Better Farming February 2017

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Better Farming February 2017 Dig Deeper: 79
HOW IT WORKS
Who/when/how
As an owner of combines or self-
propelled field sprayers or even larger
tractors, you have decisions to make.
The who: Do you have the in-
house capability to test and evaluate
fluids and filters? If not, you should
get your dealer to send samples for
testing or find an independent
laboratory that can do the fluid
testing for you.
The when: This is usually once a
year – well before the time of need
for the unit. If repairs are necessary,
they can be completed in the off-
season to eliminate costly down time.
The how: This involves your shop
facilities and staff. Do you have
trained help and the tools and
equipment necessary to undertake
the task safely?
Summary
Having an understanding of the
hydraulic and mechanical systems
you own or operate is very important
so that you can make astute observa-
tions and decisions.
Missing an important clue can be
very expensive for farmers – espe-
cially if it takes a key piece of your
equipment out of service at a critical
time.
Paying the dealership to test fluid
and run other tests/observations can
be money well spent. The decision
on who carries out the filter/fluid
changes or does other preventative
maintenance is highly dependent on
your skills, help and physical (shop)
facilities. BF
Ralph Winfield is a retired professional
engineer, farmer and technical writer.
This type of carrier bearing failure causes significant fluid contamination.