Tractor Service Guide
Tractor maintenance is crucial to having a functional machine that can help you with your agricultural and landscaping tasks. While you might think that means you have to bring your tractor into a service bay all the time, the truth is that there are many tractor service jobs you can do yourself at home with the right tools and knowledge.
Boehm Tractor Sales in Shiner is your Texas tractor dealer. Read on to learn more about ways you can service your tractor and keep it in good working condition.
1. Consult Your Owner’s Manual
While you don’t have to peruse every single page of the manual that came with your tractor, it’s a good idea to look it over and keep it somewhere easy to access. The owner’s manual provides you with all the information you need to tune up and take care of your specific tractor make and model. Use the manual to make note of any maintenance performed or parts that you replace.
2. Check Radiator Fluid
Tractors are often serviced because their engines overheat, and one major cause of overheating is insufficient radiator fluid. Check your radiator fluid levels daily and top it off as necessary. If you notice a sudden drop in fluid, this indicates a serious problem that requires the attention of a professional mechanic.
3. Change Oil
The oil in your engine helps to lubricate it and keep all the motor parts running smoothly. Check engine oil on a warmed-up engine (turn on your tractor, let it run a few minutes, then shut it off) instead of a cold engine. If you see sludgy and dark oil, you’ll need to change it and the oil filter at the same time. Clear and runny oil can simply be topped off.
4. Inspect Tires
Next up, you’ll want to check your tire pressure and condition. Tractor tires take a lot of abuse and if they’re not properly inflated, they might cause you to have an accident or you may damage the tractor itself. Use a tire-pressure gauge to measure the air pressure in each tire and air them up to the psi levels specified in your owner’s manual or on the tire sidewall. You may want to adjust the pressure when planning to do different tasks: more pressure for driving on pavement, less pressure for tilling.
Inspect each tire as you check its air pressure for any signs of wear or damage. Worn treads, punctures, cracks in the sidewall and embedded objects all need to be promptly addressed. Get bad tires repaired or replaced immediately; don’t drive on them!
5. Fill Up With Fuel
Having sufficient gas is important because, well, your tractor can’t run without it. However, it’s not good enough to just use any gasoline; you have to use the right kind of fuel and it must be fresh. Your owner’s manual will recommend the appropriate fuel for your tractor so make sure to use that.
Also, if you’ve left your tractor standing for a while or you plan to store it for several weeks or months, you’re going to need to add a fuel stabilizer to the tank. Fuel stabilizer helps to prevent water separating out from the fuel, which can lead to corrosion in your tank.
If you come across a major issue with your tractor that you can’t address at home, don’t hesitate to contact the Boehm Tractor Sales service department. Our team of mechanics will be more than happy to help you out however we can with a service appointment. Seeking a new tractor instead? Browse our website to check out our great selection of new and used tractors for sale at our Shiner, TX, dealership location. Boehm Tractor Sales proudly serves the city of Seguin, as well as the greater Austin, TX, metropolitan area.