Tractor Maintenance
As the quintessential piece of farm equipment, the tractor is a staple of farms all across the United States. Now that the harvest season is drawing to a close, it’s time to take a good close look at your tractor to see what needs to be maintained or repaired before winter storage. You don’t want to leave your valuable machine in poor condition, as it will only require more work come springtime and any damage that’s occurring now could escalate over months of disuse.
Central Arkansas Mahindra here in Little Rock is your Arkansas tractor dealer. Read on to learn more about proper tractor maintenance so you can keep your machine in great shape for years of tilling, plowing and harvesting!
Perform a Visual Inspection
Under good lighting, walk around your parked tractor to examine everything from top to bottom. Look for visible leaks (which will appear as puddles of fluids on the ground), loose connections, misplaced cables or poor tire condition. You may want to take this time to clean your tractor up and hose off any mud clumps to make maintenance tasks easier to perform.
You’ll also want to get into the engine and check the glass sediment bowl beneath the fuel filter, as this could collect water or material from problematic fuel, necessitating a visit to the shop.
Radiator & Engine
It’s important that your engine has enough coolant and lubricating oil to run efficiently and effectively. An overheated engine will only ruin your productivity and require you to spend precious time and money at the repair shop. Check your radiator fluid on a daily basis during the on season so you can keep an eye on sudden drops in fluid levels.
Your engine oil needs to be checked on a regular basis, too, and you’ll want to change it if it looks gunky and opaque. But don’t check the oil cold; start up your tractor and allow it to run for a few minutes, then shut it off and wait another few minutes before you remove the dipstick to wipe it, reinsert it, remove it again and analyze its color and consistency. Clear, runny oil only needs to be topped off; sludgy oil needs a change.
Tires
Your tractor’s tires are a valuable part of its functioning, so keeping them in optimal condition will allow you to get more work done more efficiently. You don’t want to work on tires with low pressure, so use a tire pressure gauge to check each one and air it up to the recommended levels in your owner’s manual. You may wish to adjust the pressure based on what you’re doing. Driving on roads may require a few extra pounds of pressure, while tilling may require slightly lower-than-average pressure. Hauling equipment requires more pressure in the rear tires, while loading requires more pressure in the front tires.
Following these tips should result in a well-functioning tractor that’s there whenever you need it. If you want some professional assistance, you can always contact our service department to schedule a maintenance appointment with our team of mechanics.
Still in search of the perfect tractor for your farming operation or looking to upgrade your current model? Come by our dealership in Little Rock to check out our current selection of new and used tractors and other pieces of farm equipment for sale. You can also stop into our Sanders Ace Hardware location for tools and supplies. We sell OEM Mahindra parts to help you keep your tractor in good condition from sowing to harvest time. Central Arkansas Mahindra proudly serves the cities of Sherwood, Conway and Hot Springs, Arkansas.