16 The Business of Ontario Agriculture Better Farming | November 2023 Machinery Alley PREPARE BEFORE YOU PARK Overwintering tips to keep your machinery safe. By Leslie Stewart With harvest wrapping up soon, some producers will be putting their machinery away for the winter. Here are some tips to help you nish the 2023 season strong and start 2024 o smoothly in the spring by properly overwintering your equipment. Fix current issues Take some time to replace any parts you may need to before you put your machine away for the winter. “It’s nice to put everything away right so you don’t deal with issues in the spring,” says Carson Brown of Equipment Ontario in Elmira. “A fresh start is better than something you have to ght with. “Check for leaks and replace anything that’s broken. Lots of customers go over everything in the wintertime.” Keep rodents away Rodent infestations can cause huge problems to the functionality of your machine. Fortunately, there are ways to make your equipment less attractive to pests. “Keep your equipment clean. Clean it as much as you can so there’s no food, or spots for mice to nest – especially on combines,” Brown says. “Wash your equipment and blow o all the cha , or you could be opening yourself up for big and expensive issues to x. “We’ve seen combines with wires that have been chewed by rats and mice from being put away straight out of the eld ... and that’s just the stu you can see! “Sometimes there’s stu you can’t see tucked into a corner and it becomes both a technician and farmer’s nightmare when it comes to larger things like combines.” Take the time to check your shed, too. Ensure any open bags of grain are closed and that there are no holes that rodents can crawl through. You can further discourage pests with di erent smells and sounds they don’t like. “Moth balls, dryer sheets, and even electronic units with sound can be helpful.” Prevent cold damage Antifreeze is helpful with the plummeting temperatures. “It’s a big one,” Brown says. “If you don’t have the right coolant levels, you can attract a block pretty easily.” Be sure to read the directions on your antifreeze and ensure it’s up to the appropriate temperature rating for your area. For best results, follow all instructions and change the antifreeze at the recommended intervals. Check on your gas, too. “If you have a full tank of gas, you could use a fuel conditioner over the winter. If the tank is full, there’s less condensation over the winter.” Protect your batteries Batteries are susceptible to cold damage, especially if they’re empty when you park your machine. “Make sure your batteries are charged and topped up so they don’t freeze,” he says. If you have the space and time, batteries can be removed and stored in a warmer location where they can be safe from the cold and charged periodically. Check your tires Before you put your machinery away for the winter, check your tire pressure. “Make sure your tires are good,” Brown explains. “Nobody likes going out with equipment with a at tire.” Over the winter, low tire pressure can cause the internal structure of the tires to sag. Once the rubber gets hard, it can do damage to the side walls of the tires. “Alleviate your spring,” Brown says. “Everyone’s excited to go planting in the spring and you want to have a good start. “You don’t want anything unforeseen happening to ruin your day.” BF Take some time to properly overwinter your equipment. Jodie Aldred photo
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