tractors, problems and maintenance

Types of tractors

Ø  General or multipurpose tractor

Ø  Garden tractor

Ø  Crawler tractor

Ø  Industrial tractor

Ø  Row crop tractor

General purpose tractor

Characteristics

Ø  Horse power ranges from 45-65.

Ø  Rear wheels are usually drive wheels

Ø  Front wheels are used for stearing

Ø  Distance from centre to rear wheel is fixed and is not adjustable

Ø  Useful for operation like ploughing seeding and harvesting etc. threshing

Ø  Can also be used for transportation.

Row Crop Tractors:

A row-crop tractor is a tractor tailored specifically to the growing of row crops and most especially to cultivating. Cultivating can take place anytime from soon after the crop plants have sprouted until soon before they are harvested. The earliest win from introducing tractors to mechanize agriculture was in reducing the heavy efforts of plowing and harrowing before planting, which could often be backbreaking tasks for humans and draft animals. Early tractors were used mainly to alleviate this drudgery.

Crawler Tractors:

Horsepower (HP)           

                It is the unit of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts. Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. The unit was widely adopted to measure the output of piston engines, turbines, electric motors, and other machinery.

Mechanical horsepower

hp(1)  = 33,000 ft-lb/min

           = 550 ft-lb/s

           = 745.699872 Watt

Engine troubles

Following are the general troubles of an engine

Ø  Engine will not start

Ø  Engine cranks but not start

Ø  Engine does not develop full power

Ø  Exhaust smoke of engine

Ø  Engine over heated

Engine will not start

Ø  Starting motor (generator) at fault

Ø  Battery may be week

Ø  High resistance in circuits

Ø  Defective starting switch

Ø  Engine oil too heavy

Engine cranks but not start

Ø  injection pump faulty

Ø  Air intake restricted

Ø  Battery low in charge

Engine does not develop full power

Ø  Moisture in fuel

Ø  Fuel filter clogged

Ø  Poor fuel

Ø  Injection pump not timed correctly

Ø  Air leaks around intake parts

Ø  Low compression

Ø  Faulty fuel supply pump

Exhaust smoke of engine

Ø  Wrong value system

Ø  Problematic piston rings and cylinder walls

Ø  Defective fuel nozzle

Ø  Clogged  air cleaner

Ø  Wrong type fuel

Ø  Engine over loaded

Engine over heated

Ø  Inefficient cooling

Ø  Clogged cooling system

Ø  Fan belt slipping or fan not working

Ø  Poor circulation through radiator

Ø  Insufficient lubrication oil

Ø  Engine over loaded

Ø  Defective water pump

Ø  Defective thermostat value

Tractor Maintenance

Daily maintenance

Ø  Check fuel

Ø  Check water level in cooling system

Ø  Check oil level

Ø  Check brakes

Maintenance after a week (50 hours)

Ø  Attend various lubrication points

Ø  Check tyre pressure

Ø  Check oil level in hydraulic system

Ø  Clean the battery terminals

Maintenance after month (120 hours)

Ø  Change engine oil

Ø  Change oil filter

Ø  Attend lubrication points

Ø  Check fan belt

Ø  Check liquid level in battery cell

Ø  Clean hydraulic oil filter

Maintenance after 600 hours

Ø  Change transmission oil

Ø  Check fuel oil and air cleaner

Ø  Check front wheel assembly

Ø  Change hydraulic oil

Ø  Clean air cleaner upper part and air intake pipe