Makeli Phiri
I AM not an agricultural engineer but I have worked with tractors before. Recently, I visited a farm a well established or I can say mechanised because they own a number of farm machinery amongst them three tractors for use on the farm.
Tractors can be used to perform different tasks of course with help of the operator. My interest was attracted to one of the oldest machines on the farm. This tractor has served this farmer for close to 30 years with very minor problems.
The question I asked, what was the secret behind this tractor. This is what I would like to share with other farmers in this article today.
If a tractor is to serve its owner well, it must receive regular maintenance attention. If it does not receive this attention stoppages due to mechanical breakdowns are likely to occur. But what should be known is that all tractors no matter the make, manufacturers do provide instruction books for use by the tractor operator and in those books full details of servicing and maintenance are given.
The form in which this information is given is generally such that servicing attention to the various parts of the tractor is recommended to be carried out at regular intervals during certain activities to which the tractor may be used.
Some items may require attention daily when the tractor is in use, others every so many hours of tractor use.
If this servicing procedure is to be carried out on the basis of hours worked, some record of the hours worked by the tractor ought to be kept. A tractor log book in which the operator can record work times is useful for this.
The type of servicing and maintenance done, quantities of fuel and oils used, etc. can also be in the log.
Most tractors, especially the improved models, have been fitted with an instrument called proof meter which records the engine speed, p.t.o. (power take off) speed, belt or pulley speed, ground speed (km/h.) and how the engine has been running and the operator then can do the necessary serving according to that which is recommended.
To maintain the life of a tractor, the following is a typical service and maintenance scheme for such a machine as a tractor would be as follows:
Daily attention
- Check the oil level in the engine sump and fill up to full mark on the dipstick if necessary
- Check the water level in the radiator and fill up if necessary
- Check the oil level in the oil bath air cleaner and clean out dirt if necessary. To move any heavy trash from the filter screen.
- Lubricate steering linkages with grease gun
Next, every 50 working hours:
- Remove the air cleaner oil container and also the filter. Wash out the container and refill with engine oil. Wash the filter screen thoroughly in diesel fuel.
- Check the oil level in the gearbox and fill up to the full mark on the dipstick if necessary.
- Check the oil in the rear axle and fill up to full mark on the dipstick if necessary.
- Lubricate front and rear wheel bearings
- Lubricate clutch cross-shaft
- Lubricate brake pedal shaft.
- Check tyres and inflate to correct pressures.
- Top up battery with distilled water and clean the battery terminals.
Every 200 hours:
- Remove and clean engine air breather filter, lightly oil the filter mesh.
- Drain the engine lubricating oil and refill the sump with new oil.
- Remove the engine external oil filter element, wash out the bowl and refit a new element.
- Lubricate the generator.
- Check the oil in the steering box.
- Drain and flush the cooling system.
Every 600 hours:
- Remove the diesel fuel filter element, wash out the bowl and fit a new element.
- Remove the fuel injectors and replace with a service set.
Every 1, 000 hours:
- Drain the gearbox lubricating oil and refill the sump with new oil
- Drain the rear axle lubricating oil. Remove and clean the hydraulic pump filter screen and magnetic filters. Replace filters and refill the sump with new oil.
The items mentioned in the servicing and maintenance scheme here are nearly all concerned with lubrication attention. There are other necessary points of attention required in the use of a tractor.
For example, brakes will require adjusting periodically, the clutch pedal movement and the fan belt tension will require also. These adjustments are made as required, and operators instructions applicable to the tractor.
A good tractor operator will also keep his tractor clean and will occasionally check the tightness of nuts and bolts that may have loosened due to vibration.
This, I wanted to share with all those owning tractors on the farms. The tractor is a very essential item on the farm and indeed helps to lighten farm work to relieve work oxen that might have been engaged in farming activities.
