During the winter, the Commonwealth experiences a clash of contrasting air masses – the icy, dry air from the Arctic meets the humid, warmer air from the tropics. This interaction results in substantial precipitation and fluctuating temperatures.
The primary concern for agricultural machinery isn’t just the cold but also unpredictable weather patterns. These conditions significantly threaten equipment, especially if not stored properly.
Effective storage methods are crucial for preserving batteries, fuels, lubricants, electrical parts, and machinery, safeguarding them against the effects of moisture, extreme cold, and condensation.
What guidance do leading agricultural machinery producers offer? Top farm equipment manufacturers have devised specific winter care strategies for their machines. You can find detailed recommendations from each brand after this article.
While there may be variations among different brands, their guidelines generally emphasize key maintenance practices:
- Thoroughly clean machinery and shield any bare metal surfaces.
- Regularly monitor and maintain fluid levels.
- Allocate time for significant repairs.
- Refer to your equipment’s manual for additional recommendations.
- Inspect and maintain batteries and tires, ensuring they are charged and inflated as needed.
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Essential Winter Maintenance for Farm Equipment
With the onset of colder months, focusing on the meticulous upkeep of your agricultural machinery is imperative. This isn’t just routine work but an essential step to guarantee seamless functionality.
Here’s a guide to ensure your farming tools remain pristine throughout winter and are primed for action come spring.
- Stockpile Spare Parts and Supplies for Your Farm Equipment
Make sure your stock of spare parts is replenished. This foresight spares you the inconvenience of braving the cold to address unexpected mechanical failures.
Inspect your farming tools for any damages or wear before storing them. Promptly addressing these repairs ensures you’re well-equipped for spring’s arrival, averting potential malfunctions or degradation during the colder months.
Rely on expert services for farm machinery repairs for accurate and dependable results. Professional inspections and repairs save time and enhance efficiency during critical planting periods.
- Thoroughly Clean Your Farm Equipment
Ensure your combine harvesters, planters, tillers, and other farm implements are free of dust and grime.
Eliminate all traces of dirt, seeds, or other debris to reduce the risk of pest infestation. Utilize tools like air compressors and pressure washers for efficient cleaning. Remember to follow the manual’s guidelines for safe disassembly and reassembly.
- Regularly Check and Maintain Fluid Levels
Before storage, confirm the oil, coolant, and hydraulic fluids levels in your equipment.
Top up the antifreeze to protect your machinery from freezing temperatures. This precaution extends your equipment’s life and peak performance throughout the year.
Keep fuel tanks full to minimize water condensation, thus reducing internal corrosion risks.
- Maintain the Electronics and Wiring of Your Farm Equipment
Agricultural machinery’s electronic components are sensitive to extreme temperatures, as they depend on intricate circuits and sensors.
Keep these systems cool, clean, and dry, and secure all electrical connections. Winter downtime is an opportune time to replace items like LED lights or spark plugs.
- Preserve the Mechanical Parts from Winter’s Harshness
Protect all moving components of your farm machinery from the rigors of cold weather.
Apply winter-grade lubricants to moving parts to prevent stiffness and rust. This care is crucial for bearings, axles, and hinges, ensuring smooth operation and preparing them for spring. Regular checks of these components also enhance the machine’s resale value.
- Source Your Farm Equipment Repair Parts and Tools
If you’re searching for “Farm supplies near me,” consider RangeLine. A leader in agricultural equipment and parts, RangeLine offers top-notch service and customer satisfaction.
Their extensive inventory includes disc blades and custom-sized components, catering to the dynamic needs of farmers nationwide.
While winter maintenance of farm machinery might seem daunting and expensive, reducing downtime in spring leads to improved productivity and better yields. This preparation sets the stage for a successful start to the new season.
Are you prepared to bring your farm equipment to its optimum state?
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Essential Preparation
Embarking on effective management and upkeep of your farm machinery begins with ensuring an ample stock of essential supplies and spare parts.
