Most horse farms utilize tractors for the daily care and maintenance of the horses as well as the property. Tractors can be used to mow pastures, remove snow, haul hay, clean stalls, smooth footing in arenas, and spread manure. Using a tractor drastically cuts down on the amount of time and physical effort it takes to perform all of these duties on a horse farm.
If you own a horse stable, it's important to make sure your tractor is always in good working condition by performing preventive maintenance on your tractors. Here are the parts to keep on hand and how you can locate the part numbers you'll need.
Preventive Maintenance Parts Checklist
Performing regular preventive maintenance can increase your tractor's longevity, as well as providing you with a healthy work horse for your horse farm. Just as you should do preventive maintenance with your vehicle, your tractor needs preventive maintenance as well. Keep the following parts on hand for preventive maintenance of your tractor:
- Fluids (coolant, engine oil, hydraulic oil, transmission fluid)
- Filters (air, oil, hydraulic, fuel, oil)
- Fuses
- Lines
- Hoses
- Belts
- Bulbs
- Grease
Depending on how much you use your tractor around the horse farm, you may need to do preventive maintenance on a weekly or monthly basis. It's a good idea to keep a log of the preventive maintenance you do, the amount of hours you use the tractor in between maintenance, and what types of jobs you did with the tractor as well. Keeping a log may help you identify potential problems before they arise, such as if you notice the filters are dirtier than normal or your transmission fluid is lower than normal.
Locating the Serial Numbers You Need to Order Parts
None of those items listed in the above section will do you any good if they don't fit your tractor. To make sure you order the correct parts, do the following:
- Locate the VIN number for the tractor
- Locate the VIN number for the engine
- Download the owner's manuals for the parts lists
- Identify and highlight the parts numbers to order
- Find a tractor parts store online
- Locate the correct parts for your make, model, and year
- Place your order
- Ensure the parts are correct when they arrive
If you're unsure how to do preventive maintenance for your tractor's particular make, model, and year or how to locate the parts numbers, ask your tractor dealer or a reputable tractor parts retailer for more information.
