Whether you're a hobby farmer, a homesteader, or a farmer with a larger farming operation, your tractor or tractors are an essential part of keeping your operation going from year to year. But for a tractor that's only used seasonally, how you store it in winter can be a crucial maintenance aspect. Where it's stored, what maintenance tasks you perform before leaving it there overwinter, and what you do to get it ready again before using it in the spring are all part of this issue. Here are some tips to help you keep your tractor safe and healthy over the winter when you're not using it.

Preparing for storage

This may be the most crucial time. Your tractor's condition can deteriorate if you don't correctly prepare it for storage. You'll need to perform all the usual preparations that you'd do before storing any machine long-term (such as changing the oil, checking spark plugs and filters, draining fuel, and disconnecting the battery) and then take special precautions such as storing the tractor on blocks so the tires won't be damaged by the temperature changes in the ground.

During the storage period

Make sure you store your tractor in an area where it won't get rained or snowed on. It doesn't have to be a heated area, but shielding the machine from precipitation and UV rays can be very effective at reducing the damage your tractor incurs over the winter. And after you've disconnected the battery, be sure to store it in a heated area during the winter rather than storing it with the tractor.

Getting it out of storage

Before you start up the tractor in spring, be sure to give it a thorough examination. It'll need to have its fuel bowl and carburetor bowl cleaned, and you'll need to re-insert the battery and refill the tractor with fuel. You should also check for any small animals that may have made your tractor their home during the winter and clear their nests out of the way if you find any. Then, simply check the tractor over for any other damage that may have accrued over the winter, check the fluid levels, and you should be good to go.

These tips will help you prepare your tractor for storage, store it safely over the winter, and get it back out of storage in the spring while minimizing the damage that's likely to occur during the winter. Contact a company like Big Springs Equipment for more care tips for your farm equipment.