It’s crucial to have maintenance contracts easily accessible, and to establish a connection with a skilled mechanic who can carry out any necessary repairs or upkeep.
Maintaining a detailed log of all maintenance and repairs in a dedicated service book or journal is vital. This record is not just for tracking purposes; it can significantly enhance the value of your equipment when it’s time to sell or upgrade.
Documentation should be clear and concise. Precise records can translate into financial benefits when trading or selling your machinery.
Outdoor storage can lead to rapid deterioration of farm equipment. To preserve your machinery, it is advisable to conduct maintenance work in a workshop that can accommodate your largest equipment and has suitably large doors for easy access.
After use, clean, dry, and lubricate your equipment before storing it indoors. If indoor storage isn’t feasible, find the most suitable covering option to protect your machinery from the elements.
To prevent rusting, it’s essential to keep moisture away from bearings and critical components, and to avoid washing areas around seals that contain bearings.
Regularly remove any crop residue from engine compartments to prevent potential fire hazards when starting the equipment.
Pay attention to hidden areas where dirt and rust can accumulate, leading to significant damage. Keeping the engine compartment and areas around belts and pulleys free from straw and chaff is important to minimize fire risks.
Specific attention should be given to maintaining cutter blades and cylinder pans in forage harvesters and the knotters in balers.
Apply grease to metal parts or use rust-prevention solutions to extend the lifespan of your equipment.
Conducting an oil analysis can be a proactive step to ensure your machinery functions optimally and detect any hidden issues. This analysis can uncover oil-related problems, contamination, or issues arising from changing oil too frequently or infrequently.
In your indoor maintenance space, allocate sufficient room around the equipment for servicing and workspace, ensuring enough space for workbenches and movement.
Additionally, ensure your workspace is well-insulated and equipped with adequate lighting, heating, and ventilation systems.
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Nurturing Your Farm: A Guide to Winter Readiness
Focusing solely on external modifications to prepare machines for winter is a common mistake. It’s crucial to prioritize internal adjustments, which, though not immediately visible, form the bedrock of your machinery’s winter resilience.
Ensure your farm equipment undergoes regular maintenance checks, such as air filter cleaning or replacement and fluid replenishments. A thorough cleaning to remove accumulated dirt and debris sets the stage for more specific winter preparations.
- Securing Winter Attire Ahead of Time
The sudden arrival of a winter storm can catch you off-guard, especially if you lack appropriate attire. Prioritize your safety by investing in winter-specific clothing.
Procure insulated clothing, ensuring your hands, feet, and head are also well-protected against the cold. Equipped with the right gear, facing the winter outdoors becomes less daunting.
- Re-energizing Your Power Tools
Winter is not just about safeguarding your tools; it’s also an opportunity to prepare for spring. Store away power equipment that isn’t needed during the colder months.
Begin by draining the fuel and cleaning them meticulously. Remember to replace or recharge their batteries, and ensure they are unplugged after charging to prevent any mishaps in your storage area.
- Thorough Maintenance of Machinery
With many farm tools out of use during winter, inspecting, cleaning, and sharpening them before storage is wise. Neglecting this step could lead to deterioration.
Pay attention to all tools, including ripper points, chisel plows, shovels, and hand tools. Post-sharpening, apply oil to prevent rust.
- Strategic Tool Storage
Designate a dry area on your farm for tool storage, such as a barn or shed. This space should protect your tools from moisture, which can cause rust and degradation.
Ensure there is ample space for both small and large machinery and that the area is safeguarded against harsh weather conditions.
- Soil Preparation
While tool maintenance is vital, don’t overlook other farm areas like the soil. Prepare your soil for spring by enriching it with nutrient-rich fertilizers and compost before the onset of consistent snowfall.
This preparation ensures your soil remains fertile and ready for the next planting season.
