15 Common Farm Equipment Repair & Maintenance Examples

Farm equipment is machinery used to help with agricultural operations. It includes any tools that help farmers work more efficiently, from planting and harvesting crops to caring for livestock. Tractors, plows, seeders, balers and sprayers are just a few farm equipment repair and maintenance examples that play integral parts in the day-to-day work on a farm. 

How would a farmer, say, bale hay quickly before a rainstorm comes without the help of a tractor and attached baler? A breakdown of agricultural equipment directly impacts productivity on a farm, which is why it’s important to implement a preventive maintenance strategy for your most crucial heavy equipment.

Let’s take a look at the most common types of farm machinery — how they’re used, how to perform equipment maintenance on them and, when necessary, how to repair them to avoid excessive unplanned downtime.

1. Tractor 

Tractors share a mechanical similarity to vehicles you see on the road; however, unlike those vehicles, they are high-powered at low speeds. In farming, tractors are used to push or pull agricultural machinery or trailers. 

And the addition of implements broadens a trailer’s use. For example, plows are added for soil preparation; disk harrows help break up clumps; seeders aid in planting; and cultivators are used for weed control. Mowers and rotary cutters handle grass and brush, while front-end loaders and backhoes assist with lifting and digging. Tractors also use snow-plow implements at their front to push and clear snow from roads, driveways and other surfaces.

Examples of Tractor Repair & Maintenance 

• Change oil: Conduct regular oil changes every 100 to 150 hours of operation. 
• Inspect tires: Check tire pressure and wear. 
• Check air filters: Clean or replace filters if dirty or clogged. 
• Maintain fuel system: Ensure fuel lines are clear and fuel filters are clean. 
• Grease joints: Lubricate moving parts to prevent wear and rust. 
• Check belts and hoses: Inspect for wear and replace as necessary. 

2. Combine Harvester 

A combine harvester, also known as a combine, harvests and separates grains, such as corn, wheat and barley, from inedible parts of the plant in one fell swoop. It first cuts the crop at its base; then, the whole plant enters the combine’s drum, and the grains are pulled from their stalks. 

The chaff (husks or outer layers of grain) is moved to the back of the combine while the grains go through a grain tank. From there, it goes to an unloader and makes its way into a cart. The chaff can be used in other places around the farm. For example, it can be used as bedding for animals, added to straw bales or spread as food for soil.

Examples of Combine Repair & Maintenance 

• Check threshing system: Regularly clean the combine’s threshing drum and sieve.
• Inspect belts: Replace worn or frayed belts to maintain efficiency. 
• Sharpen cutting blades: Sharpen or replace blades for smooth harvesting. 
• Check oil levels: Ensure oil in the engine and hydraulics is at the correct level. 
• Inspect the auger: Ensure the auger is free of debris and well-lubricated. 

3. Plow 

A plow is an implement used to prepare a crop seedbed, by turning and breaking soil and residue from old plants. Doing this helps control the proliferation of weeds, aerates the soil and makes it more nutrient dense and fertile by allowing it to retain more moisture. 

Traditionally, plows were drawn by horses or oxen, but today, they are pulled and powered by tractors. They may have an iron, steel or wood frame with blades attached — these are known as “bottoms” or “furrowing spades.” Their shapes and cutting edges can vary, with each designed for a specific task or soil type.

Examples of Plow Repair & Maintenance 

• Inspect plowshares: Check for wear and replace if the cutting edges are dull or damaged. 
• Lubricate the pivots and moving parts: Prevent rust and ensure smooth operation. 
• Tighten bolts and nuts: Ensure all connections are secure before use. 

4. Cultivator 

Farmers use cultivators to prep soil, but how they’re used depends on the size of the job. Cultivators loosen and aerate topsoil to create a smooth seedbed. They control weeds by disturbing the soil around crops, pulling the weeds and burying their leaves to stop them from photosynthesizing. They disturb soil in specific patterns, which spares the crop plants but kills the weeds. Cultivators can help mix potting soil and regular soil together or work fertilizer, manure or compost into the soil. 

Cultivators are engine-powered or manual, with blades or toothed shanks. They are used in household gardens (typically manually) and in larger agricultural operations on tractors.  

Examples of Cultivator Repair & Maintenance 

• Check tines: Ensure that the tines are not bent, broken or dull. 
• Lubricate the bearings: Prevent rust and ensure smooth movement of the equipment. 
• Inspect and tighten bolts: Ensure all parts are securely fastened. 

