A tractor is unquestionably an essential piece of agricultural machinery you should consider using on your farm, regardless of whether you plant rice, corn, or other crops.
With such equipment, you can perform several tasks more efficiently, as a wide range of attachments and implements can be used to improve your work efficiency.
If you have been using your tractor for some time and have been neglecting its maintenance, you might have noticed that it performs strangely due to improper usage or inadequate maintenance.
To help you improve your tractor´s performance, this article discusses the top ways to maintain tractors and must-have maintenance parts.
Top Ways to Enhance the Performance of the Tractor
Get new tires
The choice of your tractor’s tires will significantly impact its performance. Be sure to consider the environment and terrain when choosing tires.
Bias-ply tires, for example, have stronger sidewalls, which makes them suitable for use on rough terrain when obstacles and debris are present. They are more cost-effective to replace, repair and maintain.
However, radial tires are a better choice when it comes to harder terrain.
Using these tires can improve fuel economy and efficiency by lowering the air pressure.
Additionally, they prevent wheel slippage and compaction. Use the lowest recommended pressure for your radial tires for the best performance.
Use quality fluids
Choosing the right fuel for your tractor will impact its performance.
To protect gears, clutches, pumps, transmissions, hydraulic systems, and other vehicle components during production, chemical additives are usually added to the assembly process for high-quality fluids.
In the long run, budget fluids might cost more than premium fluids, but they might initially seem attractive.
Try Gear up Throttle down (GUTD)
A tractor’s engine can be operated at maximum load to conserve fuel, but using the equipment’s full horsepower is not always necessary.
As a result, if you wish to improve tractor performance while reducing fuel consumption, you will find it beneficial to practice the Gear up Throttle Down (GUTD). Essentially, it’s a fuel-saving method to save fuel by reducing the load on the drawing bar when the drawbar is lighter to increase tractor performance.
Usually, this is done by changing to a higher gear and reducing the engine Revolutions per minute (RPM) simultaneously, thus maintaining the desired field speed.
When practicing GUTD, the engine should only supply less than 70% of the power requirements. Also, be careful not to overload the engine.
Refer to the operator’s manual for the recommended rpm range.
Inspect your tractor often
Tractor´s performance is influenced by several factors, including inflation pressure, tire size, load rating, and the number of tires.
Proper tire adjustment requires regular inspection, and improperly inflated tires often cause uneven or premature wear.
Top Replacement Parts For Tractor Maintenance
Regarding tractor maintenance and repair, several replacement parts are essential.
Tractors can have a wide range of problems. Having the right parts available can help you repair or replace your equipment quickly, so you can get back to farming.
Filters
There is no clean-up work for tractors, and as a result, they naturally get dirty.
Various filters filter critical components that throw up dirt, debris, and dust during work.
If you want to replace old, dirty, air, hydraulic, and fuel filters, you may need extra oil filters.
Replacement belts
Several belts keep your tractor’s engine and other components running. The belts of alternator generators, fans, and air compressors can break, crack, or loosen over time.
Finding a belt for your specific tractor model at your local dealership or tractor supply store may not always be possible.
If your tractor is approaching the 200-hour mark, plan for replacement belts to avoid prolonged downtime due to a quick and easy swap.
Light bulbs
The inconvenience of replacing burned-out bulbs might seem minor, but it always pays off in the long run. You can ignore a slightly darker room in your house for weeks.
However, tractor light bulbs are designed to ensure your safety and those around you.
Check to see what light bulbs you need for your headlights, taillights, warning lights, etc.
Take note of what bulbs you need in each case. If a burned-out bulb should come out, replace it with a new one and keep it nearby, such as in your tool shed, garage, or even in the cab of larger utility tractors.
Oil and fuels
While the filters do their best to keep the oil clean, it still accumulates dirt and can clog your tractor or stall. Hydraulic and engine oil are needed for regular maintenance, so have plenty on hand.
Some subcompact tractors have a low hydraulic filter that is susceptible to damage from rough terrain. With a compact tractor, you can quickly run out of hydraulic oil if you break your filter or something else happens.
Fluids and coolants
To keep your equipment’s engine running, you must keep its oil and fuel full. On top of that, your tractor relies on many other fluids to run efficiently.
Taking the time each day to check the fuel level, the transmission fluid, and the engine coolant should be a part of your daily routine in terms of preventative maintenance.
Adding fuel to empty tanks should also be part of your daily routine.
Keeping the engine coolant clean can prevent internal damage, rust, or clogs, leading to much bigger engine problems.
In addition to many modern tractors, new ones are made with combined systems that allow the machine and an attachment to share hydraulic or transmission fluid.
Your tractor and the implements you use to operate it must have full tanks of clean fluid to ensure they continue to work at full capacity.
Conclusion
A tractor that performs well will boost your productivity while reducing fuel consumption. Using this agricultural machinery in your farm business requires this level of care.
These tips will help you improve tractor performance.
Besides this, remember to perform preventive maintenance as well! Maintaining peak performance and extending the lifespan of farm machinery can be achieved by regularly inspecting and servicing it.
B.E (Mechanical) Mumbai, MBA – ISB, Hyderabad (2011)
Managing Director at Atrac Engineering Co (manufacturers and exporters of aftermarket engine parts)
Member of EO Navi Mumbai.
Hobbies include avid fitness enthusiast – crossfit, golf and trekking.
