Spring Maintenance

[Dirtysailor]

What do you guys like to do to get your machines ready for spring, tractors and implements?

 

[TripleR]

We run our tractors a little bit in the winter months, so other than swapping box/back blades to rotary cutters, we just follow the owners manual service intervals.

 

[RoyJackson]

I change my engine oil annually (since I don't normally accumulate many hours per year). That's my Spring chore (greasing, etc. is ongoing all year long).

 

[bigbull338]

i change my oil an needed filters every 100hrs.it doesnt matter if its winter or summer.

 

[ptexer]

I change oil in everything in the spring. I believe a lot of condensation occurs over winter and ends up in the oil. I also like to close chokes and pull starter cord to close cylinder on machine that will not be used for several months.

 

[Jay4200]

What do you guys like to do to get your machines ready for spring, tractors and implements?

Take off the chains and spray them down with a garden hose. Ready to go.

JayC

 

[Jay4200]

I change oil in everything in the spring. I believe a lot of condensation occurs over winter and ends up in the oil. I also like to close chokes and pull starter cord to close cylinder on machine that will not be used for several months.

Pretty much every single-cylinder motor will stop at TDC when shut down.

JayC

 

[Jriffe108]

Wash and wax to protect paint/ plastic. Check tires for cuts, rips, foreign objects, rot, air pressure check. Remove guards to inspect and service grease fittings, remove grass buildup from spindles/ moving parts. Change and or inspect filters, visual inspection of entire unit for loose or missing parts, fasteners. Check for rodent housing, bare wires. Check belts and hoses for leaks, brittleness, wear. Check all fluids and startup to check proper function.

I don't use my unit much in the winter months and primarily leave the FEL for moving firewood and dirt work. I remove the FEL and install the MMM for spring. I still perform PM throughout the year but find that a very thorough inspection prior to spring helps me catch alot of small things before they turn into problems.

 

[moored4]

I change all oils, filters and grease every joint just like all of the guy's above. I also hook up to every piece of hay equipment and run it, check it all out now instead of finding any surprise when we are using it! Repair parts are more apt to be on the shelf now than when the season gets here. If they're not, a week wait now for it is not a big deal,

 

[nybirdman]

Be sure to service any slip clutches that you have.Grease everything,check fluid levels in gear boxes.

 

[troutsqueezer]

I wipe the raindrops off the seat with my arm before I sit down.

 

[RoyJackson]

I wipe the raindrops off the seat with my arm before I sit down.

Good response!!

 

[chad22]

I wipe the raindrops off the seat with my arm before I sit down.

lol. Don't want to look like you wet your pants when you get up off the seat. :laughing:

I once did that before. My seat on my riding mower was wet, because it just rained. I forgot to wipe the rain off and hopped right on there to move it.

When I got off the mower It looked like I had wet my pants big time. :laughing:

I now try to make sure I wipe the rain off the seat every time as well.

Chad

 

[moored4]

If you tilt your seat up you don't even look like you been wiping your nose on you sleeve! LOL!:laughing:

 

[D7E]

I started today with some of the smaller stuff i can get out of snowdrifts but i will have 6 weeks now servicing everything from oil changes to new tyres to a couple of engine in-frames before seeding . Then after seeding start again on hay equipment and combines , Combines and trucks get oil changed annually but tractors every 200-250 so 3 times a year normally .

 

[ModMech]

We use our tractor every month of the year so there is no real "annual" scheduled maintenance, we follow the Kubota operator's guide and perform any repairs as they are needed.

But yes, when we lived in the snow belt, that which was used in the summer was serviced BEFORE it was placed into service (mowers, motorcycles etc) and likewise for the winter use items.

 

[bill in ny]

i do most of my maintenance in the fall. i powerwash all of the hay equipment, then let air dry. next i grease everything and spray all bare metal with fluid film including knotters on the baler. then everything goes into the machine shed. i change the oil in the gear cases in the spring. the tractors are maintained by the owners manual service intervals.