Preventative Maintenance Tips for Work Equipment
Keeping your work vehicles well-maintained is a key ownership responsibility. No matter whether you own a tractor, a UTV or a lawn mower, it’s important that you take the time to inspect it and tune it up on a regular basis, in addition to getting it into the shop whenever necessary, rather than delaying repairs.
Curious about the ins and outs of basic lawn mower, UTV and tractor maintenance? Middletown Tractor Sales, with locations in Fairmont, West Virginia, and Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is your local UTV, tractor and lawn mower dealer. To help you keep those heavy vehicles in good working order, we’ve provided some of our top preventative maintenance tips below!
1. Read Your Owner’s Manual
First and foremost, the absolute best thing you can do as a responsible owner of heavy machinery is to read your owner’s manual to make sure you understand what needs doing and when. Your owner’s manual will contain all of the manufacturer’s recommendations for what maintenance to perform, what parts to replace and how every control works.
You don’t have to read it cover-to-cover, but it’s a smart idea to stash the owner’s manual somewhere that you can easily access it for reference. You can also use it to mark down whatever maintenance you do perform, as well as any repairs you make, which will be particularly useful if you choose to sell your equipment down the road.
2. Change Your Oil
Engines need a sufficient supply of clean oil to run correctly, as oil lubricates all the moving parts and ensures proper functioning. Make a point to check the oil on a regular basis just as you would with your passenger car or truck: remove the dipstick, wipe it with a soft cloth, reinsert it and pull it out again to check the color and consistency of the oil. Clear, runny oil is in good shape and may only need to be topped off, but opaque, sludgy oil merits an immediate change. Swap out the oil filter at the same time.
3. Check Tire Pressure & Condition
The tires on any vehicle maintain contact with the ground and keep it upright, so they’re going to take a lot of abuse over the course of your work. UTVs, lawn mowers and tractors will all have different psi levels, and you can generally obtain these by referring to your owner’s manual. When airing up your tires, examine each one for cracks in the sidewall, uneven wear or embedded objects in the treads. Never ride on bad tires! You always want to repair or replace a tire right away if you discover any sign of damage. Uneven wear may be a sign of poor alignment or another issue, so you may want to have your vehicle checked out by a professional, like the mechanics we have here at Middletown Tractor Sales, if this is the case.
4. Keep It Clean
No matter whether you’re performing tractor, UTV or lawn mower maintenance, it’s important to keep your machinery clean. Built-up grass, dirt, mud, and debris can damage the finish or seep into the inner workings of your vehicle, clogging up the engine. Take the time to wash your machine a few times a year or if it’s especially dirty after a long day of work. A clean machine will function much better and also look nicer!
Come see us at one of our dealerships in Pennsylvania or West Virginia to take a look at our available stock of tractors, UTVs and lawn mowers for sale. Don’t forget that you can also schedule a maintenance appointment with our service department if your equipment needs some professional attention. We’ve been in the business for nearly 70 years, so we know a thing or two about maintaining farm and landscaping equipment! Middletown Tractor Sales proudly serves the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, metro area as well as the city of Morgantown, West Virginia.