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Tractor maintenance tips

"What can I do to help my equipment last longer?"

Here are several simple maintenance tips that, when followed, will greatly increase the life expectancy of your investment. This holds true for new or used, light or heavy duty, small, medium or large equipment. While nothing will make machinery last forever, developing the following habits-- as well as following specific manufacturers' maintenance recommendations -- will guarantee that your tractor and related equipment will last as long as it can. In addition to these tips, read the sidebar on tractor maintenance in the Big Wheels article, included in this collection.

Put a drop of oil on every nut, bolt and screw. This prevents these parts from corroding, rusting or seizing up from dryness. Do this every few months (monthly for light duty machinery or equipment that will be left out in the weather) and future repairs will be much easier. A pump oilcan with a long, flexible snout will make this procedure much easier.

Grease often where zerk fittings (grease nipples) are provided. Grease not only provides needed lubrication where parts interact, but also prevents rust-causing moisture from entering the mechanism. Heavy duty equipment will have lots of grease fittings which need weekly or monthly attention. Certain implements, such as loaders, mowing decks, tillers and backhoes may need to be greased before or after each use.

Wash off all grass after each mowing. Wet grass stuck to metal parts is an ideal environment for rust or corrosion. After each use, mowers should be cleaned of loose or caked-on grass with a hose or pressure washer.

Keep all fluids at recommended levels. Oil, water, hydraulic, transmission and brake fluids should be checked before each use and replenished whenever necessary.

Change fluids and filters annually or according to manufacturer's recommendations.

Keep all nuts, bolts and screws tightened. Obviously, you don't want your equipment coming apart while you are using it, but long before anything falls apart, loose fasteners can cause insidious damage to threaded parts, linkages and bushings, can loosen tolerances on tight-fitting mechasims and lead to costly (or, at least inconvenient) repairs.

Use gasoline stabilizer during long term storage. This will prolong the life of the fuel system and ensure good starting and running characteristics.

Store tractor out of the weather. Sun, wind and snow will age your tractor at an incredible rate. A simple, inexpensive shelter will keep your equipment looking and running better, longer. A recent study by North Dakota State University found that machinery stored indoors has a higher resale value and requires fewer repairs than equipment left to the mercy of the elements. The study found that after only 5 years, tractors were worth 16% more and combines and harvesting equipment 20% more. Also, they reported that equipment stored indoors had about half the downtime (7.6%) of machinery stored outside (14.3%).

Do not abuse. Small tractors can be quickly and severely damaged by big jobs. Loader and 3PH arms can be bent by too-heavy loads, transmissions can be burned out by pulling against too-strong forces and implements can be broken by being used inappropriately. With small tractors, large jobs must often be done with finesse, rather than with brute force. A big job can sometimes be broken up into several smaller jobs, which are not problematic for smaller equipment. With small tractors, take small bites.

Written for farmers and large equipment owners, the article, Five Strategies for Extending Machinery Life contains information that may also be useful to owners of small tractors.