After reading this article you will learn about the points to be kept in mind regarding care and maintenance of farm machinery:- 1. Maintenance of Tractor 2. Maintenance of Combine Harvester 3. Maintenance of Combine Harvester 4. Maintenance of Farm Implements
Maintenance of Tractor:
Tractor has most important role in agriculture. It is head of farm machinery. If the head is healthy, then only it can take work from other members of the family. Every tractor company provides an operator manual with the tractor which contains all the information about its care and maintenance.
Servicing of a tractor after 10, 50, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 hours is very important. The tractor should be got overhauled after using it for 4000 hours from a good workshop.
After season, when we do not require tractor for long period, following points must be taken care of during long term storage or parking of a tractor:
1. Park the tractor under a shed after properly washing and cleaning it.
2. If there is any requirement of small repair or there is any oil leakage; get it repaired before storage. The lubrication oil level in the engine should be maintained up to the marked level.
3. All greasing points should be cleaned with diesel and should be re-filled with new grease.
4. Clean the battery with hot water and coat the battery terminals with petroleum jelly after properly cleaning them. If the tractor is to be stored for very long period, batteries should be removed from the tractor and occasionally charge the battery.
5. Generally, tractors are required for petty operations during off-season. To keep it ready for any work, farmers should start and operate the tractor for some time at least once or twice a month. By doing so, various parts and seals of the tractor will get lubricated.
6. For long term storage, jack up the tractor and put it on wooden blocks to avoid load on tyres. We should also reduce the air pressure in tyres.
7. Always park the tractor in the neutral gear, in switched off position and apply parking brakes.
8. Cover the exhaust pipe and engine breather with some cloth to protect entry of moisture in it.
9. Occasionally clean the air cleaner.
Maintenance of Combine Harvester:
Like tractor, combine harvester is also an expensive machinery. Engine is the part of self-propelled combine harvester. So, while storing self-propelled combine harvesters, all the points related with tractor should also be followed as applicable.
In addition to this, the following points should also be kept in mind:
1. Grain tanks, conveyors, straw walkers and sieves should be properly cleaned and all the dirt, straw, chaff, grains etc. should be removed. Un-cleaned combine can become home for rodents who can further damage electrical circuits, pipes etc. and can result in huge damage to the machinery.
2. Combine harvester is mainly made of sheet metal which gets rusted due to moisture. So it is very important to store combine harvester under shed. If shed is not available, cover the machine under a polythene sheet to protect it from moisture and dust. Paint all the parts where paint has taken off.
3. All repairs should be done and worn out parts should be replaced before storage because at that time we have knowledge that which part is to be replaced and which part is to be repaired. If it is not possible at that time, we should note down the information about the fault and the list of parts to be replaced/repaired so that the repair could be done during free time.
4. Remove all the belts and store at safe place by putting identification mark on them. This will help in re-installation.
5. Chains should be properly cleaned with the diesel and a thin layer of grease should be applied over them.
6. Lubrication oil should be applied over the rubbing parts. Grease should be filled in the greasing points after properly cleaning them with diesel.
Maintenance of Farm Implements:
For maintenance of farm implements, keep following points in mind:
1. Follow points mentioned at Sr. No. 2 to 6 for maintenance of combine harvesters.
2. During season, after working for 4-6 hours, lubricate the axle bearings/bushes with oil or grease. If machine is fitted with ball bearings, lubricate them after 3-4 days with grease.
3. Farmers should clean the grain and fertilizer boxes and metering mechanism of seed drills daily otherwise they will get corroded/damaged due to fertilizer. While storing for long period, apply a thin layer of lubrication oil after thoroughly cleaning the boxes. If seed or fertilizer is left, they will harm seed and fertilizer box and metering mechanism of the machine and the machine will not work properly when it is desired.
4. Soil working tools of machines such as furrow openers of cultivators and seed drills, discs of disc harrow, blades of rotavator and straw chopper, blades of diggers and cutter bar of harvesting machines etc. should be coated with grease or lubricating oil after thoroughly washing and cleaning them to protect from rusting.
5. Machine should be kept on wooden blocks or bricks to avoid contact with soil.
6. Wash the spray pumps with fresh water before and after using them. Always take clean water while using them. After use, operate the empty pump for a while to drain water from spray lines and then store it after drying.
7. Plastic pipes, rubber parts, belts etc. should be prevented from direct sunlight. By keeping in mind the above mentioned points, we can improve the working life of the machine. The machine will be always ready for use when it’s needed and we will also not face any problem during next operating season.