- Deep Cleaning Storage Spaces
Beyond cleaning your tools, cleaning their storage areas is equally important. A well-maintained storage space eases the transition into the bustling spring season.
- Reviewing Insurance Coverage
With rapid changes in farming, staying updated with your insurance coverage is essential. Assess your insurance needs before winter to ensure you’re fully protected by spring, allowing you to focus on other critical farming aspects.
- Inventory Check
Winter is an ideal time to assess your inventory. It’s the perfect opportunity to consider upgrading outdated equipment or stocking up on necessary tools.
Preparing a comprehensive inventory list for the upcoming season helps efficient planning and procurement.
- Rodent Prevention in Stored Machinery
Effective rodent management begins with thorough cleaning of machinery before storage. Leftover grains, dried hay, chaff, or even insulation material in machinery like tractors can attract rodents, leading to potential damage like gnawed wiring.
To minimize this risk, remove all grain residues, open all traps and doors in combines, and blow out any remaining residues with compressed air.
Additionally, clear forage choppers, hay balers, and tractor transmission housings of crop residues before indoor storage. Employing deterrents like mothballs, rodent traps, and carefully chosen rodenticides can further safeguard your equipment until the next use.
- Choosing the Right Storage for Machinery
The choice of storage for your machinery, whether indoors or outdoors, is crucial and should be made considering the specific needs of each equipment.
Machines like combines or balers may suffer significant damage if left outdoors for extended periods, while tillage equipment might not benefit as much from indoor storage.
Elements like sunlight and moisture can severely affect machinery components such as tires, rubber parts, and paint. Prioritize indoor storage for machinery with high electrical components, significant resale value, or particular vulnerability to weather elements.
It’s also advisable to store machinery separately from hay, especially if the storage area doubles as a workshop, to mitigate the risk of accidents leading to damage.
- Uptime Service: Optimizing Machinery in the Off-Season
Uptime service, offered by many equipment dealers, is a strategic way to manage seasonal workloads and keep technicians active during slower periods.
Typically conducted between December and March, this service thoroughly assesses machinery against expected wear and performs necessary repairs or adjustments. This service benefits equipment like corn planters, balers, combines, and tractors.
Uptime services range from detailed checks, such as removing corn planter units for stationary testing, to basic inspections like verifying clearances and measurements against standard values.
- Winterizing Your Machinery
Before the onset of cold weather, ensuring all equipment with fluid systems is properly winterized is essential. This includes thoroughly flushing and draining pesticide sprayers and preservative applicators.
To safeguard against freezing temperatures, use an RV-type or manufacturer-recommended antifreeze, ensuring enough is added to cover the pump, strainer bodies, and any lines or hoses that couldn’t be fully drained.
Preventing Damage: Changing Oil Before Winter Storage
Today’s engine oils are a marvel of modern technology. Their multigrade formulation, like the widely used 5W-30, allows them to remain fluid in chilly conditions, aiding in starting engines and thickening enough at higher temperatures to ensure safe engine operation.
The versatility of these oils in handling a broad spectrum of temperatures is a significant advancement over their single-grade counterparts.
The classification of oil grades, as per the SAE J300 standard, hinges on specific measurements. A grade with a “W” indicates its performance in cold conditions; a lower number suggests better cold-weather adaptability.
Conversely, grades without the “W” denote the oil’s viscosity at 212 degrees Fahrenheit, with higher numbers indicating greater efficiency in warmer environments.
Engine, transmission, and hydraulic oils are enhanced with detergents and additives to encapsulate moisture, debris, and contaminants.
Some oils also boast hygroscopic characteristics, enabling them to absorb and confine moisture, thus safeguarding internal parts.
Adhering to the manufacturer’s recommended service intervals is crucial, particularly for machinery where the same fluid is used across brake, steering, hydraulic, and transmission systems, as these are prone to faster deterioration.
Over time, all oils deteriorate, accumulating moisture, acids, and various contaminants from engine deposits and wear. Changing the oil before winter storage is advisable, especially if the machine is close to its oil change interval.
