While compact tractors can help landscape professionals tackle more work with their versatility and efficiency, they won't be able to do so if they're not properly maintained.
Joel Hicks, associate product line manager, Kioti Tractor, Jonathan Widmer, senior product specialist at Bobcat Co., and Beau Woodbury, product manager, subcompact and compact tractors at Kubota Tractor Corp., offer a few tips to help landscape pros avoid costly downtime.
1. Make sure operators read the manual.
"It’s important to spend some time going through the machine's operator’s manual, regardless of the manufacturer. This will help you better understand the machine’s full capabilities, in addition to how and when it needs to be maintained. Proper maintenance intervals are crucial to ensuring the machine’s longevity." – Woodbury
2. Stay on top of maintenance schedules.
"Anything from general inspection, fluid and filter changes, it's important to have a plan for maintenance. Of course, some folks may choose to do the maintenance themselves, but if they choose not to do certain tasks themselves, they have the benefit of being able to go to their local dealer." — Widmer
3. Be aware of how usage may change maintenance schedules.
"It really boils down to what kind of usage a machine is getting. If it's a 500-hour machine, you want to follow the maintenance schedule set out in the owner's manual. Typically, you probably see two oil changes a year, and, depending on how dusty it is, air filters and certainly fuel filters." – Hicks