5. Seeder/Planter 

Seeders and planters sow seeds, but while the terms for both are used interchangeably, they perform their functions in a different manner. Seeders sow seeds at a particular depth and row spacing to ensure even distribution in small grain and cereal crops, like wheat, canola and rapeseed. Planters are more precise in their seed dispersion during the planting season. They ensure consistent spacing and are used for larger crops like sunflowers, corn or vegetables. 

Both seeders and planters are tractor implements in that the tractor provides the necessary power to operate the planter or seeder. They offer efficiency, precision and uniformity in planting and protect seeds from animals and birds.  

Examples of Seeder/Planter Repair & Maintenance 

• Check seed delivery system: Make sure seed tubes are clear and not clogged. 
• Inspect and replace planting disks: Ensure the planting disks are not worn or cracked. 
• Lubricate moving parts: Keep mechanisms functioning smoothly. 

6. Baler 

Balers collect, compress and bundle hay, straw or other crops into dense bales. They allow farms to harvest and store hay as a livestock feed source and bale straw or crop residues for various purposes. Round balers create large, cylindrical bales, and square balers make smaller, rectangular bales.

Loose material, like hay, is cut, mowed and raked into rows. The baler picks it up and feeds it into a bale chamber where it’s compressed and formed into a bale. Once it reaches the desired size, it is wrapped with netting or twine to hold it together and then discharged from the baler. 

Examples of Baler Repair & Maintenance 

• Inspect and replace belts: Balers often have a series of belts that need to be replaced when worn. 
• Check and replace chains: Chains are vital for feeding the material into the baler. 
• Lubricate rollers and bearings: Ensure moving parts are well-lubricated to prevent premature wear.

7. Mower 

Tractor-attached mowers cut or lightly brush grass or weeds over a wide swath of land to maintain fields, manage vegetation by controlling unwanted growth and otherwise prepare land for farming-related activities. Lawnmower implements are also used to maintain roadsides and other overgrown areas. 

There are many types of mowers used in farming. Flail mowers are designed to tackle the roughest, most uneven terrain. Rotary and batwing mowers are used in meadows and pastures for cutting large, grassy areas. Sickle and drum mowers also cut grass but are also used in haymaking. Grooming mowers cut with more precision and are used for maintaining golf courses, other sports fields and lawns. 

Examples of Mower Repair & Maintenance 

• Sharpen blades: Regularly sharpen the mower blades to ensure a clean cut. 
• Check oil levels: Keep the engine oil at proper levels. 
• Inspect belts and pulleys: Replace any worn or damaged belts. 

8. Sprayer 

Agricultural sprayers are used to apply chemical liquids, such as fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides to large swaths of plants or crops to maintain their health during the growth cycle. They come in various types and sizes, from hand-held backpacks to tractor-operated systems. Some common agricultural sprayers are boom sprayers, which offer large-scale coverage; ATV/UTV sprayers for hard-to-spray areas; and backpack sprayers for spot treatments.

Through their precise application, sprayers ensure crops receive nutrients and protection against pests and diseases. This focused approach reduces waste and helps farms save money and time, as sprayers can cover large areas quickly. Sprayers also help protect the environment in that potential runoff and contamination from chemicals are kept to a minimum in nearby locations.

Examples of Sprayer Repair & Maintenance 

• Clean nozzles and filters: Prevent clogs by cleaning the sprayer nozzles regularly. 
• Inspect hoses and connections: Ensure that all hoses are in good condition and free of leaks. 
• Check the pump: Check that the pump is operating correctly, with no leaks or malfunctions. 

9. Forklift 

Farm forklifts can be attached to tractors or be standalone vehicles. They are used for lifting and moving heavy items, such as animal feed, hay bales, seed and fertilizer. They make the loading and unloading of farm supplies easy and quick, and they can transport a large amount of materials from place to place with ease.

Forklifts are used to stack and store items in areas that can be out of reach, allowing farms to maximize storage space. With the proper attachments, a forklift can be used to sweep and clean animal pens and barn floors or sow or harvest crops.

Examples of Forklift Repair & Maintenance 

• Check hydraulic fluid: Ensure fluid levels are adequate and that the system is leak-free. 
• Inspect tires: Check for wear and proper inflation. 
• Lubricate the mast: Regularly lubricate the mast for smooth lifting and lowering operations. 

10. Hay Rake 

A hay rake gathers hay into lines (known as “windrows”) so that it can be picked up more easily by a baler. Hay cannot be baled directly from a hay mower’s swath — it does not dry well unless it’s turned, fluffed and flipped by a hay tedder or rake. The path left from the mower alone is not easily picked up by a baler and will result in missing hay. 