This preemptive action removes harmful acids and contaminants and is an opportune moment for oil analysis, which can reveal hidden signs of wear in engines or transmissions.
For many machines, a multigrade oil is suitable throughout the year, particularly in climate-controlled settings where extreme cold is not a factor.
However, switching to an oil better suited for colder conditions is recommended for equipment like a plow tractor stored outdoors in winter. Always consult the machine’s manual for the best oil type for varying temperatures.
Maintaining full oil reservoirs, especially during drastic temperature changes, minimizes air in the tank and, consequently, reduces moisture condensation that could contaminate the oil.
Enhancing Cold Weather Starts with Engine Heaters
Installing a heater to the engine can be a game-changer for outdoor machinery that struggles to start in cold conditions, even when using winter-grade oil.
Options such as an engine block heater, oil pan heater, or a heater replacing the dipstick keep the engine and oil warm, enhancing cold starts. This solution is effective if the machine is parked near an electrical source to power the heater.
Many engines have block heaters, especially if specified in the factory order. Block heaters primarily warm up the engine coolant, which warms the engine block.
This process helps to minimize the resistance caused by thick engine oils and boosts the core temperature of the engine, essential for efficient fuel combustion.
It’s advisable to inspect block heaters before the onset of winter to ensure their heating elements are operational. For equipment used regularly, connecting the heater to a timer can be beneficial, allowing it to warm up the engine block over 1-3 hours.
Glow plugs, resembling pencil-shaped heaters, are located in the combustion chamber of each engine cylinder. These components are crucial for heating the air in the chamber.
In diesel engines, they raise the air temperature to over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, aiding in igniting the air-fuel mix and initiating engine start-up.
It’s important to avoid using starting fluids with glow plugs, as the heat they generate could lead to an explosion of the fluid outside the combustion chamber.
Manifold heaters, consisting of heating coils, are situated within the engine’s intake manifold. Their role is to warm the incoming air, ensuring the fuel-air mixture is sufficiently heated for combustion.
Like glow plugs, starting fluids should never be used with manifold heaters due to the risk of explosion, which could cause significant damage to the engine or pose a hazard to the operator.
Cold Weather Additives: A Solution for Diesel Flow
In diesel fuel, a natural wax known as paraffin wax is present. This wax lubricates diesel flows, but becomes problematic in colder environments. Around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, these wax particles start clustering around the freezing mark, creating a gel-like substance.
This gel can hinder fuel flow through filters, leading to blockages. Cold weather additives alter the wax’s structure to address this, ensuring the fuel remains fluid even in lower temperatures.
Despite this, there is a temperature threshold beyond which even these additives cannot prevent fuel solidification.
To combat this, some fuel providers offer a winter blend, mixing a portion of the number 1 diesel, known for its lower gelling point, with the standard number 2 diesel, enhancing its performance in cold weather.
Below the freezing point, diesel begins to form a gel. This gel can block the fuel filter if temperatures drop, stopping the engine from functioning. This critical point is known as the cold filter plugging point.
If your diesel vehicle is parked in a heated space, or remains active during cold periods, the risk of fuel gelling is minimized. However, preventative measures are necessary for diesel engines left in sub-freezing temperatures.
One such measure is blending diesel No. 1 (which includes kerosene) with diesel No. 2. This mix lowers the temperature at which the fuel begins to gel.
The ratio of No. 1 to No. 2 diesel varies with the expected coldness, but as a general guideline, adding 10% of No. 1 diesel decreases the cold filter plugging point by about 5 degrees.
Maintaining full fuel tanks during extreme temperature changes is another strategy. A full tank has less air, thus less moisture can form and contaminate the fuel.
Returning warmed fuel from the fuel pump to a cold tank can cause condensation, but a full tank mitigates this issue.
