Understanding Tractor Parts That Need to Be Maintained

Regular tractor maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity and performance of your system machinery. By conducting regular inspections and providing consistent maintenance, you can keep your tractor running smoothly and prevent costly repairs or even premature replacement. In this article, we’ll walk through the importance of tractor maintenance, identify tractor parts that need to be maintained, and differentiate aftermarket tractor parts from OEM parts. Here’s everything you need to know:

The Importance of Tractor Maintenance

Farming is incredibly difficult without a tractor. This machinery is one of the most essential pieces of equipment farmers need to complete daily duties. Buying a tractor today is such a costly investment due to recent technology upgrades, so applying regular tractor maintenance to your machinery is more important now than ever.

Our first recommendation to avoid costly replacements is to familiarize yourself with your current tractor manual. In the manual, you will find detailed inspection notes specific to your tractor model, along with daily, weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance tips. We’ll run through quick and easy maintenance tips that will prolong the service lifespan of your tractor.

Daily Care

Daily inspection is so important for caring for your tractor long-term. After each use session, walking around all sides of your tractor and visually inspecting for oil leaks, tire wear, dents, loose bolts on attachments, and dings are proactive ways to find minor damage before it becomes a costly repair.

Another essential factor of daily inspection for your tractor model is checking the three most important fluids within the system. Checking the hydraulic oil, engine oil, and coolant significantly reduces the chance of internal failure.

Freshening Up Goes a Long Way

Once you familiarize yourself with part specifications in your owner’s manual, you will find the range of recommended replacements after a certain number of hours. Tractor parts that need replacement over time include engines, transmissions, axels, breaks, filters, oil, and steering. Filters should be replaced closer to the 200-hour mark of usage, while more advanced components like engines and transmissions may need to be replaced past the 1,000-hour mark.

Freshening up your tractor parts that need to be maintained is a proactive measure that should be completed past 100 hours of usage to keep your machinery operating smoothly. Using grease guns is an excellent approach to reducing or eliminating wear and tear on the various moving parts of tractors. Also, applying liquid lubricant to the engine hood and hinges keep your machinery from squeaking while operating, which is key to preventing internal and external rust.

Fresh Air

Clouds of dust appear when tractors are in use. The collection of dust over time strains the engine, which needs to breathe clean air for optimal operation. Clouds of dust harm internal air filters, ultimately reducing the lifespan of your tractor. It is recommended to check the air filters within your tractor every 50 hours and apply replacements when needed.

Cold Weather Care

Many farmers park and cover their tractors for winter, especially in areas with harsh conditions like New York. If you are done with your tractor until spring, add fuel stabilizing solutions to keep fuel fresh come springtime. It is also recommended to periodically turn your tractor engine on and let it run for 20 minutes during cold weather to prevent rust or corrosion from building on internal parts.

Value of Aesthetics

Of course, tractors are designed to work in muddy conditions, and they will become dirty. Owners still need to be proactive in cleaning tractors, as dirt and debris work their way into parts, causing a buildup of rust and internal failure. Monthly pressure washing is recommended to remove built-up dirt and debris.