If you own an agricultural property or large plot of land, you likely use tractors for everything from routine lawn care to tilling, planting, and plowing. Like most heavy machinery, tractors require regular maintenance to stay functional and dependable over the years. Below, you’ll find a helpful guide on how to care for them.

4 Tractor Maintenance Tips

1. Change the Fluids

Similar to cars, tractors use motor oil that lubricates the engine and prevents corrosion on the metal parts. However, they need oil changes more frequently—after every 50 to 100 hours of running. Check the oil daily by removing the dipstick and wipe the tip on a clean cloth. If the fluid looks dark, dirty, or burnt, replace it.

2. Check the Battery 

Corrosion buildups occur due to battery acid leaking hydrogen gas where the cables meet the terminals. Clean the cables with a gentle cloth once per month to prevent rusting and tighten the connections to ensure your battery receives an adequate charge. Tractor batteries last about three years, so replace yours once it nears this age. 

3. Maintain the Tires

Tractors have large tires that use lugs to hold them onto the wheels. With heavy and repeated use over rough terrain, the lugs may become loose, so tighten them after every 50 hours of running time.

Additionally, check the tire pressure once per week. If your tractor has radial tires, which feature independent sidewalls and tread, fill them to 12 psi. If it has bias tires, which have sturdier overlapping sidewalls and tread, fill them to 18 psi.  

4. Store Them Properly 

When storing at any time of the year, keep contaminated fluids from deteriorating the hoses and reservoirs by draining them. Prior to winter storage, remove the battery since cold weather exposure may shorten its life span. Since the disc and flywheel are both metallic, they may rust together when stored during the wet spring season, so avoid this by releasing the clutch to separate them. 

The next time your tractors need maintenance and repairs, get in touch with Lawn Care Equipment Company -Webster Groves. They offer lawn care repairs, parts, rentals, and sales to Saint Louis, MO, clients. Call (314) 961-5700 to get a quote on tractor repairs and place an order for the parts you need. Visit the website to browse through their inventory of new and pre-owned lawn care equipment.