Tractor Maintenance

Proper tractor maintenance is important in taking care of your tractor. It can help prevent problems from occurring, which translates to lower repair bills and fewer lost hours of work time. It can help keep problems from getting worse and turning into more serious (and more costly) issues. It can even help extend the life of your vehicle, which helps you get the most return on your investment.

While you will still need to go to a professional for some aspects of tractor maintenance, there are plenty of simple and proactive tasks you can handle. We've rounded up our favorite ways owners can keep their tractors running smoothly below. If you have any questions, visit Burrows Tractor. We are a tractor dealer that proudly serves those in Portland and North Plains, Oregon as well as Kennewick, Ellensburg, Richland, Yakima, and Wenatchee, Washington.

Give it a Look

Sometimes problems can be spotted simply by looking at your vehicle. Do you notice any drips that are the tell-tale signs of leaks? Are any hoses loose? Are any cables misplaced? Many times these problems are an easy fix requiring a quick tightening of attachments or connecting the hose better. Another key aspect to check is the glass sediment bowl under the fuel filter. Do you see any water or material inside? This can be a red flag for problems with the fuel, filter, or engine. You'll want to visit a tractor dealer with a service department for help.

Maintain Fluid Levels

Usually when you use your tractor, it's not for a quick ten minute session. Instead, it'll be operating for a few hours at a time. All this use can lead to overheating if you don't have the right amounts of coolant and lubricant for your engine. That's why it's important to regularly check your fluid levels and top them off when they get low.

While it's inevitable that your radiator fluid level will decrease as you use your tractor, you shouldn't be replacing large amounts frequently. If this happens, it could suggest an issue. If you track the levels for a few days and notice a consistent pattern of rapid loss, head over to a tractor dealer for a service.

Inspect the Oil

Checking your oil on a tractor is just as important as it is with your car or truck. The process is almost  the same too, which keeps things simple. You'll enter the dipstick, wipe it off, enter it again, then look at the results. If the oil ever gets discolored or sludgy, you are likely due for an oil change and a filter replacement. One thing to note is that you'll want to let your tractor run for a few minutes, then turn it off, then use the dipstick. It's much better than checking a cold engine.

Check the Tires

Your tractor relies on its tires to run and, unfortunately, they face a large amount of wear in the fields. Regularly check that they are inflated to the air pressure levels recommended by your manufacturer. If it's too much or too little, you can face performance issues. A tire pressure gauge is a cheap and easy to store tool that lets you find out what levels your tires are inflated to. Simply measure it and then compare your number to the recommended level, which you can find in your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website. Then adjust as needed.

We hope you find these tips helpful! If you are looking for farm equipment for sale, visit Burrows Tractor. We are a tractor dealer that proudly serves those in Portland and North Plains, Oregon as well as Kennewick, Ellensburg, Richland, Yakima, and Wenatchee, Washington.