Tractors are an investment. Protecting that investment means taking care to ensure regular maintenance is being performed and repairs are being done properly to keep your tractors operating smoothly for years to come. But repairing the tractors of today is no small task. There are simple repairs that can be taken care of by the owner, and others that are best left to the trusted knowledge and expertise of a professional service technician.
The service technicians at TriGreen Equipment are here to provide you with guidance on when to have your tractor maintenance performed, offer insight on the most common types of tractor repairs, and help you to recognize when a repair requires a more experienced touch.
Consult Your Owner’s Manual for Regular Tractor Service
Your guide to proper maintenance of your tractor is the owner’s manual. Inside you’ll find that the manufacturer has provided you with service intervals for filter changes, oil changes and more. The pages with this information will often be organized into a maintenance schedule, allowing you to track the dates you’ve serviced your tractor and what services were performed.
Tracking Your Tractor’s Hours of Operation
You will notice that the intervals are measured in hours of operation, rather than miles. Keeping accurate records of hours used is critical, especially if you are using older equipment that does not have a built-in hour meter that you can reference. Estimating hours of operation is generally acceptable, but try to be as accurate as possible when doing so.
Tractor owners should also pay close attention to how much time passes between intervals. The owner’s manual may recommend changing the oil every 100 hours, but some operators may not even come close to that total in a year. The service technician’s rule of thumb is to change the oil at the recommended interval or at least once a year -- whichever comes first.
Common Tractor Repairs
Preventive maintenance is essential to the smooth operation of your equipment, but not all problems can be avoided. Having a basic understanding of the most common types of tractor repairs can help you decide whether to tackle a problem on your own or turn to your nearest professional service technician for help in addressing the issue.
Sharpening Dull Blades
To perform tasks effectively and efficiently, tractors need to have sharp blades. Unfortunately, they wear down over time, and dull blades can slow you down or result in lower quality work. But the good news is that you’ll often only have to sharpen your tractor blades twice in a typical year and the sharpening process can be done on your own if you have a smaller model with a single-blade mowing deck. All you have to do is remove the blade and sharpen it with a file.
If you are dealing with a larger model tractor, it is best to have a professional service technician sharpen the blades to avoid causing inadvertent damage when removing or re-inserting a blade.
Fuel System Repairs
If you are noticing performance issues with your tractor, the source of the problem can often be the fuel system. When the components that transport fuel to the engine fail, the low fuel pressure can reduce the power of your tractor and compromise its overall performance. The fuel control lever on the engine is a perfect example. If that lever is jammed, fuel will struggle to make it to the engine. Spraying lubricant can be a simple and effective solution in some cases.
Ultimately, you may need to have a service technician test and inspect the fuel system.
Electrical System Maintenance
When there are electrical issues with your tractor, all roads tend to lead back to the battery. If the culprit is a drained battery, all you may need to do is charge it to resume normal operation. But you may also want to check the posts and cables for deposits that have built up over time. Make a habit of cleaning the posts regularly to keep them clear of build-up.
If you the battery fails to hold a charge or you are still experiencing electrical issues after clearing and cleaning the posts and cables, take it to a service technician to diagnose the problem.
Spark Plug Replacement
Your owner’s manual will provide guidance on when to replace the spark plugs in your tractor’s engine, but there are also warning signs to look out for that could signal they need to be replaced. Hard starts, low fuel consumption, and low performance are among the typical symptoms of a spark plug that has gone bad or been damaged.
Spark plugs can be replaced on your own, so long as you abide by proper safety precautions and shut off the engine, allow it to cool to the touch, and disconnect the spark plug write to prevent accidental starting. If you are not comfortable replacing the spark plug yourself, a professional service technician can have it replaced in no time at all.
Tractor Repair by a John Deere Service Technician
Sometimes the toughest -- but best -- course of action can be to recognize that the best hands are not your own. There is no shame in taking your tractor to a John Deere service technician, especially when you consider how critical the operation of your tractors is to your livelihood. You rely on them to run properly year round, and a professional service technician is often the person best equipped to diagnose the problem and make the necessary repairs.
When you need comprehensive and reliable coverage for your agricultural, commercial mowing, and residential equipment service needs, trust the professionals.