How to Get Your Tractor Ready for Spring
As the weather begins to get warmer and the sun lingers in the sky longer in the evening, thoughts of spring come to mind. With the planting season approaching, this is the best time to start preparing. The long winter months will have taken their toll on your machines, leaving them not quite ready for spring just yet.
That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help you get started by prepping your tractor. If you have any questions or want to explore tractors for sale, visit Bobcat of Pittsburgh/Erie/Indiana County. We are your local tractor dealership with multiple locations throughout Pennsylvania. We also proudly serve all those in Indiana and Ohio.
Inspect Your Tractor
When your tractor sits in storage for an extended period of time, various issues can creep up. Inspecting your tractor helps you catch these issues early on, allowing you to get them addressed before you need to use your tractor. The inspection process may need to start with washing your tractor. All that time in storage could have left a layer of grime, which can make it harder for you to spot problems and can also cause damage to your tractor's exterior if left on for too long.
Next, look over your tractor for any red flags. Test the various parts from the lights to the brakes. Keep in mind that small problems can snowball into other issues or larger issues, so it's wise (and more cost-effective) to get problems addressed right away.
Handle Any Tractor Maintenance
A little proactive tractor maintenance can help improve its performance and extend its lifespan. Lubricate all the moving parts on your tractor. Inspect the fluid levels for quality and top off anything that is low. Make sure the battery did not drain during storage. If it's been weeks or months, your tractor battery is probably completely dead and won't be able to start up your tractor. You'll need to connect the battery to a charger.
When a tractor sits in storage for an extended time, the brakes can get rusted. This can cause an accident, crash, or other safety issues. Go for a quick drive and test your brakes before your spring work starts up.
It's also wise to consult the tractor's owner's manual to see if there are any specific tasks you need to do. If you didn’t add a fuel stabilizer before storing your tractor, you’ll have to replace the fuel in spring. It's especially important for gas tractors, but also important for diesel tractors. Drain out the old fuel, dispose of it, and fill up the tank with fresh fuel.
We hope that this guide was helpful! If you want more tips or want to shop tractors, head over to Bobcat of Pittsburgh/Erie/Indiana County. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist you in finding the right model for your budget and needs. We have locations throughout Pennsylvania, and we proudly serve all those in Ohio and Indiana.