When agricultural machines are operating in the crop field is always a good sign. It means they are working at full power: planting, spraying, applying fertiliser, or transporting the harvest that feeds Brazil.
But in order to have machines operating at their most capacity, it’s crucial to perform the preventive maintenance, which helps to identify earlier some damage or wear that may jeopardize the whole harvest results.
This article covers the best practice to take care of the pieces of equipment and prolong the lifespan of the agricultural machines, always keeping the crop field landscape in motion.
What is the preventive maintenance of agricultural machines?
The preventive maintenance of the agricultural machines is a set of preventive, corrective and predictive actions to ensure the constant performance of the equipment and a safe operation in the crop field. It includes tasks such as cleaning, lubrication, replacement of the worn-out parts, inspection of mechanical components, and specific calibrations.
When should it be carried out?
To choose the perfect timing for preventive maintenance of the equipment, you need to consider the crops seasons. Check it out
- Before harvesting: make sure everything is in conditions for the intensive work period.
- After harvesting: clean, inspect and perform the preventive maintenance to store the equipment.
- According to the operating hours: follow the manufacturer specifications for maintenance intervals according to the operating hours.
Reasons to schedule the agricultural machine inspection
The preventive maintenance is an important investment to ensure good performance of the agricultural machines constantly. When performing inspections and regular repairs, you avoid more serious issues in a long term. Check out the five main reasons:
1. Increasing the equipment lifespan
Regular inspections prevent premature wear. As a result, the agricultural machine can keep on operating for a longer time. When performing preventive maintenance, you can identify and correct minor issues.
2. Reducing the costs of repairs
The constant inspection of agricultural machines results in a significant reduction of costs with urgent repairs. Without periodic inspection, minor issues could be missed.
3. Higher yields
Well-cared pieces of equipment operate better, with less stops and interruptions during operations. It provides higher yields and less idleness.
4. More safety
Well-cared pieces of equipment are less subject to cause accidents, ensuring the operators’ safety and everybody else’s that work in the farm.
5. Perfect performance
Inspected pieces of equipment frequently tend to operate with the ideal performance, following what was intended for the machine development. The periodic inspection performed at the factory allows more than just inspecting the general conditions of the equipment, but especially, if it’s reaching its top performance.
Hints to implement the preventive maintenance
The preventive maintenance should be something schedule in a daily basis of the farm and it requires to be alert to some points. Following these hints ensures your agricultural machine to be always in perfect conditions of functioning, boosting your yield and profitability.
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Create a maintenance plan
Set the tasks to be carried out and their frequency. Ask the technician for help, if necessary. Or, preferably, to the own manufacturer.
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Skilled operators
It’s important that operators can identify wear signals and how to perform visual inspections. Make sure professionals are familiar with the correct procedures for usage and safety. Additionally, it’s essential to contact the factory and how to report the issues identified.
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Have technical assistance
When purchasing an agricultural machine, be sure that there is technical assistance available to help operators remotely or in-person at the closest dealer.
As for Stara agricultural machines, Conecta service is free of charge and can be activated directly from the machine cab through the Topper 5500 agricultural controller. The exchange of messages is on the phone via WhatsApp.
Want to learn more? Contact Stara
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Use genuine parts
Use genuine parts of the factory to ensure quality, performance, and lifespan of the equipment. In addition, talk to a skilled mechanic to do the services.
Maintenance plan: follow these five steps
The maintenance of agricultural machines should be performed based on a planning, a schedule and following the technical recommendations. See the main steps:
1. Regular visual inspection of agricultural machines
- Check it for wear, leaks, and cracks.
- Inspect the conditions of the hinges and roller bearings.
2. Proper lubrication
Use the recommended lubrications in the manufacturer’s manual and apply them at the indicated frequencies.
3. Cleaning after operations
Remove dust and chemical residues of the pieces of equipment to avoid corrosion.
4. Replacing worn-out parts
Components such as cutting discs, spray nozzles and gears should be replaced when they are worn out.
5. Calibrating the agricultural machine
Make sure the sensors and electronic system are adjusted for a perfect performance. Contact a technical assistance, preferably, to perform a periodic inspection.
What cautions need to be taken when operating agricultural machines?
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Operate within the limits
Don’t overload the agricultural machines. It could speed up the wear process.
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Constant monitoring
Be alert to noises or usual vibrations that could indicate issues.
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Proper storage
The place where you storage the agricultural machines influences its durability. Always store them in a clean and dry place, protected from humidity and dust.
Stara Maintenance Program: Get to know the advantages
To ensure the high performance of your agricultural Stara machine and extend its lifespan, Stara provides you with the Stara Maintenance Program. It’s a service that checks and replaces components as planned and customized to the farm needs. Check out the remarkable features:
- Factory warranty: the services performed by the Stara dealers, throughout Brazil, ensure factory warranty. It ensures safety to those who work in the field and reliability in case of sudden issues.
- Specialized services: For each machine model, Stara provides specific Specialized Services that deliver the best Stara equipment performance. They are acquired through a package, such as the calibration for the agricultural machine.
- Trained professionals: The dealer professionals receive training at the factory and frequent updates on the machines, especially in relation to the on-board technologies.
- Genuine parts: During repairs, only genuine parts and approved parts are used. This criterion ensures the equipment durability and is a safe and reliable investment.
Conclusion
The proper maintenance of agricultural machines is an investment that provides a guaranteed return, as much for productivity as for cost reduction with mechanical repairs. In this article, you got familiar with five reasons to perform preventive maintenance and the remarkable features of the Stara Maintenance Program. Applying regular preventive maintenance practice, following the manufacturer’s recommendations and perform the periodic inspections are essential steps to ensure yield.
Did you like the hints and want to find out the agricultural machine that best suits your crop field?
Stop by a Stara dealer and find the most suitable equipment to boost your production.
