What Are the Solutions to These Common Tractor Problems?
We want to share the solutions to some very common tractor problems.
If you do not understand these tips, strategies, or processes, please consult your local dealer or mechanic. And as always, be sure to consult your owner’s manual for model-specific information.
Let’s get to it.
It is vitally important that you keep your tractor running well.
Breakdowns cause headaches, inefficiency, inconvenience, and a loss of time. On top of that, you could lose money getting much needed work done on your farm or ranch.
And almost needless to say --- the insanely high repair expense.
Therefore we want to share some basic mechanical issues, how you can spot them, and how you can remedy them before they become a major problem.
If you have any service questions, please contact us here.
Engine
While there are many things that can go wrong with a tractor engine --- the two that we want to address right now are the carburetor and spark plugs.
Carburetor
The carburetor is extremely important. It blends the fuel and air mixture.
When it gets clogged, you will experience terrible performance. As soon as your tractor starts running sluggish or feels like it is gasping --- have the carburetor checked right away. It may be fixable or need replacement.
Spark Plugs
Many tractor engines use spark plugs.
They can get damaged, go bad, or be duds. Spark plugs can easily get damaged if you work your tractor hard.
Some symptoms of bad spark plugs include poor fuel usage, bad starts, and awful engine performance. If you have engine issues, you can try cleaning them. It may be easier to simply replace them right away. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to change.
Your owner’s manual will tell you how often they should be changed as part of routine maintenance.
Electrical
Electrical issues are common.
They can be a pain to pinpoint at times.
Many electrical issues originate with the battery charge. A lot of times the battery gets drained from the tractor sitting idle for too long. Usually a simple battery charge gets the tractor started and running. You need to start and run your tractor every couple of days.
You also need to inspect the cables and posts. They can gather material deposits or suffer from wear. Either can cause battery problems.
You need to inspect your posts. You also need to clean the posts regularly. This will prevent any future buildup.
If your battery is still a problem after you clean and charge it --- call your local mechanic or dealer.
Let’s move on.
Blades
You likely have at least one bladed implement for your tractor.
At some point it will stop working as well. One of the main reasons is that the blades become dull.
I know this sounds so basic right?
Over time --- the more you use the bladed implement, the quicker the blades will wear down and go dull. At some point, they just don’t have sharp enough blades to complete the task.
That means it is time to sharpen the blades.
Once you sharpen them, the implement should perform again.
If you use an implement regularly, consider sharpening the blades twice or more a year. Your implement should have maintenance guidelines that you can follow.
Do you have a smaller model implement with a single-blade mowing deck? If so, you can likely remove the blade without much effort. Some people even use a file to sharpen it.
If you have a larger, more compact implement, you should bring it to your local mechanic or dealer. They can get the blade out without damaging it and sharpen it for you.
Fuel System
Finally… let’s discuss the fuel system.
When the fuel system is failing, it is obvious.
Tractor performance will deteriorate very slowly. Then suddenly, if you let it go too long, you have a major problem on your hands. This can be costly.
Fuel system issues lead to low fuel pressure. This immediately affects the power, effectiveness, and efficiency of the tractor and the implements. Performance will be awful.
Another common challenge with fuel systems originates with the fuel control level on the engine. If it jams, the fuel has trouble getting to the engine. Many times this is remedied by spraying a bit of lubricant on it. If not --- take the tractor to your local mechanic or dealer right away for an assessment and repair.
Hopefully, what you learned about in this article saves you a few headaches and a whole lot of money.
If you need any further help, or have any questions about service issues, tractors, or anything else, please contact your dealer, local mechanic, or call us at 602-734-9944. Please ask about our current new and used tractor supply.
Team Tractor Ranch - #1 Tractor Dealer in Arizona. We sell and service most major brands of tractors including Yanmar, Kubota, John Deere, TYM, Mahindra, Kioti, Case, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Ford, Deutz, Case IH, Farmall, International Harvester, Branson Tractors, LS, Shibura, Claas Tractor, McCormick Tractors, Valtra, Solis, YTO, Montana, and Nortrac.
