Checking machinery in the cold season helps save time and money
Checking equipment before the start of the new season is one of the things farmers can do during the cold season. IPSO Agriculture, the exclusive distributor of Bednar FMT implements in Romania, offers farmers some useful tips on how to maintain farm machinery during the winter to avoid possible repairs during the season.
What needs to be checked? How can problems that may arise during the campaign be prevented? What spare parts do you need on the farm? We will try to answer these questions in the following lines.
Check machinery before the start of the new season
Preparing the machines in time for the new season is a necessary operation that is carried out to avoid downtime during the campaign when the machine needs repairs. Basic checks include the following points:
- replacing worn spare parts;
- check all screws;
- checking all safety pins;
- checking the entire electrical circuit;
- lubricate all points with the lubricant required for connection;
- checking the lubricant level in automatic greasing;
- checking tyre pressure;
- check the entire hydraulic circuit.
Why is it necessary to check machines before the campaign?
Doing field work with worn spare parts can seriously damage the machine frame, resulting in incorrect machine operation and increased power requirements.
Own stock of spare parts
Wear and tear and breakage of working parts during the harvest can be a major problem. Therefore, farmers need to have their own stock of spare parts adapted to the needs on the farm. Also, the breakage of a working part that needs to be replaced as soon as possible in order to keep the machine running in optimal conditions is another reason for having their own stock of spare parts.
More often than not, operating a machine without working parts can lead to further breakdowns. This can be more costly than immediately replacing the damaged part. Farmers who want their machinery to perform at its optimum should consider all these elements.
There is no formula for how many spare parts you should have on your farm. The level of stock depends on the number of machines and the complexity of tillage. Farmers' experience shows that it is necessary to have at least the spare parts needed to equip the whole machine.