It’s crucial not to use heat sources to warm fuel filters or tanks to clear clouded diesel. This can introduce moisture and contaminants into the machinery’s fuel system.
Fuel additives are a safer option to prevent gelling and lower the cold filter plugging point. When expecting cold weather, follow the guidelines for mixing the right amount of additive with your diesel.
For those less inclined to mix their fuel, many local gas stations sell pre-mixed winter-ready diesel suitable for local conditions. Switching to this fuel before the onset of extreme cold can ensure smooth operation of your diesel engine.
Batteries and Cold Weather: A Care Guide
Batteries and cold weather are not the best of friends. Ensuring your battery is primed for igniting engines in chilly temperatures involves meticulous care.
When storing machinery in cold environments where usage is sporadic, consider detaching or removing the battery. Placing the battery in a warmer area enhances its performance.
Batteries must retain their charge during storage to avoid freezing and damage during the winter months. Before putting batteries away for winter, check their voltage levels – a 12-volt battery, for instance, should ideally be charged up to 14.4 volts for safekeeping.
Regularly monitoring voltage levels as a rapid discharge might signal electrical problems in the machine or the battery itself. Allowing a battery to deplete excessively can lead to the internal acid freezing, harming both the plates and casing.
Disconnect any equipment monitors and controllers inside tractor cabins to minimize the risk of parasitic voltage draw. In cases where you suspect a machine is causing battery drain, it’s wise to disconnect the battery and store it in a temperate environment.
Rotating a compact battery maintainer or “trickle” charger among your equipment can help maintain optimal battery voltages during storage periods.
Safety is paramount when charging or jump-starting batteries, especially in agricultural settings. When charging batteries, clear the area of any potential ignition sources like cigarettes, open flames, or heaters.
As lead-acid batteries charge, they emit hydrogen gas, which can be explosive in confined spaces if allowed to build up.
Finally, aim to keep your battery fully charged. The energy needed to start an engine in cold conditions is substantial, and a depleted battery – whether due to infrequent use or numerous starts in a short span – can pose a significant challenge in winter.
Protecting Your Tires from Environmental Damage
Storing tires correctly is crucial for their longevity. It’s best to keep them inside, shielded from direct sunlight and away from high heat sources.
Such environmental factors can harm the tire’s rubber, leading to early deterioration, including cracks in the bead, sidewalls, and treads.
The change in seasons, especially the onset of cold weather, can impact the air pressure in your tires. This can result in a lower psi (pounds per square inch) level than recommended.
It’s essential to ensure that your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the right psi before winter begins, and to recheck them as temperatures fall.
It’s a common misconception that slightly deflated tires offer better grip in winter due to increased tread contact with the road. However, this practice can harm the tires and wheels, compromise steering accuracy, and reduce overall driving safety.
There are more effective and safer methods to enhance tire traction, which is vital for optimal performance in challenging conditions.
Manufacturers also advise keeping tires away from electric motors or generators, as the brushes in these devices emit ozone, which can hasten tire degradation. Furthermore, colder temperatures cause the air inside the tires to contract, reducing tire pressure.
For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure can fall by about 3 psi. Therefore, it’s important to regularly check and adjust tire pressures, especially when storing or using equipment on uneven terrain. This helps maintain the tire’s structure and performance.
If you’re planning to store equipment for the winter, consider repositioning it monthly to avoid tire deformation, or use jacks to relieve strain on the tire sidewalls.
Also, ensure that tires are free from solvents, oils, grease, or petroleum-based substances before storage, as these can break down the rubber.
For tires containing calcium chloride, store them with the valve stems positioned between 3 and 9 o’clock to prevent the fluid inside from freezing and causing air leaks.
Understanding the Coolant’s Density and Freeze Resistance
Engine coolant plays a crucial role in maintaining a machine’s temperature and safeguarding it from the ravages of freezing temperatures.
It’s essential to regularly examine machines, particularly those with aged coolant, for their ability to resist freezing.
