Are you a farmer? Do you have farm equipment? If yes, you should ensure the equipment is well maintained. The farm machinery is costly, and when it breaks down, you’ll spend a significant amount of money on repairs. When the farm machinery breaks down unexpectedly, your productivity will be affected, considering you won’t be able to handle certain activities on time, such as planting or harvesting.
Safety is a major concern when it comes to farm machinery. If the machinery is not well maintained, some of the issues that will come about include operator injuries and property damage. When the machinery is well maintained, the chances of breaking down are low. Also, the risks will be less. Well-maintained machinery can also fetch a reasonable price since the resale value won’t be affected.
You may wonder why some farmers neglect the farm equipment. The main issue is that they lack the necessary knowledge regarding taking care of the expensive, big, and bulky machines.
Some of the farm equipment maintenance tips to consider include:
1. Lubricate the Farm Equipment
Ensure all the moving parts of the farm equipment are lubricated. The lubricants help to reduce friction while also improving the life expectancy of the farm equipment and parts. You should purchase a lubricant that is of good quality. Before applying lubricant, you should clean up the farm equipment first. For the farm equipment to run well, the dirt and buildups should be cleared out.
2. Ensure You Have the Right Operator Training
Some farms usually have several farm equipment operators. You should ensure that each operator is up to date with any information regarding operation and maintenance requirements. The supervisor or manager should also be kept in the loop.
When the operators learn about how to handle the farm machinery effectively, they will manage to adhere to the maintenance schedule. They will also handle the farm equipment well.
The operators should also have access to the manuals such that they can polish up their understanding of instances when the machine is needed. If the manual seems challenging, it means the section that talks about maintenance should be rewritten such that everyone can easily understand everything.
3. Understand the Signs of Wear and Tear
Those who know the farm equipment well can tell when something is about to go wrong. Some of the signs of wear and tear include shock, vibration, friction, and overheating. You should also keep a close eye on some of the signs that indicate the farm equipment needs to be serviced before any major issue comes about.
4. Ensure You Have a Schedule
The farm life is busy, and you may end up forgetting when the farm equipment needs to be repaired or serviced. Ensure you have a schedule and adhere to it strictly. Also, you should have records of previous maintenance and repairs that need to be done.
You should also keep tabs on the operators who operate and maintain the farm equipment such that you can easily determine who is not as competitive or who causes significant damage to the equipment. The main issue is mishandling the equipment, and that is why you should keep a close eye on the operators to ensure they’re handling the machinery well.
5. Keep Machinery Clean
If the farm equipment is dirty, you’ll have a hard time detecting signs of wear and tear. The machinery is supposed to be clean such that any signs of danger can be detected easily, including grease build-ups and oil leaks. Proper cleaning maintenance should be carried out, including buildup removal and filter cleaning.
Proper maintenance ensures the farm machinery stays in great shape for prolonged periods. Also, the farm equipment will be more reliable.
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