Benjamin Franklin once said, “Never leave ‘till tomorrow which you can do today.”
This holds true when it comes to preparing machinery for the upcoming growing season. Even if you are a livestock and grain farmer, winter has the slower months of the year.
Many machinery experts agree routine maintenance is crucial during these months for keeping up and running during the busy growing season ahead.
First comes planting
More than likely, planters will be the first piece of equipment put to use in 2014. Phil Jennings, service manager with Kinze Mfg., urges farmers to get started now to ensure their readiness for spring and minimize delays.
“Parts discounts and service specials make this another great reason to work on your planter now,” Jennings explains.
A planter in good mechanical shape will help with consistent performance during planting, so do the basics first. This is done by doing a close inspection of the bearings and the various wear parts, advises Adrian Hagen, services manager at Riechmann Bros. John Deere Dealership in Breese.
Any parts that are very worn must be replaced to ensure efficiency the coming season, he explains.
Checking combines
Another major piece of equipment that requires winter maintenance is the combine.
Case IH experts provide insight to a few inspection points that will help keep the machine in good running condition.
The first inspection point is the feeder chains. If there was poor crop flow, it’s vital to ensure the feeder house components are lubricated and in good condition.
Also, check to see if the chain is showing wear or lacking tension, as these could cause stress on the feeder chain, producing plugging or damage.
The second inspection point involves the rasp bars. Even minor chips on threshing components can have costly consequences, Case IH experts state.
Chipped edges will increase grain damage and require more power to maintain peak crop flow. Ensuring these bars are in good condition is fundamental.
Also, if you are experiencing poor threshing, inspect concaves for levelness, damaged or missing wires and excessive buildup to ensure balanced performance.
The next inspection point is the rotor drive belt. These transfer massive amounts of power so when they become worn or stretched, these belts have a major effect on efficiency.
The last inspection point is the augers. Damage to these structures can harm grain and be inefficient.
Check delivery, cleaning and unloading augers for rolled edges, sharp edges or damaged flighting.
TLC for tractors
While doing winter maintenance on planters and combines is usually the first thing that comes to mind, making sure tractors receive a little TLC is just as important for the upcoming season.
Some of the first inspection points recommended by Case IH are the belts, engine air filters and cab air filters.
Whether it’s squealing belts, engine lag or poor cab air quality, making sure these items are inspected and replaced if needed is crucial to tractor efficiency.
Other areas to inspect are the battery, fluids and filters. Hard starts, sluggish performance or loss of power decreases a tractor’s efficiency and ability to get a job done.
Ensuring these areas are examined will keep farmers moving during the busy season.
The last inspection point is grease. By ensuring the quality of this checkpoint, costly downtime can be avoided.
Using a grease joint rejuvenator will quickly break up and dissolve blockages in grease joints without having to replace fittings.
While it is half way through winter, Case IH experts also offer tips on how to store equipment during harsh winter weather.
The first is to always store equipment with a full fuel tank. Empty tanks are prone to water condensation, which can lead to bacteria growth in the fuel system.
Another tip is to check fluids. Fluids can be corrosive fallout and abrasives that could eat away at parts if left for long periods.
Also make sure antifreeze is up to par for the winter.
Lastly, to help maintain battery life during long storage months, ensure a safe and efficient charger is ready to go.
Doing routine maintenance checks during the winter can save time this spring when the busy growing season gets under way.
If you still are a little foggy on where to start, Jennings and Hagen have the solution. They suggest asking the local dealership for checklists.
These lists usually give a good maintenance overview of what needs to be done during the winter.
Source - http://www.theprairiestar.com/
