Farm Tractor Preseason Preparation: The Basics

As your summer planting and harvest season approach, that's the perfect time to start evaluating your farm's tractors to ensure that they are in peak working order. For those who are still fairly new to the farming industry, you may not really know what you're looking for when you assess your tractors, and you may not be familiar with the early season steps you can take to keep those tractors in good condition. Here's a look at a few things that you should consider to help you get the most from your farming equipment and minimize your repair expenses, downtime, and potentially lost crops.

Purge The Fuel System

Especially if your tractors have been sitting through the winter months, you need to be sure that the fuel system is clear of any varnishing, gelling, or other issues. The best way to do this is to flush the fuel system completely, replacing the fuel filter, and cleaning the carburetor in the process.

This ensures that you have fresh, clean fuel and a clear delivery system for the tractor to run at its best during your busy production season. If you aren't comfortable doing this on your own, your local farming equipment repair shop can help you with the system flush and restoration.

Test The Electrical System

The last thing you need is to find yourself in the middle of the fields with a tractor that's lost all electrical power. Before you put your tractors into service for the season, test the electrical system to be sure that it is holding a charge, supplying a consistent current, and running at its peak flow.

You'll need to check the battery, the alternator, and all of the fuses in the tractor. Make sure the battery is holding a charge, the alternator is responsive, and the fuses are all in good condition. Replace any blown fuses, and install a new battery or alternator if either one is showing inconsistent meter results.

Check All Of The Blades

Your mower decks, cultivators, and harvesters all have blades that need to be maintained. Before you put your tractors into service for the season, take some time to inspect and maintain the blades. 

Look all of the blades over for any signs of rust, corrosion, cracking, or other damage. You can use a grinding wheel to remove any rust or corrosion from the surface, but blades that are cracked or chipped should be examined by a repair technician. In some cases, you may need to replace blades that are structurally damaged.

Sharpen all of your tractor attachment blades and oil them if it is required for that particular model. This ensures that the blades are ready for the season.