This is effectively done using an engine coolant hydrometer. This device operates by gauging the coolant’s density through a mechanism involving a buoyant object within its testing compartment, like a float or ball.
The principle is straightforward: the higher the concentration of ethylene glycol in the coolant, the denser it becomes, which is indicated by the elevated position of the float or ball, signaling enhanced protection against freezing in colder climates.
Consider utilizing a test strip kit for a more comprehensive analysis of your engine’s coolant health. This method goes beyond basic freezing protection and delves into the overall condition of the coolant.
Like engine oils, coolants are formulated with specific additives and conditioners that are pivotal in minimizing corrosion and ensuring smooth operation of the engine’s cooling mechanisms.
Periodic testing of the coolant’s condition is a proactive measure. It helps determine the right time for a coolant system flush, ensuring the introduction of fresh antifreeze, which is vital for preventing corrosion and potential damage to the system.
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Navigating Winter Terrains: Ensuring Tire Traction
In frosty or icy conditions, achieving adequate grip between tires and the terrain proves challenging, particularly for lighter machines or those lacking four-wheel drive or robust tire patterns.
The lawn-friendly turf tires typically lack the design to secure a firm hold on wet, slushy snow.
Numerous strategies exist to enhance tire traction. When outfitting a vehicle for snow removal or navigating tough winter landscapes, consider integrating several enhancements to maximize traction and efficiency.
- Snow Tires
While not every agricultural vehicle may be compatible with snow tires, they are essential for specific machines, like a farm truck fitted with a snowplow, during winter.
Snow tires are specifically engineered to better grip on icy surfaces and withstand colder temperatures. Deep, bold treads characterize them. Equipping all wheels with snow tires is crucial instead of combining them with regular tires.
- Tire Chains
Adding tire chains can significantly increase traction, as they clasp onto the tires to effectively bite into snow and ice. Essential for ATVs, UTVs, or tractors used in snow clearance, tire chains are a necessity.
Chains are needed on all tires for four-wheel-drive vehicles, whereas for two-wheel drives, only the driving wheels require chains. Installation should be tight and checked periodically for any loosening.
Tire chains are unsuitable for speeds above 30 mph or on bare roads, as they can damage both the chains and the road. When choosing chains, the tire’s width, diameter, and aspect ratio are important measurements, usually found on the tire’s side.
- Ballast Options
Ballasts serve dual purposes: they enhance traction by adding weight on the tires and balance out the weight of heavy front or rear attachments like snow blowers or plows.
Common ballast types include:
- Suitcase weights: Handy, handle-equipped weights in various sizes, easily attached to a vehicle’s front or rear.
- Ballast box: Attached to a tractor’s three-point hitch, these can be filled with heavy materials to counterbalance front-end loads.
- Tube sandbags: Ideal for rear-wheel drive trucks, these add weight over the driving wheels, improving traction.
- Concrete block or cylinder: A DIY option where a large concrete block or cylinder is adapted to attach to a tractor’s three-point hitch, serving as a counterweight.
- Wheel weights: Attached directly to the wheels, focusing on improving traction.
- Liquid tire ballast: Filling tires with a heavy, freeze-resistant liquid (options include calcium chloride, windshield washer fluid, antifreeze, or non-toxic, freeze-resistant beet juice) can enhance traction without affecting other tractor parts.
Snow Removal Essentials for Farms
Enhancing productivity is crucial, but it’s a challenge if your agricultural property is engulfed in deep snow. Removing snow from driveways and key paths is essential to maintain operational efficiency during severe snowfalls.
Luckily, various farm vehicles, including tractors, trucks, UTVs, and ATVs, can aid in snow removal, particularly with three popular attachments.
- Front-End Loader
This tool is a practical option for redistributing snow to clear driveways and restore access to farm structures. Its benefits are noteworthy: you likely already have one, and its off-road capabilities surpass those of a cumbersome 7-foot snow blower attachment.
