I have three different maintenance contracts for three printing presses (equipment), should the contracts be booked on the gen. ledger as an "expense" or under "equipment"-"Fixed Asset"?

It depends on a number of factors like the service life of the equipment and how long you are leasing it for.

Routine maintenance/service costs should be expensed because they don't enhance the asset in any way - they just keep it in good working order and are therefore an overhead in the ordinary day-to-day running of the business.