Andy and I are renovating a farmhouse here in the village of Alstonefield in the same village where we run Tractor Spare Parts. It seems like all year has been a race against time to do certain steps of the renovation before the winter comes. Firstly, so that we can do the work before the mud and the worst of the weather stops us, but also so that we will be warm during the winter.
This year we have replaced window mullion stones as well as door stones, the windows and doors themselves and also relined the chimneys. Luckily, we are on the last door today and the house will soon be water-tight again and with log-burner working, we will have some heat this winter. It is an ongoing project and being the perfectionists that we are, it has been a battle as we will not settle for anything less than a very good job – something that we try to carry over into our working lives and the parts that we sell at Tractor Spare Parts.
Winter Around The World
So, this has got me thinking, about getting ready for winter, and what this involves for different people. Because we ship Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall parts worldwide, there is a very different definition of winter to all of our different customers. We ship a lot of tractor parts to Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Norway and Finland, where the winters are cold, snowy and significantly harsher. We also ship to countries such as Australia, where winters do not even get near freezing. But the long and short of it is that there are jobs that need to be done to prepare us for the change of season. Be it cutting logs, as we do on the back of our Leyland 472, or fetching and moving troughs, as we might do with the link box on the back of our BMC Mini tractor, tractors need to be prepared for the seasons too.
Checklists for tractor preparation for the winter
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is an additive which is mixed with water to lower its freezing point. Anti-freeze also raises the boiling point of water to prevent the engine overheating and to aid in minimising corrosion to the engine. Therefore, it is vital that the correct concentration of antifreeze is added so that it works well and the water doesn’t freeze and cause the engine block to crack, or to exhibit any other problems. Therefore, not only do you need to check the level of anti-freeze as winter approaches, but you also need to check the concentration of antifreeze.
The BMC engines, Perkins engines and the Leyland engines that are fitted to the Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall tractors use blue antifreeze. Blue anti-freeze has a lifetime of 2 years, so it is important to replace your antifreeze every other year, to ensure that it is continuing to provide sufficient protection to your engine.
To check the concentration of anti-freeze in your radiator you can either use a float tester or a refractometer, but you must make sure that it is suitable for the anti-freeze that you are using.
Here at Tractor Spare Parts Ltd, we offer a range of oils and lubricants from Pennine Lubricants, who are based in Sheffield. We offer the blue antifreeze from Pennine lubricants and we offer a 5 litre drum for sale on the website, or, we also supply 20 litre blue anti-freeze drums that are available in our stores.
Lights
It is important for lights to be working properly as the dark nights roll in. It is so important for you to be able to see where you are going, and for people to be able to see you too. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations, and simple things like checking lights can make it a lot safer for everybody.
We offer a range of lights and bulbs for Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall tractors. From the OEM (original equipment manufacturer), PMG, light units and spare lenses for the Leyland quiet cab tractors, to the side and tail lights for the Leyland 154 tractor and BMC Mini tractors, we offer a wide range of lights and light units for the Nuffield, Leyland and Marshall tractor ranges. We also offer number plate lights, and accessories such as escutcheon plates and light switches.
Windscreen Wipers
As the autumn sets in, so does the rain. While this rain is very welcome to replenish the stocks after such a dry summer, it always seems to come in the form of a big downpour resulting in puddles and mud.
It is so important to be able to see from your tractor while it is raining that you need to make sure that your windscreen wipers are working (if you are lucky enough to have a cab on your tractor that is). We offer a range of windscreen wiper switches for the Leyland tractors with the safety cab and the Leyland quiet cab (this switch also does the lights too!)
Tyres
We have already talked about mud, and it will be the tyres that get to see the brut of this mud. It is worth checking the general condition of your tyres for cracks and to make sure that they will hold up to the frosty conditions. It is also a good idea to check your tyre pressures – we always check the tyre pressures in our cars, so why not in our tractors too. It is always a good idea to do this as the weather gets colder and the cold can cause the pressure to drop in the tyres.
The correct tyre pressures can be found in the workshop manuals or operators handbooks for the model of your tractor. We offer workshop manuals and operators handbooks in English but also in a range of other languages including French Arabic, Finnish, Italian and Spanish. The manuals that are not in the English language are genuine Leyland manuals – once they are gone, they are gone!. See here for our full range.
Fan Belt
The fan belt and water system would be a good thing to check as we come towards winter. You should check that there is sufficient tension on the fan belt and replace it if necessary. We offer a range of fan belts, but it can be quite tricky to decide which one you need, so if you are unsure just give us a call and we can help you decide. For example, on a Leyland 154 tractor there are two different fan belts. We used to think it was as simple as alternator or dynamo, but we now know that the fan belts differ depending on the size of the crankshaft pulley. If the pullet is 7 ½” diameter you need part number 13H6869. If the crankshaft pulley on your Leyland 154 is 6 ¼” then you need fan belt part number 13H3348.
When you check the water pump is not dripping. Also, check that the water hoses are in good repair and are not perished. Again, here at Tractor Spare Parts, we can offer a full range of water hoses for your BMC engine or Leyland engine – just follow your tractor model through our Parts by Manufacturer section of our website and if you are unsure, do not hesitate to get in touch and we can help you.
Oil Levels
It is a good idea to check the oil levels in your tractor before winter work. Not only is it not nice to have failure during a job, it is 10 times worse if it is cold and rainy and you just need to get the job done before gets dark. Checking oil levels in the engine, hydraulics and gearbox and power steering pump can save a lot of downtime.
Winter Ready
It is just a really good idea to prepare for the winter work on your tractor.* By checking a few basic things you know that you and those around you will be safer and you can have peace of mind that your vintage Leyland tractor will help you through those jobs in the worst of the weather. While this blog does not cover every single check you may need to carry about before winter, it is a very good start point.
Spring will soon be here!
