Post-harvest provides time for maintenance

WINFIELD — After the exceptionally long days of harvest, the bountiful crops are finally gathered, the bright beams of tractor headlights no longer prick the darkness of Iowa fields, and farmers begin preparing for what is next.

Machinery maintenance is one of the many ways they prepare for a successful tilling and planting season ahead of time.

At Sinclair Tractor in Winfield, service technicians assist these hardworking farmers with these sorts of preparations.

“Farmers are always looking ahead for what season is next,” Service Technician Lucas Rappenecker said as he worked on a 8370 RT IVT transmission.

Rappenecker began working for Sinclair Tractor 8 years ago right out of high school, and has begun to expect certain shifts in his work as the seasons change.

Once the push to get crops in comes to a halt, Rappenecker finds that his work commonly shifts from working on combines to tractor repair and maintenance because these are what the farmers will use for the next season.

Additionally, “The jobs are bigger in the offseason,” he said. “When they’re in the field the priority is to get them back out there as quickly as possible.”

In the planning season, farmers are afforded more time to inspect their machines and have major repairs done without disrupting the timing of planting or harvesting.

“Those bigger jobs are the ones that are lacking routine maintenance,” 18-year mobile service technician Ryan Springsteen said. “A little TLC goes a long ways.”

According to another 18-year service technician, Brandon McKean, the natural rhythm of the farming seasons bring more machines in after harvest for inspections and to prepare for planting.

Tractors need maintenance similar to that of the average road vehicle.

“For the newer models, the oil needs changed every 500 hours of use,” he said as he stepped away from his work on a skid loader motor. “For the older models, it needs change every 250.”

Springsteen expanded on the similarities of maintenance.

“This is the time for scheduled maintenance like oil and filter changes,” he said. “Water pumps also need their engine valves inspected.”

It is during this time that Sinclair Tractor offers inspection deals.

“Farmers can bring their stuff in or we can go to them,” Springsteen said. “When we do an inspection we look for broken or damaged parts and do preventive maintenance.”

“The idea is to have them bring them in while it is still fresh in their minds,” McKean said.

He explained that it is simpler to perform repairs during this time of year than when farmers first pull out their tractors to begin tilling and are on a time crunch.

Inspection deals are always posted in the Sinclair Tractor store, but are also sometimes posted online.

“This is where the seasons start and stop,” Rappenecker said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com