Tips for spring tillage preparation

Mar 27, 2019

Beginning with the owner’s manual is a good place to start, a product specialist said

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

As the weather improves, farmers will start taking tillage equipment out of storage for spring fieldwork.

But spring preparation should begin even before taking the implement out of the storage barn, said Mathieu Roy, a product specialist with LEMKEN.

“Farmers might want to do a visual inspection before the unit is taken out for the spring,” he told Farms.com. “Look around where it was stored for evidence of oil leaks or if the tires are showing signs of being deflated.”

Producers should retighten tires to appropriate torques and inflate them to proper pressure levels, he said.

After taking the equipment out of the barn, producers should hook the tillage tool up to the tractor to make sure any lights on the implement are working properly, he added.

Using the owner’s manual is a good place to start a more thorough inspection, Roy said.

Following the schedules found in the manual will help farmers ensure nothing is missed when preparing equipment.

“Paying attention to the manufacturer’s maintenance intervals will help you do a good inspection,” he said. “Check all the hardware, hoses, nuts and bolts, and replace any faulty components to prevent any breakdowns during the season.”

Farmers should also fold and unfold the implement several times.

Doing so will help farmers operate and transport the equipment safely, Roy said.

“If you’re driving on the highway and there’s a leak somewhere in a hose, the machine could start to creep down as you’re driving,” he said. “We know there’s high pressure running through those hoses, so sometimes it’s better to replace the hoses before it’s too late.”

Inspecting the parts of the implement that contact the soil can help a farmer determine if he or she should replace a shank, share or disc.

Following a manufacturer’s recommendations is the best way to proceed with this type of inspection, Roy said.

Equipment makers have made it easier to replace parts as well.

“Some manufacturers will stamp the part number on the back of the parts,” he said. “That way, if a farmer does need to replace a part, it’s easier for them to call their dealer and give the part number.”

LEMKEN photo

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