Tractor Maintenance
If you need to make farm work easier, faster and more efficient, investing in a tractor is a very smart move. These reliable pieces of farm equipment have assisted farmers with various tasks for over a century. Considering their reputation as being reliable workhorses, it’s easy to take your tractor’s functioning for granted. However, regular tractor maintenance is essential to ensure the longevity and performance of your machine. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself at the repair shop more often, spending cash for expensive repairs that could have been resolved with proper care and maintenance.
Here at Holzhauer Pro Motorsports, we know how vital tractors are to a farming operation, so we’ve provided this short guide to tractor maintenance to help you figure out what needs to be done and when. When you’re ready to check out our wide selection of Mahindra® tractors for sale, call us or head into our dealership in Nashville, Illinois.
Perform a Visual Inspection
Every time you get ready to work with your tractor, it’s wise to walk around it to perform a quick visual inspection of all its major parts. Trying to ride a tractor that has loose hose connections or that’s leaking fluids could result in you having to tow a tractor out of your field. Tighten hoses and connections and check the glass sediment bowl under your fuel filter. Water or material that’s collected there could indicate that your fuel, engine, or fuel filter are problematic.
Check Radiator Fluid & Oil
The coolant in your radiator prevents your tractor engine from overheating, so you’ll want to keep it topped up and clean. Check the radiator daily and add more coolant as necessary. If you find that you’re regularly low on coolant, there might be a leak. 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.
The oil in your engine lubricates its parts for smooth functioning. Check your tractor’s oil only after the engine has been run for a few minutes. Make sure to shut it off first, but you’ll want the engine to be warmed up. If the oil is sludgy when you check the dipstick after wiping and inserting it, then you’ll need an oil change. Otherwise, you can simply top off the oil and you’re good to go.
Check Tire Pressure
A tractor needs to have its tires regularly maintained and inflated for proper functioning. Because of the heavyweight of your machine along with any towed equipment or payloads it may carry, it’s essential to ensure that the tires are in good condition and reliable. Replacing a large tractor tire is an expense for sure, so keeping them maintained will spare you from having to replace them too often. Check the pressure of each tire and make sure it corresponds to the recommendations set by the manufacturer, which are generally printed on the tire wall or in the owner’s manual. You may want to adjust the tire pressure slightly for different tasks to ensure peak performance.
When driving on a road, it’s good to have a little more tire pressure to help the tires hold firm on the pavement. While you’re tilling, reducing the pressure a little bit below recommendations can be helpful. Loading with your tractor is improved by having more pressure in the front tires, but when hauling a heavy load, you’ll need more pressure at the rear tires instead. If you’re not sure whether these pressure settings will work with your particular model, you can always chat with the staff here at Holzhauer Pro Motorsports. Our expert mechanics can answer your questions about correct tire pressure.
With some patience and attention, you can keep your tractor in tip-top shape so that it continues to serve you well for years to come. A properly maintained tractor is both efficient and money-saving, as it won’t suffer a serious breakdown that requires expensive repairs.
If you’re looking for a reliable tractor to assist you with all your farm work, visit Holzhauer Pro Motorsports in Nashville, IL, where we carry a great selection of Mahindra tractors for sale. If you need assistance for repair or maintenance, contact our parts and service departments so that our staff can help you out. Our dealership proudly serves all of our customers in St. Louis, MO, and Carbondale, IL.
