Hello everyone, servicing a tractor is a skill that not many people have and is a skill that not many use. Servicing a tractor doesn’t just go with agriculture, it also goes with any type of machinery such as lawn mowers, skid loaders, and even a car. Well working on a farm I frequently had to service tractors when they needed to be and I learned how to do it at a young age and have been practicing it ever since. Rather than spending the money and having the tractor serviced at a shop, I will be teaching you how to do it on your own today. Make sure to bring a towel because it is a very messy process.

Step 1: Starting the Process

Step one will be to start the process of changing the oil and to start that you will need to park your tractor and allow it to run for ten to fifteen minutes. This step is important because it allows the oil to flow smoother and if it has been awhile since it was last changed then the slower it will flow. Once the tractor has been idled for ten to fifteen minutes then the next step of checking the oil will be put into play. Start by checking the oil and this allows you to see how much oil is in the engine and will be an estimate of how long it will take to drain. Well the tractor is at idle, gather supplies, some of the supplies you will need will be a wrench, funnel, a bucket, new oil, shop rags, a new oil filter, and an air compressor. Then once the tractor has ran for ten to fifteen minutes, then the next step will be ready.

Step 2: Changing the Oil

To begin the next step, start by removing the oil plug from the oil pan. Once the plug has been pulled, allow the oil to drain from the pan and this will take about 30 minutes. Well the oil is draining it is encouraged that you clean off the plug. It is very important that the tractor is not started, if it is to be started it will wreck the engine and do tons of damage. Once the oil is done draining, it is encouraged that the oil pan and the plug hole are cleaned of debris to prevent debris getting into the oil or into the engine where it would do damage. Then once the oil has been drained, next place the plug back into the threads and screw it back in.

Step 3: Changing the Oil Filter

Step three will be changing the oil filter. The first step of this process will be to remove the old oil filter and you can use a special tool for this when taking it off.. If this step is done wrong and the oil filter comes out it will cause huge damage to the engine when it is started. When talking of the oil filter it does not matter if you dent the oil filter when taking it off, but when replacing it and putting the new one in it is crucial that the filter is not dented. If it is dented it will no longer work. Once the oil filter is removed, wipe off the thread that it came off of. To get the new oil filter ready, the oil filter will need oil in it to prepare it for running. The oil filter does not need to be full but there need to be a semi decent amount. Then once the oil is poured in, the new oil filter will be ready to put on and it will need to be screw on very tight and with hands and no tools.

Step 4: Checking the Air Filters

Step four will be checking the air filters. Checking the air filter is important because it frees debris from the air filter and allows the engine to cool better. Cleaning the air filters is easy and require an air compressor. Start by removing the air filters from the slot they are placed in and blowing them out with the air compressor. Depending on the brand, year, and style of the tractor there may not be a compartment for the filter and it may just be on the front of the engine. If this is not done or done well the tractor will be at a higher risk to overheat and do damage to the engine, so this step is important.

Step 5: Checking the Rest of the Cooling System

Step five includes checking the fan and the coolant. The fan is located right behind the air filter in the last step and it is the biggest factor of keep the engine cool, so keeping the fan clean is a must. Simply just take a shop rag and clean off each blade individually and eventually the fan will need to be rotated and this is no easy job and takes a lot of muscle to move the fan. Once the fan is cleaned the next step will be to check the coolant and checking the coolant is similar to checking the oil because there is a coolant filter and there is a cap to check the coolant, which in located at the top of the whole cooling system. If the coolant needs to be added then just add more and to replace the coolant filter it is the same as the oil filter. Take off the coolant filter with a tool or by hands and it doesn't matter if the old filter gets dented but the new one cannot be dented. Then pour some coolant into the filter, it doesn't need to be full, but there should be a reasonable amount in there. Next place the filter back on the thread and twist it on by hand.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

To wrap up the whole process, run the engine for five to ten minutes and ensure yourself that there is no leaks or drops of oil coming out at any place. This is crucial because if the oil is leaking then it will eventually run out and the engine will be blown. I hope this helped you through your process and good luck to the next time you do it.