Bad weather can cause many problems to farming equipment. Moreover, when farming equipment is not properly stored, it can be easily damaged in extreme weather conditions. Winter weather can real havoc on farming equipment. Cold temperatures can cause fluids left in tractors to have busted fuel lines.
Importance of changing oil
Replacing and draining the fluids in your farm equipment is imperative to its upkeep. After completing harvest season at the end of each year, farmers must clean their equipment thoroughly and drain it of oil and gas so that when it is stored, the combination of sitting for several months and varying weather conditions will not cause the engine to have problems. Draining one's equipment of oil may seem a minor task to overlook, but it can cause much bigger problems when it comes time to start planting again.
Lack of shelter causes corrosion
Some farmers or people who use farm-grade equipment do not properly store it during the winter months. Months of sitting outside in both rain and snow can cause massive problems over time. Corrosion may seem like it will be a problem many years down the road, but in reality, it will weaken disks and blades on equipment used in the harvesting process. Dull blades will make farming many acres of land harder and will probably hinder the production of good crops.
Tires need to be checked regularly
Both the weather and overuse break down tires. The weather changes daily and that affects tire pressure. Low tired make it harder to move and will put stress on the equipment's motor. There are also other things to look for in tire maintenance. Tires that are repeatedly left out without shelter start to break down. Over time, they will rot, become thinner, and will go flat. Aside from this being a costly price to pay for lack of proper care, it takes a longer time to change tires on equipment this large. The average price for a set of tires for a commercial grade tractor can easily cost over one thousand dollars.
Routine maintenance
Aside from the other types of maintenance for farm equipment, general work on it is a great way to ensure that it is working the way it is supposed to work. Without proper maintenance, engines do not run well and when equipment is down, the farmer cannot finish his work, most of which is based on beating the weather to harvest crops. In addition, batteries must be checked to ensure they still have enough power to complete farming. People who are working on vast expanses of land do not have the luxury to stop and run to the nearest store when equipment starts to break down. Most of the time, farm equipment, because it is so large, requires making a trip to a store that specializes in parts specifically made for big equipment.
Weather is a leading factor in damage to farm equipment. Both the weather and the way in which one stores the equipment play parts in how long it will last. It is very important to regularly schedule maintenance to check for issues and to make sure it is running properly.