7 maintenance checks to extend the life of your tractor

Sunup to sundown, your tractor works as hard as you do. From dirt and untamed fields to grueling conditions and long hours, they take on the task at hand to ensure you stay at peak productivity. But even the hardest working tractors need maintenance and care to keep them—and your farm, ranch or business—running at their best.

To help you get a jump start on maximizing the life of your tractor and minimizing downtime next season, we’ve pulled together the top things to check off your list for at-home tractor maintenance. 

Look under the hood

It’s a good idea to see how things are doing under the hood every week or so—especially if you’re driving on bumpy or rough terrain. Check hoses, belts, spark plugs and tubes to make sure they’re all intact and working correctly. If anything needs repair or replacement, contact your local parts and service team right away.

Test tire pressure

Take a walk around your machine at the end of each day to check for any damage, punctures or excessive wear. You should also check each tire’s pressure regularly—which can help spot any leaks.

Grab the grease

Check oil levels and lubricate your machine routinely. That could mean anytime between 200 to 1000 hours, depending on your tractor model and how often you use it. Lubricating internal parts like hinges and zerks can help reduce friction and corrosion.

 Let air filters breathe

Between dust, dirt and debris, it’s important to let air filters have some time to breathe. After every 50 hours or so, clean or replace filters and wipe off engine fan blades. It might just extend your tractor’s life a few years.

 Keep it clean

Working the land means getting dirty, but even tractors need to be hosed off regularly. We recommend using a power washer to clean your machine once a week to avoid any dirt buildup or rust forming – and give it a deep clean if you’re parking it for winter. You may even want to touch up dings or add a rust prevention coating to any spots you notice.

Remember safety first

From riding your tractor to maintaining it, safety should always come first. So, it only makes sense that checking safety features like lights, indicators and switches should be a regular practice. It can even be helpful to keep spare bulbs on hand for quick switches.

Log your checks

If you have multiple tractors or pieces of farm equipment, log your routine checks to track the health of your fleet over time. You can compare against previous logs or just pinpoint any issues earlier on.

 Pro Tip: Giving your tractor a routine once-over can help identify any potential problems or signs of wear before they become more serious issues – and know when to bring your tractor in for service.