snowfall, to create a terrain model by means of drone surveying flights so that you can get an accurate measurement in winter. If the surveying flights don't happen until snow has already fallen, the snow measurements displayed later will no longer correspond with each other and the slopes will no longer be able to be groomed optimally!

A vehicle as complex as the PistenBully also requires a complex range of spare parts. Different model series, numerous variants, over 15 years of stock: it's easy to lose track even in the most sophisticated web store! To support employees, the PRO ACADEMY is now offering a free training course.

In three units, this course teaches the basics of using the KÄSSBOHRER webshop. Using examples, illustrated charts and simple explanatory videos, participants are given an overview of the logical procedure for finding the right spare part.

After an introduction (registration, user data, ET actions, etc.), the training intuitively leads to the ET catalog and provides important answers on topics such as navigation in the catalog: Structure of vehicle, engine or additional equipment or creating a vehicle using the chassis number.

The webshop itself provides tips on how to create a specific fleet - as a basis for a simple ordering process or the use of order templates.

Standard and DIN parts, i.e. mainly small parts such as screws, grease nipples or seals, are immeasurable in their variety. All of these parts, which are standardized in the machine industry, will in future be displayed with exact designations and dimensions in the KÄSSBOHRER spare parts catalog.

This facilitates the simple and correct definition of the required spare part and thus increases the security and reliability of a correct parts order. If necessary, customers can also easily access existing stock parts and rectify the machine failure even faster. PRO ACADEMY is now also offering free training to support the webshop. This saves costs, time and nerves!

There is now a YouTube playlist with helpful tips on operating SNOWsat.

The video series deals with seasonal features and reflects the experiences of customers who already work with SNOWsat iX.

After all, it's good to know how users can easily create individual screen layouts and split screens - for example, for the simultaneous display of snow depths and tracks. Or how users can save their favorite views and personal settings in their user profile and take them with them on every snow groomer.

The short video sequences also cover how to easily switch between light and dark mode on the screen for an optimal display, how drivers identify snow reserves and use the snow groomer assistant. Other content includes working with cost centers, to-dos and geopoints. So, watch the videos, get in and drive off!

The end of the season is in sight and it's time to check and maintain the PistenBully. However, please also ensure that you use the correct operating fluids when carrying out daily checks on the PistenBully!

Do not rely on the color of the operating fluids and do not mix them. For example, there are two different coolants for the vehicle engine with the same pink color, but with completely different properties. Therefore, observe the information in your maintenance instructions. Do not mix cooling lubricants or oils with different specifications.

Incidentally, you can conveniently obtain all operating materials for your vehicle from the Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG webshop.