A hay rake allows its operator to rake at least two mower swaths into one line for baling. The operator makes fewer passes with the baler and creates more consistently dense, quality bales.

Examples of Hay Rake Repair & Maintenance 

• Inspect rake teeth: Check for damage or wear, and replace if necessary. 
• Grease moving parts: Lubricate the joints and moving parts to prevent rust and wear. 
• Check for tightness of bolts and nuts: Ensure all connections are secure. 

11. Grain Cart 

A grain cart is a tool used in the harvesting of grain crops, like corn, wheat or barley. This massive moving bin travels next to a combine, collects the grain and transfers it to a waiting truck, trailer or other transport vessels by use of an auger or grain elevator. 

Grain carts speed up grain collection operations and facilitate the storage of grains. They keep the combine running and cut down on extra trips across the field, which helps prevent soil compaction. With their ample capacity and sturdy design, grain carts can handle high volumes of grain, which is critical during peak harvest periods.

Examples of Grain Cart Repair & Maintenance 

• Check and replace bearings: Bearings in the unloading system should be inspected regularly and replaced as needed. 
• Inspect auger: Check for any wear and tear, and ensure it is clear of debris. 
• Grease all moving parts: Lubricate parts for smooth operation and to prevent rust. 

12. Disc Harrow 

A disc harrow helps farmers prepare for planting or sowing by breaking up clods and crusts in the soil’s surface to allow for better air circulation, moisture penetration and root growth. It cuts up weeds and buries them in the soil to prevent the growth of new weeds and reduce the need for herbicides as well as adds nutrient-rich organic matter to the soil, improving its fertility. 

By properly preparing the soil, a disc harrow improves crop yields, as the optimal environment for seed germination and plant growth is created. It can also be used on various types of soil and adjusted to different angles and depths.

Examples of Disc Harrow Repair & Maintenance 

• Check the discs for wear: Ensure the discs are not dull or damaged. 
• Lubricate bearings: Grease to reduce friction and prevent wear. 
• Tighten bolts: Check that all components are secure to prevent accidents.

13. Subsoiler 

Farms use a subsoiler to break up compacted soil beneath the surface for crop proliferation. Using one makes it easier for water, air and roots to move through the soil. Unlike conventional cultivators, which only work the topsoil, a subsoiler digs deeper, 12 to 22 inches below the surface, to reach and loosen hard-packed layers that cannot otherwise be reached. 

Subsoilers are known to improve soil health, boost crop yields and prevent water from pooling in fields. By reducing compaction, they create better conditions for roots to spread and absorb nutrients and help  keep soil fertile and fields productive, year after year.

Examples of Subsoiler Repair & Maintenance 

• Check tines: Inspect and replace the tines if they are bent or broken. 
• Lubricate pivot points: Ensure smooth operation of the machine. 
• Inspect and maintain the frame: Check the frame for any cracks or damage. 

14. Post Hole Digger 

Post-hole diggers create deep, narrow holes for setting posts and can be manual or powered. Manual diggers have two long handles and curved blades, making them useful for residential projects requiring high precision, as they allow full control over digging. Sharp blades suited for a specific soil type and longer handles for better leverage make any project — whether you’re installing fences, decks or signposts — easier for the person operating the post hole digger.

Powered post-hole diggers use a motor-driven auger to drill into the ground quickly, making them perfect for contractors tackling large projects or tough soil. 

Examples of Post Hole Digger Repair & Maintenance 

• Check auger for damage: Ensure the auger is sharp and free of damage. 
• Lubricate the gearbox: Keep the gearbox greased for smooth operation. 
• Inspect the drive chain: Make sure the chain is in good condition and properly adjusted. 

15. Irrigation System 

Irrigation systems provide crops with a dependable and consistent water source, reducing their need for rainfall. Common types of irrigation systems include drip irrigation, delivering water directly to plant roots and center pivot systems that cover large areas. Proper irrigation prevents drought stress, enhances soil health and boosts plant productivity. 

Farmers choose irrigation systems based on the crop type, soil conditions and water availability. Investing in the right system is critical for the sustainability of a crop and profitable operations. Modern flood irrigation systems use sensors and automation to optimize water usage and also offer remote monitoring and precise control, helping farmers conserve water. 

Examples of Irrigation System Repair & Maintenance 

• Clean filters: Prevent blockages in the system by cleaning or replacing filters. 
• Check for leaks: Inspect hoses, pipes and fittings for any leaks. 
• Inspect and maintain the pump: Ensure the pump is functioning properly and replace any worn components.