Nevertheless, there are drawbacks. Snow removal with a front-end loader can be laborious and messy. The bucket, typically facing forward, lacks angling capability, making it less efficient for plowing.
Regular bucket lifting, turning, and dumping may be required during clearance. A front-end loader is a solid choice for minor snowfall and short driveways, but consider a snowplow or snow blower for more substantial snow removal.
- Snowplow
Due to their adjustable blade angles, snowplows are available in various styles and sizes and excel in clearing lengthy driveways and pathways swiftly. They effectively scrape snow close to the ground and are more budget-friendly than comparable snow blowers.
However, they falter in deep snow. Vehicles, particularly lighter ones like ATVs or UTVs, may struggle to push through thick snow.
Also, snowplows can be cumbersome in confined areas, and strategically placing snow piles is crucial to avoid complications as winter progresses.
- Snow Blower Attachment
Ideal for regions frequently hit by heavy snowfalls, snow blower attachments are adept at removing large snow volumes methodically. Unlike snowplows, they direct snow controllably, preventing large pile accumulations.
Their downside is the cost, attributed to their complexity. Additionally, they may not scrape snow completely off certain surfaces, like gravel, to prevent damage from debris.
Snow blowers vary in size: larger ones clear more snow per pass but are less nimble than smaller models.
The number of stages is another consideration – single-stage models handle light snow, two-stage models are versatile for most conditions, and three-stage models tackle up to two feet of heavy snow and ice.
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Machinery Maintenance at Season’s End
As the season wraps up, it’s an ideal opportunity to give your machinery a comprehensive clean. This isn’t just about hygiene; it’s also a chance to inspect each piece closely and identify any repair needs.
Keep an eye out for tell-tale signs of wear and tear like paint discoloration, build-up of metal shavings, or stress fractures in the metal, which could hint at issues like overheating due to bearing failure.
Focusing on areas prone to grease, crop residue, and dirt accumulation is crucial to prevent moisture from damaging sensitive parts.
However, exercise caution when using degreasers or high-pressure water near delicate electronic components, bearings, or drive systems like chains and belts.
Some operators find that using compressed air to blow off equipment significantly reduces the washing time. Be particularly wary of forage crop residue; its high moisture and sugar content can aggressively corrode metal surfaces.
Similarly, equipment that handles fertilizers needs extra care, as the salt content in fertilizers accelerates metal corrosion.
After washing, let the machinery air-dry in a breezy, open space or run the machinery briefly to aid drying. However, avoid storing damp machinery in humid, enclosed areas to prevent rusting.
For added protection, consider applying touch-up paint to minor damages or a light layer of machine oil on bare metal surfaces subject to occasional wear.
When using oil, ensure it doesn’t contact any plastic, rubber, or drive belt components, as oil can degrade these materials and cause slipping in drive belts.
Protective Cabs for Winter Vehicles
Dealing with snow removal during the brisk winter months can often be a challenging experience, particularly when harsh winds whip snow directly into your face.
One effective solution is to equip your vehicle with a cab, offering you a shield against harsh weather conditions. Opting for a fully equipped hard cab with heating is delightful, but not essential.
A soft cab can be an economical yet efficient choice for smaller, more compact vehicles, providing ample protection against gusty winds and snowfall.
It’s worth checking if your vehicle’s manufacturer offers cab options. In case they don’t, third-party alternatives might be just as effective.
Having your machinery well-prepared for winter might give you a sense of invulnerability, ready to tackle any job.
However, this confidence can be short-lived, particularly when facing a snow blower trapped in a drift or a tractor struggling in slushy snow, despite having chains.
Applying practical wisdom is key in winter. Begin your tasks at a moderate pace, and avoid overexerting your equipment. Regularly manage snow levels to prevent overwhelming build-up.
Consistent maintenance is crucial, and keep in mind that with spring’s arrival, you’ll soon be reversing these processes, signaling the end of the winter season.
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