A talk I gave on Tractor Maintenance for the Missouri Organic Association. Check out more info http://michael-kilpatrick.com/

1. Tractors 101

2. Outline
• Basic information about tractors
• Purchasing your first tractor
• Tractor safety
• Basic troubleshooting
• outside to look at a real tractor

4. Diesel VS Gas
•
•
•
•
•
•
Engines last longer
Special care in winter
Better torque
harder to repair engine
yourself
fuel safer to handle
heavier built
•
Easier to work on
yourself
•
ethanol in fuel can be a
nightmare
•
•
•
start in winter easier
Cheaper prices
best for small jobs like
cultivation

5. Drawbar HP vs PTO HP
• 1 HP = 550 Ft lb/s
• Drawbar horsepower (DHP) is pulling hp, or how
much HP available to pull an implement through
the ground (like a plow)
• Power Take Off (or PTOHP) is energy that is
available to drive an implement that is hooked to
the PTO shaft.
• PTOHP is always less than DHP because there is
always a certain amount of energy that is used to
move the tractor forward.

7. Basic Systems on a
tractor
• Mechanical or power system
• Cooling system
• Fuel
• Air system
• Lubrication system
• Electrical system

8. transmissions
Manual shift most common
Synchro shift easier to shift on
go
Reverser
Hydrostatic

9. Checking out a tractor..
Tractordata.com is a fabulous place to
research different tractors
www.mytractorforum.com,
www.yesterdaystractors.com, and
www.tractorbynet.com are additional places
to research them.

14. Places to buy a tractor
• Dealer
• Tractorhouse, machinefinder, fastline
• Craigslist, ebay, newspapers
• side of the road

15. What kind of tractor do
you want?

16. General purpose
tractors

17. General purpose
tractors
This is the first new tractor we bought
its always nice to have one small “working”
tractor
use for rototilling, loading compost, mowing,
etc
Live vs independent PTO
quick connect bucket allows for easy
changing of implements

19. Vegetable tractors
Tillage work on the farm
important it doesn't break down
responsible for spraying, bed forming, pulling
harvesters, transplanters, etc
loader responsible for loading compost,
fertilizer, moving equipment, light excavation.
most dealers are clueless about vegetable
tractors

20. important features
telescoping draft links
telescoping hydraulic top link
creeper gear
open operator platform
reverser transmission
narrow tires to fit between beds

21. Cultivation Tractors

22. Cultivation tractors
Narrow tires
clearance for cultivation setup
Clear line of sight to crop
tight turning radius

24. Common mistakes
• Not starting it cold
• assuming the dealer/owner/crooks word
for it
• not checking all fluid systems
• worrying about cosmetics
• buying with price solely in mind
• buying too small or too big a tractor
• being rushed into a sale...

67. helpful books
• Equipping Your Horse Farm: Tractors, Trailers & Other Implements
• How to Keep Your Tractor Running (Motorbooks Workshop)
• How to Restore Your Farm Tractor (Motorbooks Workshop)
• Steel in the Field: A Farmer's Guide to Weed-Management Tools
(Sustainable Agriculture Network Handbook Series, 2) (available as a
free download from SARE)

68. Trouble shooting Gas
Tractors
• Will it turn over? (battery, starter)
• Is it getting Spark? (wiring harness worn,
points need cleaned)
• Is it getting Gas? (is fuel turned off? Is filter
clogged)
• Is it sputtering? (adjust or clean carburetor,
check fuel, Mixture screws adjusted)
• Overheating? (check radiator fluid and

69. Troubleshooting Diesel
tractors
• Will not crank (battery, interlock, wiring
problem)
• Will not start (fuel, filters blocked,weak
battery)
• Runs poorly ( filters clogged, tractor needs
rebuilt)

70. Lets go look at a
tractor!!

71. What are you looking
for in a tractor?
• What is your budget (most new tractor
financing is 0% for 48 or 60 months)
• what tasks do you want to do with your
tractor
• what do you feel comfortable with
• 2 wheel vs 4 wheel

72. Buying a tractor
checklist
• Ask to see any owners manuals
• check serial plates
• stored inside or outside
• new coat of paint?
• inspect frame, any welding or cracks

73. Buying a tractor
checklist
• check joints for grease
• throw cardboard under to check for oil
leaks
• inspeak ROPS, verify not homemade
• check filters (fuel, oil, air, hydraulic)
• Check fluid reservoirs
• Check battery- turn lights on for a few
minutes and then start tractor

74. Buying a tractor
checklist
• check all belts and hoses
• check tires (repairs, gouges, weatherchecking)
• bearings and wheel bearings
• lights, controls, etc....

75. Buying a tractor
checklist
Start the tractor cold
•
• check for smoke (startup smoke is okay,
running at full rpm’s shouldn’t have any
smoke at all)
• noises
• oil pressure and leaks
• is transmission smooth, does PTO engage
easily

76. Buying a tractor
checklist
• does hydraulics work well, without jerking
or stopping
• is ride relatively smooth?
• IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TAKE A FRIEND OR
MECHANIC WITH YOU

77. Connect with us!
@kilpatrickfarm
Michael Kilpatrick
www.michael-kilpatrick.com
www.kilpatrickfamilyfarm.com