How to Maintain Your Tractor
Your tractor is an invaluable, hard-working piece of machinery that was built to tackle your toughest jobs. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need some TLC from time to time. To make sure your tractor will keep functioning properly, you need to maintain it regularly. If you take care of it, your tractor will serve you for years to come.
At High Plains Equipment, we know that the best equipment care starts at home, which is why we’ve compiled this guide on DIY tractor maintenance. With a bit of knowledge, you’ll be able to fix or prevent basic mechanical issues. For the rest, come on down to our dealerships in Devils Lake and Harvey, ND. We’re here for all the farm equipment needs of all our friends from Minot and Grand Forks.
Visual Inspection
Maintenance is best started with a visual inspection. Before you start tinkering away, you need to carefully examine your tractor to see if there are any signs of damage, including wear and tear or leaks. See if there are any misplaced cables or loose pieces. You can fix leaks by tightening the attachments or making sure a hose is connected properly. Also examine the glass sediment bowl under the fuel filter. If you see any water or material in there, it means there’s something wrong with either the fuel, fuel filter or engine. You need to get your tractor to the shop and have professionals fix it.
Radiator Fluid & Engine Oil
When you run a hard-working piece of equipment like a tractor for long hours, you need to have enough coolant and lubricant to ensure the parts aren’t affected by the heat. When an engine gets overheated, you have to spend a lot of time and money in the shop undoing its damaging effects. Check radiator fluid daily and top it off whenever needed. Usually, there’s a gradual fluid loss. If you find yourself topping up the coolant daily, that could be a sign of a deeper problem. If you think this is the case, take care to check periodically throughout the day, and if it’s clearly an issue, don’t hesitate to have the tractor serviced.
To keep things running smoothly under the hood, you need enough engine oil. Just like with your other vehicles, you need to check the engine oil in your tractor regularly. Don’t check the oil when the engine is cool. Instead, start the tractor and let it run for a few minutes. Then shut if off and wait for a few minutes more. Then check the dipstick like you would on another vehicle: take it out, wipe it off, reinsert, then pull it out again for a clear reading. The oil should be light in color, but if it’s discolored and sludgy then it’s time for an oil change and filter replacement. Otherwise top levels off to the indicated level and move on.
Fuel
Fresh fuel is very important for you tractor. If the tractor is being used enough, this won’t be an issue as the oil will get used up regularly. It’s when you put your tractor away from a while and it sits around without being operated that a problem can occur. If you’re not going to be using your tractor for a week or two, you should add a fuel stabilizer to the tank. This will keep water from collecting or separating out of the fuel, which can either rust right through the tank or else get sucked into the engine and cause all kinds of issues. The same goes for storing backup fuel. Just make sure to use the freshest gas or diesel you can!
Tires
Your tractor tires are big, sturdy and expensive, so try to keep them useful for as long as possible. When tires don’t have enough air pressure, it can be dangerous to use them, so quickly check the air pressure with a pressure gauge. You’ll find the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure printed on the tire wall, in your owner’s manual, or on the manufacturer’s website.
It’s usually wise to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, but you can adjust the pressure a bit if you’re undertaking particular tasks. For example, if you’re taking your tractor on the road, the tires should have a few extra pounds of pressure so they hold firm on the rough pavement. If you’re tilling, on the other hand, you can lower the pressure a few pounds below the recommended setting. When loading, you want more pressure in the front tires, and if hauling something heavy, the rear tires could use a few extra pounds.
While it requires little extra time and effort on your part, maintaining your tractor will really help you save time and money in the long run. While you can attempt to solve minor issues by yourself, if you’re doubtful about your skills, don’t take the risk. Bring your tractor down to High Plains Equipment and our expert technicians will whip it into shape in no time! We also have a wide inventory of farm equipment for sale and helpful staff who’ll answer all your queries. We’re located in Devils Lake and Harvey, ND, and are proud to serve all our friends from Minot and Grand Forks.