Better Farming - January 2017

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Better Farming January 2017 Dig Deeper: 53
MACHINERYAT WORK
Before you begin to check over
any mechanical front-wheel
drive (MFWD) tractor, make
sure you have something handy on
which to record your findings. These
notes will make it easier for you to
remember any problems or issues and
give you a better picture of your
equipment’s condition.
Start by visually breaking down the
MFWD tractor in sections and
inspect each section of the machine.
Some examples of sections include:
front axle, engine, transmission,
hydraulics, hitch mechanism/drawbar
and cab. And there might be more
sections, depending on how your
machine is equipped.
My recommendation is to have
your grease gun handy. That way, you
proceed at a slower pace and get a
good chance to look around while
greasing the machine.
On a front axle, look at the axle
pivot bushings. These bushings are
crucial to keep the axle in place and
need to be greased regularly.
Lift the front of the tractor until
the axle no longer carries the weight
of the machine. That positioning
allows for a good check on play in
the axle pivot and provides you with
a good opportunity to grease as
well. You can look at wheel bearings
and kingpin bearings at the same
time. When the weight is off of the
wheels they are easy to turn, so you
can check or change the oil in the
drive hubs.
On the engine, check fan drive,
look for play, and see if the viscous
fan is functioning properly. Inspect
the fan belts for wear.
Also examine the alternator and
starter motor wiring. Check the
cooling package for cleanliness and
leaks, as well as all coolant hoses for
wear. Examine the water pump weep
hole – look for signs of oil or coolant
leaks in this hole.
Inspect all fuel lines, filters and
pumps. Most fuel filters have either a
drain valve or a clear bowl to spot
water in the system. Drain any water
and, if a large amount is present,
change your filters and drain water
out of the fuel tank as well.
Pull the dipstick out of the engine.
Do you see any odd discolouring of
the oil (grey or brown), any conden-
sation etc.?
Is the intake and exhaust system
free of any leaks or cracked hoses?
Are the air filters and housing clean?
A good way to inspect an air filter is
by holding a light on the inside of the
filter and trying to look through it.
Can you see dirt or weathered filter
material?
Make sure the inner safety filter is
clean. If this filter is not clean,
something is wrong with your main
filter or the sealing of the filter
housing.
On your transmission, examine at
the filler cap and dipstick. See if the
oil has any discolouration or odd
smells, or if there are signs of conden-
sation on the transmission.
If they are present on your specific
tractor, check cooler lines and shift
linkages. Or, in solenoid-controlled
units, make sure all wiring is in place
and none was damaged during the
season.
Also inspect the drive shaft
between the engine and transmission
if your unit has an external drive
Checking over your MFWD tractor
The winter months are a perfect time to complete maintenance on your equipment. Consider these
practical tips when inspecting your tractor.
by JAAP KROONDIJK
Look for leaks in the rear axle seal and wheel bearing area.
Make sure, too, that there is no play in the axle.