Tractor Maintenance

Tractors are durable, reliable, and powerful pieces of equipment that make hard work much easier. These machines are so useful for so many different jobs that we might take that reliability for granted. To keep your tractor in operating condition for years if not decades to come, you’ll want to keep to regular maintenance. While that might mean spendy service shop visits, proper tractor maintenance starts at home with some preventative care.

At Mike Cooper Tractors, we think maintenance is vital for any operation that depends on a tractor for daily work. With a bit of knowledge, you’ll be able to fix or prevent basic mechanical issues. Read on for more information, or if you get stuck and need the pros, don’t hesitate to call or head into our location in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, where we’re proud to serve Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, and Tahlequah.

Visual Inspection

Every bit of maintenance is best started with a visual inspection. Before you even touch the tractor, take a moment to give it a good once over while looking for any obvious problems that stick out. Check for leaks, loose hoses, or misplaced cables. Leaks can be fixed with some extra tightening of attachments or making sure a hose is connected properly. Also, look at the glass sediment bowl under the fuel filter. If there’s water or material in there, that means there could be something wrong with the fuel, fuel filter, or engine, and it might need to be taken into the shop.

Radiator Fluid and Engine Oil

Having enough coolant and lubricant for your engine and radiator are extremely important when running a heavy piece of equipment all day. Overheating an engine is a great way to waste a lot of time and money in the service shop. So check radiator fluid daily and top it off as needed. While you should have gradual fluid loss, needing to replace a lot of coolant daily is a sign there might be a problem. If you think this is the case, take care to check periodically through the day, and if it’s clearly an issue, don’t hesitate to have the tractor serviced.

Engine oil is an important lubricant that keeps things running smoothly under the hood. Just like your coolant or the oil in your car or truck, you need to check the engine oil on your tractor regularly. However, don’t check the oil on a cold engine. Start up the tractor and let it run for a couple minutes. Shut it off then wait a few more minutes. Then check the dipstick like you would on another vehicle: take it out, wipe it off, reinsert, then pull it out again for a clear reading. The oil should be light in color, but if it’s discolored and sludgy then it’s time for an oil change and filter replacement. Otherwise top levels off to the indicated level and move on.

Fuel

You might be surprised how important fresh fuel is for your tractor. Hopefully you’re running it enough that this isn’t an issue, but even the hardest working tractors usually get some time during the off-season to sit around without operating. If you plan to store your tractor for more than a week or two, you’ll want to pick up a fuel stabilizer to add to the tank. This will keep water from collecting or separating out of the fuel, which can either rust right through the tank or else get sucked into the engine and cause all kinds of issues. The same goes for storing backup fuel. Just make sure to use the freshest gas or diesel you can!

Tires

Tractor tires are big and expensive, so it’s a good idea to keep them operational for as long as you can. It’s unwise and unsafe to work on tires with too-low air pressure, so take a minute to check with a simple pressure gauge. You’ll find the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure in PSI either printed on the tire wall, in your owner’s manual, or on the manufacturer’s website.

Though it’s good to follow if you’re not sure what to set it to, we recommend adjusting it a little for particular tasks. For instance, if you’ll be driving on the road, the tires should have a few extra pounds of pressure so they hold firm on the rough pavement. On the other hand, when tilling, you can drop the pressure a few pounds below the recommended setting. When loading, you want more pressure in the front tires, and if hauling something heavy, the rear tires could use a few extra pounds.

That might sound like a lot to take care of, but your tractor already does so much for you. Why not take the time to ensure your most reliable piece of equipment lasts a long time and keeps operating effectively? You’ll save money and create a sense of pride for such a well maintained machine! Just remember that serious problems need serious solutions, so if you’re tractor needs service or repair, head to Mike Cooper Tractors in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. We proudly serve Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, and Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Come in today and let our team of tractor experts answer all your questions and help you find what you’re looking for.