The Value Of Good Equipment Maintenance

The saying that prevention is better than cure, rings true for all circumstances. It is especially apt where the maintenance of farm equipment is concerned.

- Andries Gouws

Farmers often tend to neglect or postpone this vital task when work pressure is high. Yet postponing it tends to make matters worse.

Retired agricultural engineer and agricultural mechanisation expert, Koos le Roux, says agricultural equipment is exposed to extreme variations in climate, from frost and ice in winter, to unbearably hot temperatures in summer. It must work in excessively wet or muddy conditions and must often power through choking clouds of dust, all the while delivering precision performance.

The main driver, of course, is the timeous completion of tasks. It is under these conditions that equipment maintenance is often neglected. Nevertheless, a professional is expected to look after his or her equipment, and therefore it is crucial that equipment is taken care of efficiently and systematically.

Jacques van Wyk of Optimal Agricultural Sales in Malmesbury agrees and adds that the condition and maintenance history of second-hand machinery that is sold or traded in for new models, play a major role in determining their price.

The supply of second-hand agricultural machinery is currently significantly higher than the demand, due to the cost price squeeze affecting farmers, as well as the unrelenting drought in many areas, which is hampering farmers’ purchasing power even further. However, good quality second-hand equipment remains popular and sought after.

Preventative maintenance

Koos says the biggest cause of untimely equipment failure, which delays the completion of urgent tasks, is that maintenance that should be done today, is often left until tomorrow.

Preventative maintenance is a strategy that every farmer needs to implement, as it guarantees optimal equipment performance throughout. Breakdowns become fewer, repair costs are reduced, and equipment remains safe to use.