Whether the machinery will be hibernating or working during winter, it’s important to have it inspected by a reputable equipment dealer who has the expertise, tools and parts to bring the equipment back to peak working condition before the next season begins.
Your equipment dealer may also offer a winter inspection program that includes special incentives, such as free analyses of engine and hydraulic oils.
A few components that should be checked during a typical post-season tractor inspection:
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Wheel bearings – Check for any moisture, wear and lack of grease that can cause failure and safety concerns during operation.
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Grease points – Check for clogged grease zerks or lack of grease on moving parts and joints that can cause accelerated wear and premature failure.
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Belts – Investigate any cracks, tears and dry rotting that can lead to belt breakage, slippage or inconsistent battery charging.
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Fluids and filters – Inspect and replace all fluids and filters, including coolant and antifreeze, engine oil, hydraulic oil and air filters.
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Tires, rims and valve stem – Check cracks, cuts and air pressure to ensure consistent tire wear and prevent tire failure.
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Battery or electrical – Inspect the battery for charge, cracks and check connections and terminals for corrosion to ensure proper startups during the colder months.
- Lights, bulbs, fuses and warning lights – Look for any cracked lenses or burned-out bulbs or warning lights to maintain safety for the operator and the machine.
An inspection doesn’t stop with the tractor. It also should include the tractor’s attachments. As with the tractor, an inspection of attachments includes belts, bearings and grease points.
Technicians also should inspect and change all fluids and lubricants in the gearboxes to prevent moisture contamination and breakdown of fluids, and look for any hydraulic oil leaks in the hydraulic cylinders, hoses and fittings, and couplers.
Your dealer can also inspect mower blades and cutting edges for wear or damage that can result in poor performance, increased wear and higher fuel consumption.
While a thorough post-season inspection may seem unnecessary for a compact tractor that’s subject to less work than a higher-horsepower farm tractor, it’s actually just as important, if not more important, because of the inconsistent usage and idle time spent in the shed.
So with winter here and more idle days ahead, inspections are important to ensure safe storage and operation for the next time they’re needed.
It’s also a good time to consider any accessories and upgrades that can enhance comfort and safety: canopies for those cold and rainy days, radios, grill guards that protect equipment from damage and three-point quick hitches that make life easier.
A pre-season inspection may seem unnecessary, but it’s actually very important, especially if the tractor was used infrequently or sat idle for most of the winter.
Batteries discharge. Fluids leak. Rodents gnaw. So when spring is just around the corner, it’s important to have compact tractors and mower attachments inspected to ensure their safe operation for the next time they’re needed, which will be coming up soon.
For the most comprehensive pre-season maintenance check, dealers have the expertise, tools and parts to bring equipment up to peak working condition before spring. Ask about their inspection programs and any special financing incentives that make equipment maintenance both easy and affordable.
For the do-it-yourself buff, these basic steps will help tractors awaken from frost-belt hibernation:
- Clean and inspect battery connections to ensure the cable-to-battery terminal contact is clean. Make sure the battery is fully charged, as batteries tend to discharge from sitting.
Recharge the battery with a good-quality battery charger. To minimize stress on the charging system and reduce the risk of overheating and failure, do not use the tractor alternator. Alternators are designed to maintain battery charge, not to recharge a dead battery.
Once the battery is recharged, the alternator will keep it that way when the machine runs again.
- Check fluids and top off or replace fluids as needed. Hydraulic transmission fluids can draw moisture over the winter due to condensation. Excessive moisture build-up in the fluid can result in poor hydraulic response and rough or noisy shifting.
- Check tires and valve stems for cracks and leaks. Bring air pressure to proper levels to ensure consistent tire wear and prevent tire failure.
- Inspect for mice. They like to crawl under the hood and chew on wires.
- Check wheel bearings for moisture, wear and lack of grease that can cause failure and safety concerns.
- Inspect and replace filters as needed. Check the air filter canister and connections for cracks or loose clamps. This will eliminate the possibility of dirty air bypassing the filter, which can reduce engine performance and longevity.
- Check all lights and warning flashers.
- Check belts for wear and weather-related cracking.
A pre-maintenance inspection doesn’t stop with the tractor; it also includes attachments. For mowers:
- Check blades and sharpen if needed.
- Check fluid levels in gearboxes.
- Check belts for wear and weather-related cracking.
- Lubricate the linkages and any other moving points and grease fittings. FG
