Your tractor was in storage all winter and now that spring has arrived, you’re ready to take it into the field.
Before you do, check a few things to avoid breakdowns and ensure your tractor performs to expectations.
Before you start the tractor, check the fuel. If it is more than three months old, drain it or use diesel fuel conditioner. It will save you the grief of horsepower problems, rough running and smoking. It wouldn’t hurt to change the fuel filters either.
Before you move the tractor, loosen all drain plugs and release any moisture that has collected from condensation over the winter. And of course, check the oil levels.
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Also, be sure to replace both air cleaner filters, as per instructions in the operator’s manual.
Tires are another key consideration. Start by checking the air pressure on all tires. For duals, the air pressure for outer tires should be no more than three pounds less than the inner tires.
Too much difference can cause power hop.
As a general rule, set the rear tire pressure to the minimum allowable and the front to the maximum.
It might also be a good time to check the air conditioner. It is quite common for freon gas to leak through the compressor seal over winter. There should be a sight glass somewhere in the air conditioning system. You should see some bubbles immediately when the clutch kicks in.
If the bubbles stay, the system is low on freon. If there are no bubbles, the system is either empty or overfilled. The inspection should take place in a building or outside, when it is warm enough for the compressor to cut in.
Check the high idle on your tractor as per your operator’s manual. Many horsepower complaints can be corrected by setting the high idle. Usually it’s just that the throttle isn’t pulling the lever against the pump stop.
Also, check maintenance logs to see when you last changed the anti-freeze. Coolant should be changed every two years. Older antifreeze might still keep the engine block from freezing, but the water pump lubricant contained in the coolant only lasts for two years.
You could also check the tractor for oil leaks.
If there is some buildup of oil and dirt on the inside of your rims, you may have an axle seal leak.
Jack up the axle housing until the weight comes off the wheels. If there is any free play, you need to get it fixed.
If the front crankshaft seal is leaking, it could signal that you are filling the engine too full. More than likely, too much engine oil was added.
Finally, it wouldn’t hurt to check every nut and bolt on the tractor, especially the wheel bolts.
Also, check the belts on the front of the engine.
If you own an older tractor, consider taking it to a dealer and have the machine checked out on a dynamo-meter for a minimum of one hour.
Henry Guenter is a retired service manager for Massey Ferguson.
