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How do I approach Farm Equipment Repair? The reason I am asked, is that there is a growing problem with the cost of new farm equipment, and the apparent lack of parts for the older equipment that can be found at a decent price.
You know how it is, you need some equipment to increase production and save your back right?
A new Tractor can be upwards from $14,000 to $100,000 or more depending upon its size and the attachments that you need and want. For the most point, you can purchase a tractor that is in the field covered in grass for a lot less.
This option can be daunting in itself though also:
- Can you find parts for it?
- Can you fix it yourself
- Is there a maintenance and overhaul shop manual for it?
- Do you have the skill to fix it?
- If not, who will fix it for you for less than the cost of a new tractor?
- Where do you start?
I get asked regularly how do I approach Farm Equipment Repair? The reason is, I started working on equipment when I was 8 years old. I had a push mower, and I would mow the neighbors yards for them to help out at home. I learned quickly that the sharper the blades as well as the lubrication on the wheels that drove everything, the faster the job went. I was shown how much easier it is to use a well maintained a piece of equipment than one that barely limps along. You know how it is when you go to use a tool, only to find it broken right? It is a pet peeve for me.
The other thing that bugs me, is seeing someone using one of my screw drivers or a crescent wrench as a hammer. I have to admit though, I have been stuck in the woods with a broken vehicle and have used bailing wire and a pair of pliers to be able to get back home so that I could work in the shop rather than spend a half day towing it back home.
The first tractor that I overhauled was a Ford 9N. My Dad and I started completely rebuilding it in 1968. It took us two weeks, and it looked new and ran like new, well, actually better, when we were done. We had one bay in the garage just for working on equipment. While I was growing up, we did a lot of different types of equipment in the garage, and we fixed them all. Some with the help of a manual, most of them with just torque specifications and laying parts out as we took them off , the placing them back together in the opposite direction. It worked well and we saved a ton of money!
Since then, I have become a master mechanic, and Airframe and Power plant mechanic working and rebuilding entire aircraft, as well as working on and rebuilding boats and yachts. The thing I learned is that there is nothing that can not be fixed if you take your time, obtain a shop manual for the equipment that you are working on and maintaining, and FOLLOW the directions exactly. If you do not understand a step, ask someone for help. Most people I know, especially parts stores and Equipment parts stores are more than willing to help.
Here is my list for farm equipment repair:
- Know how your equipement is supposed to work
- Read and understand the equipment manual
- Keep your equipment clean so that you can see how it is supposed to look like, take regular pictures and compare them as the equipment ages.
- Perform daily inspections prior to operating equipment
- Perform suggested maintenance on time, or sooner.
- Operate the equipment for what it is designed for, do not use a hammer as a wrench or vice versa
- When something quits working as it should, STOP.
Then the next steps are troubleshoot the problem, find the parts that need repair or replaced, then fix it or better yet, improve the quality of parts on your equipment if available.
As you can see from this picture, I replaced the old woreout engine with a new higher quality replacement. It ran better than new and we sold the tiller for more than we had in it when we moved.
Your mindset when working with equipment is important. Do not get frustrated, easy for me to say now, remember, you are the one choosing how to look at the maintenance and repair of your equipment, as well as deciding how to use it. Do so with knowledge and patience, and good friends who are willing to help, and you will save lots of time, money and meet some great new friends alont the way.
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Turning your dreams into the Life of Your Dreams
Chris Downs —————– The Caretaker
Hisfarm.org
