PreFlight Inspections

[bigballer]

My tractor has 13 hours on it now and I've been religous about checking the oil and hydraulic fluid before running and I also like to check underneath the frame and look for any obvious issues, loose bolts, etc. Well yesterday I was bushhogging and at one point noticed the a pretty strong smell of fresh oil, wasn't sure if it was hydraulic or motor, at any rate the smell quickly came and went. I checked all the hose connections and everything seemed to be intact. On my way I went. Well this morning before I started it up, I opened the hood to clean the radiator screen and happened to look at the oil cap on top of the head. I noticed quite alot of oil built up around it and some indictations that it had moved it's way down the front of the motor. I gave it a twist, and sure enough it was about a 1/8 of a turn loose. Apparently enough for some of the oil to get pushed out of the engine and make it's way to places unwanted. I spent the next 15 minutes cleaning it up. Anyway, I am glad I checked it and of course it's now on my inspection list prior to starting any work.

So I am curious, Do you complete pre-flight inspections and what is the typical thing you find needing attention? Is there anything bad that's happened to your tractor as a result of not inspecting?

cheers,
bigballer

 

[Doc_Bob]

So I am curious, Do you complete pre-flight inspections and what is the typical thing you find needing attention? Is there anything bad that's happened to your tractor as a result of not inspecting?

cheers,
bigballer

Yes, I look at motor before starting (leaks, loose anything), check tires for any problems, and always put card board under my tractor after I put it away. Next time I run it, if the card board is clean, that tells me no major leaks.

And sometimes I don't check anything but the card board and just go have fun!

I also check fliuds like tranny, oil, radiator, etc. if I have replaced anything. I do it a few times to make sure I don't have a leak and or wrong fluid level.
Bob

 

[Billy_S]

I do post flight inspections rather than pre flight. If I damage something, I would prefer to discover it before I am ready to start the next job.

 

[Volfandt]

I do both a pre and post flight inspection.

I check all fluids before I crank it up and thus far in about 175 hrs I haven't had to add any inbetween scheduled maintenance.

Before I shut it down after working it and before I pull it into the shop, I raise the hood and blow everything off with the leaf blower, inside and out. This allows it to cool down and gives me a chance to look it all over for anything loose and listen for any unusual sounds whilst it's still running.
I then pull it into the shop and shut it down with the hood still up. After a few hrs or by the next day I'll have checked the fluids again just for GP ( and since I feel like I must check something since the hoods raised )

I've also been known to wipe it down with a moist rag when it's just sitting and when it's been worked particularly hard and look'n pretty salty. Especially when the blower didn't clean it up and I'm just look'n at it
I'll even do a fast start and pull it outside and shut it down before it's warmed up and give it a good bath a couple times a yr too

Volfandt

 

[radman1]

Honestly, I don't check mine very often. I do park on cement and would notice any significant leakage. I tend to check more frequently if I plan to do some serious work. Newer tractors are kind of like cars and trucks. I don't check them each time I drive somewhere.

 

[ccsial]

. I noticed quite alot of oil built up around it and some indictations that it had moved it's way down the front of the motor. I gave it a twist, and sure enough it was about a 1/8 of a turn loose. Apparently enough for some of the oil to get pushed out of the engine and make it's way to places unwanted.
.

At about 10 hours on my L3400HST I noticed a bit of oil on the lower radiator hose. Upon investigating I found the oil filler cap to be a bit loose. Dealer problem I imagine. I tighened it and it has been dry at the 50 and after. I am at 90 hours now.

I check oil and look at the hydraulic window before doing the big mowing every other week. Now and again I look for loose stuff. Just tightened the right 3PH pin on the Woods RD7200.