There are few tools as vital to a successful farming operation as a tractor. Whether you’re planting crops, hauling dirt, or performing some other important task, a tractor helps to make the job much easier. To ensure that your tractor is in the best condition for work or if you plan to sell your tractor, it’s important that you take steps to take care of your tractor. If you’re new to farming and don’t know what these steps are, this basic guide will help you get started.
Fuel Management is Important
Unlike most cars, tractors tend to sit around for months on end with little to no use. When spring arrives and it’s time to start using your tractor again, you may find that your tractor is difficult or impossible to start. However, if you use good fuel management, you’re far less likely to run into any trouble. Good fuel management involves emptying your tractor’s gas tank at the end of the season and then using fresh fuel to fill it up again when you next need to use it.
Tires Are Everything
On a farm, your tractor encounters multiple types of terrain. This means that your tractor’s tires take a lot of abuse. If you don’t take care of your tires with quality tire services, you could end up stranded out in a field due to a failed tire. It’s important to ensure that your tires have good tread and that they don’t have any major chunks of rubber missing – should you find that they do have chunks missing, it might be time to look for tractor tyres for sale online and get them changed before driving your tractor again.
Always Check Your Belts
Another easy way to end up stranded in a field is for a belt to break while you’re driving your tractor. Since tractors often get left out in the sun and their belts lack protection, a tractor’s belts tend to wear out more quickly than a car’s belts. To help prevent an unfortunate surprise, it’s a good idea to check your tractor’s belts every month or so to ensure that the belts aren’t developing cracks or other signs of stress.
Don’t Get Caught With Dull Blades
If your tractor is equipped to cut grass, then sharp blades are vital. If you have dull blades, you will put more strain on your tractor’s engine and you could damage whatever it is that you’re cutting. Given that most tractors use multiple blades to get the job done, you’ll also need to make sure that the blades are balanced and even so that you don’t end up with a bad cut.
When it comes time to purchase a tractor for your farm, it’s important to do some research beforehand so that you understand exactly what you’re buying. By taking your time and making sure that you’re buying a quality tractor, it’s likely that your tractor care will be far easier. This will give you more time and money to enjoy other aspects of living on a farm.
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She loves being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise. Meghan finds happiness in researching new topics that help to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. You can connect with her on Facebook right here and Twitter right here.
