Did you know that green onions, lettuces, kale, potatoes, radishes, & carrots are among the popular winter crops in South Carolina? That also means that the fields are bustling with tractors on their harvest routine for early winter crops.
Depending on the size of your farm in Columbia, if crop rotation is possible, it means more intensive work for the farm equipment all year round. With that much activity, ranging from troweling to plowing, and seeding, culminating in a harvest, equipment failure, issues, or damage is bound to occur.
There are ways you can diagnose the issues before making a trip to Ray’s Tractors. However, you best try not to troubleshoot these issues unless you are certified for mechanical service.
1. Tires & Tread
Despite their formidable built & size, tractor tires get a lot of wear-&-tear from agricultural activities. You will notice cuts among the worn-out treads, developing bulges and cracks on the rubber surface. Such weathering is inevitable from working with tough soils. Dry rot & stubble damage are two tire problems that you should identify.
Dry rot occurs due to excess weathering & exposure of the tire rubber to the sun. If you can feel the tire’s surface crumble at your touch, it’s rot. If your tractor tires are punctured too often, it is stubble damage.
2. Dull Tractor Implements
Tractor implements like the plows, spreaders, seeders, windrows, balers, & tillers also wear out and dull with use. If your farm implements are not maintained for their intended purpose, your entire harvest can be affected. Maintain & upgrade worn-out implements whenever feasible to enhance the yield of your crop.
3. Faulty Electricals
Cold weather and a wet battery are the direct diagnoses for a tractor not starting. Maybe it’s been idle too long, or the battery has just drained. In either case, charge the battery and start your tractor every morning to warm the engine up. If the ignition issue persists, rejuvenate the battery electrolyte levels. If the battery has gone bad, invest in a new deep cycle battery. Never make the mistake of putting a car battery into a tractor!
4. Engine & Fuel Issues
Tractor spark plugs can break over time and make a starting up quite hard. If you sense a low fuel consumption coinciding with low tractor performance, it’s not good fuel mileage; something must be wrong with the engine.
Usually, faulty fuel lines and low fuel feed pressure are the culprits. If the carburetor clogs during operation, the engine will not get a sufficient air-to-fuel mix ratio. That results in a tractor that operates like it’s hungover. You can apply some lubricant to help remove the clog, but you need to visit our dealership in Columbia in the worst case.
Ray’s Tractors advises you to keep your eyes & ears open to the signs of heavy farming equipment damage! That said, now you better inspect your tillers, loaders, and mowers for damage so that we can help you select appropriate replacement implements.
Contact us for financing assistance on your purchases or visit Columbia, SC. Bring your farming equipment along for detailing & mechanical servicing!
