Tractor Maintenance

Tractor maintenance helps you ensure your equipment runs smoothly and can help extend its life. At the very least, it can help reduce the number of trips to a tractor repair shop. We've rounded up some beginner maintenance tasks below. When you do need to get a tractor service, visit Flieg's Equipment. Our tractor mechanics can fix your problem and get your equipment running well in no time. We proudly serve those in Ste. Genevieve, Leadington, and St. Louis, Missouri.

A Visual Inspection

Tractor maintenance starts by looking at the exterior of your tractor. Sometimes problems can be caught at first glance and obvious issues stick out. See if you can spot any leaks, loose hoses, or misplaced cables. These can often be resolved with an easy fix, such as tightening the attachments more or connecting a hose properly. Then check out the glass sediment bowl found underneath the fuel filter. Water or material inside it can suggest an issue with the fuel, fuel filter, or engine. You'll likely need to visit a tractor repair shop to fix this issue.

Radiator Fluid and Engine Oil

Odds are, you'll be running your tractor on a nearly-daily basis and often for hours at a time. If the engine gets too overheated, you'll end up needing a tractor repair in no time at all. You need the proper levels of coolant and lubricant for your engine and radiator to ward off overheating. Before you use your tractor, you should check the radiator fluid and top off when needed.

As you use your tractor, the radiator fluid level will slowly get lower and lower. But if you find yourself needing to replace high amounts of fluids, there could be an issue. Keep an eye on it and measure the levels throughout the day and over the course of a few days. If you're still losing fluids at too fast of a pace, you'll want to book yourself a tractor service.

Engine oil is also an important fluid to regularly check. You'll want to inspect your tractor engine oil like you do with your truck or car. But you won't want to check it on a cold engine. Instead, turn on your machine and let it run for a few minutes. Then turn it off and wait a few more minutes. Now you are ready to use the dipstick. Put it in, wipe it, put it in again, then examine the results. Ideally, the oil will look light in color. If that's your case, all you need is to top off any low fluid. If the oil is discolored and sludgy, you need an oil change and filter replacement.

Fuel

Fresh fuel helps keep your vehicle out of the tractor repair shop. Most people find they use their tractor enough that they are usually using fresh fuel. But there is always the off-season where the tractor gets used much less (or even not at all as it sits in storage). In times that your tractor won't be in use for over a week, you'll want to use a fuel stabilizer. It works to prevent water from collecting or separating out of the fuel. This helps prevent issues such as rust through the tank, engine issues, and other issues that can merit the need for tractor repair. If you store backup fuel, always try to use the freshest fuel you can.

Tires

Tires endure their fair share of wear and tear out in the fields. For your vehicle to function properly, the tires need to be functioning well. An important part of tractor maintenance involves checking that your tires are inflated to the right pressure. Too much or too little air pressure can cause a host of issues. All you need is to use a tire pressure gauge and match your reading up against the manufacturer's recommendation. You can find that standard either on the tire wall, the owner's manual, or the manufacturer's website.

We hope you found this guide helpful! When you find you need to visit a tractor repair shop, visit Flieg's Equipment. Our expert tractor mechanics can get your equipment running like new in no time. We proudly serve those in Ste. Genevieve, Leadington, and St. Louis, Missouri.