MACHINE MAINTENANCE

Your tractor is your farm's workhorse, so you need to care for it to keep it running smoothly.

- ASHLEIGH KRISPENSE

As the days get warmer, jobs in the fields become more and more a part of our daily lives again. Tractors big and small can be found rumbling up and down the dirt roads as they go about their various tasks. From the subcompacts that works around the farmyard to the massive four-wheel-drive behemoths steadily working up the ground in the field, our machines make life easier every day. As farms and homesteads alike continue to grow year after year, so do the size of the jobs needing done, as thus our reliance on our tractors, big and small.

While they can certainly be more efficient than our great-grandfather’s team of work horses, they still can’t be ignored all year in the shed and then pulled out just in time to use again. Keeping your machinery in tiptop shape through regular maintenance and timely repairs can help avoid major expensive failures in the future, keep your work schedule running smoothly and even increase your resale or trade-in value later down the road.

MAINTENANCE IN MIND

If you’re planning to purchase your first tractor or upgrade to a newer one, take a little extra time and study the machine you intend to buy more thoroughly. Do some research on your specific model through online ag forums and groups.

Will the maintenance or repairs required be something that you’re capable of completing or will you need to find a dealer or qualified mechanic nearby to take it to? Is there such a place within a reasonable distance?

If you’re considering an older machine, are parts still available to be bought when it comes time to make a repair? Make sure to ask some questions, and research before you make a large purchase such as this.