How to Drive a Tractor

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:10
Tractors come in all sizes with different horsepower engines. Tractors make farming easier and more efficient. You can attach a plow or blower and use your tractor to remove snow, attach a bucket and move wood, stone, or mulch, use the...
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Tractors come in all sizes with different horsepower engines. Tractors make farming easier and more efficient. You can attach a plow or blower and use your tractor to remove snow, attach a bucket and move wood, stone, or mulch, use the forks to lift large logs, small dead trees, and other heavy objects, and even use your tractor to mow your lawn. It's a versatile and essential rural tool.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Checking the Tractor

  1. Step 1 Look for tractor safety issues.
    Walk around your tractor doing an inspection before climbing on. Loose wheel lugs, nuts, or bolts may need periodic tightening.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Driving the Tractor

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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Using the Tractor

  1. Step 3 Install a finish mower to turn your tractor into a large ride-on mower.
    Many smaller tractors will come with a finish mower mounted underneath (a belly mower). Alternatively, a finish mower can be put on the 3-point hitch.
    • Belly mowers allow for a tighter turn radius and make it easier to mow around obstacles.
    • Rear mowers are faster and easier to add and remove.
    • Don't use finish mowers for brush mowing. They have rigid blades and can be damaged if they hit a stump, rock, or other immovable object.
  2. Step 5 Add some forks to your tractor.
    If your tractor has a front-end loader, it can be fitted with forks. You can use them for moving large, heavy items around your property, such as oil drums, logs, boards, and pallets -- effectively turning your tractor into an all-terrain forklift.
    • If your tractor does not have a front-end loader, you can install forks on the 3-point hitch instead.
  3. Step 6 Install a back blade.
    Back blades are one of the most versatile implements for your tractor. They have a wide variety of uses, including (but not limited to):
    • grading a gravel driveway
    • spreading soil
    • digging a swale
    • bulldozing
    • snow removal
  4. Step 8 Install a hitch receiver.
    You can put a trailer hitch either on the three-point hitch or on the front-end loader. Both locations allow you to easily adjust the hitch to the height required for properly towing the trailer, and allow you to quickly attach/detach trailers without needing to jack the tongue.
    • Installing the hitch on the rear is better for towing trailers long distances. It is also better for moving trailers with a lot of tongue weight.
    • Putting a hitch on the front improves visibility if you need to push a trailer into a confined space.
  5. Step 11 Watch your exhaust stack.
    Ideally, the tractor should emit very little to no smoke while it's in use. If smoke is coming out, pay attention to the color.
    • Black smoke from the exhaust means the engine is getting more fuel than it can handle, and the extra fuel is not being completely burned. To resolve this, try either gearing down and increasing RPMs to reduce the load on the engine, or cleaning the air filter to ensure the engine is getting enough air. If the tractor is still smoky, one or more fuel injectors may be stuck open and need cleaning or replacement.
    • Grey smoke consists of atomized diesel fuel that didn't get hot enough to burn. A small amount of grey smoke after a cold start is normal and should go away when the engine warms up. However, if the smoke persists when the engine is hot, there's a good chance one or more cylinders have low compression, often due to an exhaust valve being stuck open.
    • Blue or white smoke is a sign of engine damage and should be addressed immediately. Blue smoke means the engine is burning oil, often due to worn rings. White smoke often means coolant is leaking into the engine due to a blown head gasket.
  6. Step 12 Research other useful implements.
    There are dozens of implements on the market for tractors, including box scrapers, log splitters, wood chippers, branch loggers, backhoes, bale spears, hay rakes, logging winches, salt spreaders, snow blowers, and more.
    • If you have a welder, you can build custom implements, limited only by your tractor's power and your imagination.
  7. Step 13 Learn how to get extra traction.
    Sometimes you may have to operate the tractor in environments with poor traction, such as snow or deep mud, resulting in the machine becoming stuck.
    • Many tractors have independent brakes for the left and right back wheels. Try applying some brake to the slipping wheel.
    • Alternatively, try locking the rear differential (often a foot pedal activated by your right heel). This forces both back wheels to turn at the same speed, which can be useful if one wheel has traction and the other doesn't, or if you're driving across a slope. Be aware that doing this will make cornering difficult, as the tractor will want to drive in a straight line.
    • Put the tractor in four-wheel-drive if equipped. This can be especially useful if you have a heavily loaded bucket. Make sure to turn off the four-wheel-drive on hard surfaces, as it will cause increased wear on the transmission.
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Warnings

  • Never leave your tractor running and unattended.
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  • Never start a tractor unless you are in the tractor's seat. Accidents have occurred because tractors have accidentally run over their owners.
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  • Do not start your tractor's engine in an enclosed garage or shed. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which can be deadly.
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  • Never take chances or rush while operating your tractor.
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