Spring is here! The days are longer, and everything—besides all the rain—seems brighter! However, with spring comes lots of maintenance around the farm. You never know what can happen to your equipment during winter, and bypassing important inspections could cause future problems that reduce your productivity and efficiency.
How do you ready your heavy equipment and machines for spring? This type of spring cleaning can include a variety of different tasks, so, let’s get into the details of preparing your farming and livestock equipment for spring.
Preparing Farm Equipment for Spring
Inspecting Livestock and Homesteading Equipment
Before using your equipment, always be sure to inspect it first. If your equipment is covered in dirt, oil, or dust it can increase the change of a mechanical fire. It can also force your equipment to work hard, causing faster wear.
Clean up any oil or grease spills that might’ve built up over the winter and remove any debris off your equipment. Keep an eye out for rodent nests which could have formed during winter, as well as any other issues with the quality of your equipment, like cracks or missing parts.
Here is a full list of elements worth inspecting on your homesteading and livestock equipment:
- Hitches
- Tires
- Fluids
- Nuts/Bolts
- Brakes
- Mirrors
- Blades
- Hoses
- Belts/Chains
- Batteries
- Steering
- Engine
Take note of any repairs that need to be made and any broken parts that need to be replaced.
Testing Your Homesteading and Livestock Equipment
After making the necessary repairs and replacements, it’s time to test everything out and ensure it’s ready to be used for spring. It’s important to test all the lights and safety equipment on your machines, like headlights, taillights, guards, and shields. Be sure to check the reflective lights on the rear of your equipment to ensure they’re clearly visible.
If your equipment is running properly and is efficient, then it’s time to put them to use on the field.
During your spring inspection, if you find yourself missing vital equipment, Carlson Wholesale has your back. With a variety of products from the highest-quality brands, from electric fence chargers to commercial wood chippers, we’ve got everything you need for a successful spring season.