Nothing ruins a farmer or contractor’s day quicker than broken machinery. Sometimes, breakdowns are unavoidable, but they also often relate to maintenance or lack thereof.
If you don’t have time to be parked up in the paddock while the work piles up, it’s time to take action. Here are just a few of the many ways you can keep your farm machinery running smoothly.
Buy High-Quality Parts
There’s truth in the saying, ‘you get what you pay for.’ When you purchase high-quality parts, such as Braud parts, you can generally expect them to function as they should and keep your machinery running perfectly.
The same can’t typically be said for inferior parts. While they might be cheaper initially, they can also fail quickly and even lead to potentially serious problems that keep you out of action for longer.
Change Your Oil Regularly
Oil changes can be an arduous task, but they’re also a necessary one. The more frequently you change your oil, the smoother you can expect your engine to run. Frequent oil changes also reduce dirt and debris build-up and keep engine wear and tear to a minimum.
While you’re performing this crucial task, it’s also a good idea to lubricate your engine. This straightforward and fast task can result in extended equipment life and parts that last longer than anticipated.
Keep Your Machinery Clean
When you’re a busy farmer with little time to yourself, machinery cleaning can fall by the wayside. However, setting time aside for cleaning can be crucial if you want to pick up potential problems before they occur.
When machinery is kept clean, you can spot serious issues like grease build-up and oil leaks much easier.
Train Your Workers
If you work on a big farm with multiple employees using your equipment, you’re bound to find that wear and tear is accelerated. This can be problematic if it leads to significant downtime for unexpected repairs.
One of the easiest ways to avoid ongoing problems relating to broken equipment is by training your workers on best use, maintenance, and operation requirements. If they know how to safely and efficiently operate your equipment, it will be less likely to require as much maintenance and repairs.
Perform Pre-Use Checks
We sometimes expect our equipment and vehicles to operate as they should every time we jump into them, but that’s not always the case. Take the time to run pre-use checks, and you’ll be able to identify issues that could become much more severe without attention.
Fortunately, pre-use checks don’t take much time. Walk around the machine, check the engine oil and fluids, and look for leaks in hydraulic systems and hoses. It’s also important to check tires and their pressure, ensure all lights and alarms are operational and confirm your controls and safety shields are functioning as they should.
Keep a Strict Maintenance Schedule
It can be easy to forget when tractors and other machines are due for servicing or repairs, and those necessary dates can pass by in the blink of an eye. Consider keeping a strict maintenance schedule that you fill out meticulously. Write down dates and information about the checks and maintenance you performed, and you’ll never have to rely on guesswork alone.
Farm machinery won’t always run smoothly. However, if you purchase quality parts, maintain a strict schedule, train your workers, and perform regular checks, you might be surprised at how easy it is to have all your best gear running smoothly.
