After a hectic harvest season, there may be a temptation to park machines in the shed, close the door and forget about them until next spring. But that’s not a good idea. Performing regular maintenance of equipment now can help cut costs.
Dealerships looking to keep their mechanics busy in the off season typically offer discounted inspection rates for machines through the slower late fall and winter period.
“A lot of dealers will have inspection programs going,” says New Holland’s parts product marketing manager Aaron Booth. “There’s 15 per cent off (NH) OEM filters until the end of this year.”
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CNH plans for “more than 15 new tractor launches, 10 combine launches, 19 crop production launches and over 30 precision technology releases between now and the end of 2027.”
While many farms have fully equipped shops and employees capable of doing mechanical work, having a dealership inspect a machine could still offer a benefit, Booth says.
“Because they’ve had so much experience with different models, they know where to look. They know this model machine in conditions around here is going to have these kinds of issues. They’re going to be able to go a little deeper with the equipment they have.”
When it comes to catching wear on components early, brands may offer kits such as auger liners for combines to extend component life and postpone major repair costs.
“Even if you’re doing your own repair work, connect with the dealer to see what options are out there,” he adds.
Often machines will develop small problems during peak seasons that don’t force a stop to operations — and those minor defects can often go forgotten.
“The big thing for combines at the end of the season is having a checklist of what went wrong,” Booth says. “It’s not just mechanical issues: it’s software, your precision, and making sure all those little things that weren’t big enough to stop you, you take care of those right away. They tend to get put to the back of your mind and not get fixed until you realize a year later it hasn’t been done.”
Giving machines, particularly combines, a good bath before they get parked for the season is also a good idea.
“All the dirt that gets packed in there is going to attract the wrong type of animals,” says Booth. “It’s going to get mice. The more you clean it up, the better off you’ll be.”
Greasing components and changing engine oil before long-term storage will help prevent damage.
“Engine oil does have those contaminants (from combustion) and the cold weather makes it a little thicker, which doesn’t help,” he says. “So it’s a great time, particularly if you’re using a semisynthetic that has a longer oil change interval, it’s going to be better for the engine as it’s sitting there.”
Protecting batteries from discharge during storage is also key. Typically machines always have a small amount of amperage draw which can discharge batteries over time, making them more susceptible to freezing in the winter.
“Make sure you disconnect it and put a maintainer on it,” Booth says. “They have smart (maintainers) now that let it draw down a bit and charge it back up. You don’t want a battery to sit in a reduced (charge) state.”
Leaving maintenance and repair until machines roll out of the shed in spring could end up hitting farmers hard in the wallet. And as dealership service departments get busy, that could also cause delays.
“If you’re in the group of farmers that call a month before you want to use (a machine), it gets pretty hectic,” says Booth. “And that’s where you’re going to pay a premium.”
