How to avoid costly breakdowns in the field

Machinery downtime can be a costly inconvenience, especially during busy periods on the farm.  Did you know that 70% of all unreliability in machines is caused by improper lubrication? (Source: Machinery Lubrication magazine.)
Lubricant demands for vehicles and machinery is greater than it’s ever been.  Here, we provide some tips on how to prevent breakdowns.
 
 
Using the right lubricant
Incorrect lubrication causes mechanical wear and premature equipment failure. Using the wrong or low-quality lubricants is a major factor given that it may not contain the essential chemistry to prevent premature wear and corrosion.
Older equipment’s needs are very different to modern applications, including complying with the latest emissions standards.  A trusted oil manufacturer uses approved formulations approved by the OEM. This helps ensure that warranty conditions are not jeopardised, and servicing costs are kept to a minimum. Always choose a lubricant that meets the appropriate quality standard specified by either the OEM or one of the industry bodies such as ACEA or API.
Do you have enough oil in the engine?
Even if the correct amount of lubricant has been added during an oil change, the oil may be unduly consumed due to evaporation, burning caused by worn piston rings, and leaks through the seals or oil plug.  Typically, the older the equipment, the more oil it will use.  Follow proper oil change intervals and check the oil periodically. Conversely too much oil in the system can cause catastrophic failure, oil cannot be compressed so components are be in danger of colliding with essentially a solid mass.

Get the right viscosity of oil for each application
Oil is to an engine what blood is to the human body.  If it’s too thick it can cause the engines oil system to clog (think heart attack); too thin and you risk uncontrolled wear.  So, selecting and maintaining the consistency (viscosity) is key.  When oil viscosity is too low or high, it may be detected as a loss of pressure in the oil supply to the engine.
Having a free lubricant survey of your machinery fleet will enable you to have an easy reference to the recommended specs for engine oil, greases, hydraulic and brake fluid and antifreeze and coolants.

Regular maintenance checks
It’s also important to conduct regular maintenance checks of machinery to try and spot any issues before a breakdown is caused. Regular checks of engine oil, transmission fluid and grease points should be carried out, especially during periods of heavy usage.  Regular checks should also be made on gearboxes, chains and belts for wear and replace fuel filters regularly.
Don’t ignore warning signals
Warning lights are there for a reason, often signalling issues that need to be addressed, such as low hydraulic pressure, high engine temperature or a shaft that isn’t turning. However, too often those signals are ignored, resulting in machinery failure.

To keep your machinery turning throughout the year, simple maintenance and help from a reputable oil provider can make a real financial difference.  The Witham Group has almost 100 years of experience in agricultural lubricants.
For more information or to contact The Witham Group visit WithamGroup.co.uk