Tractor belts are the unsung heroes of farm tools upkeep, typically missed till a breakdown happens. Having spare tractor belts on standby could be a game-changer when this occurs.

Routine Farm Upkeep

I take excellent care of my backyard tractors. I keep on prime of oil adjustments. I usually clear and/or substitute oil and air filters. I prime off different fluids (comparable to hydraulic fluid and coolant) when wanted. I change the mower blades, and I clear leaves and grass clippings out of the mower deck usually.

This care extends to the snow blower attachment I take advantage of with one among my backyard tractors. I be sure that the gearbox stays stuffed with gearbox oil. I’m cautious to not scrape up gravel from my driveway when clearing snow. And I hold spare shear pins available so I gained’t be out of luck if one thing causes the snow blower to interrupt a shear pin, disconnecting the blades from the facility of the engine.

Tractor Belts & Snow Removing

Even probably the most diligent farmer can sometimes overlook an space of upkeep that requires consideration, such because the tractor belt that transfers energy from my backyard tractor to the snow blower.

My backyard tractor with its snow blower, had been hooked as much as the snow blower the earlier 12 months, and initially of winter, I’d gone via a upkeep guidelines and concluded the whole lot was so as.

I hooked it up and cleared a few passes up and down my driveway when the snow blower abruptly stopped working. A fast visible survey revealed the issue: the tractor belt had snapped.

I’d by no means thought to test the situation of the belt as a result of, in all my years of mowing with backyard tractors, I don’t consider I’ve ever had a belt put on out. A bit garden tractor wore out a belt as soon as, however that was a very long time in the past. Mower belts, in my expertise, go for years and years with out challenge, and I wasn’t anticipating something completely different from the snow blower belt.

Then once more, I’d bought the snow blower used, so I can’t say for positive what number of hours had been placed on that belt. It didn’t strike me as worn the primary time I put in it on my tractor, and the belt went via one winter with out challenge. However the pressure of its first job again in motion proved an excessive amount of to deal with.

Thankfully, there wasn’t a lot snow as to be unmanageable, so I used to be in a position to get by with a smaller self-powered snowblower whereas I ordered a brand new belt and waited for it to reach.

Tractor Belts: Classes Discovered

Suffice it to say, I’ve discovered a lesson. It may be straightforward to neglect about belt upkeep since they typically go for years with out challenge and there isn’t an everyday schedule for changing them. However any further, I’ll visually examine the situation of my snow blower belt earlier than winter every year, and I’ll all the time be sure that to have a spare available. Who is aware of, subsequent time, it would snap when there are 18 inches of snow within the driveway and I must get it cleared straight away. And I don’t need to be caught with out a alternative at a time like that.

This story about hand pollination was written for Passion Farms journal on-line. Click on right here to subscribe.