# Compact Multi-Functional Tractor Maintenance Tips

Most people don't maintain their own tractors, notes Joel Hicks, product line manager for Kioti tractors. The owner's manual provides a maintenance schedule, but he says if you're working in dusty conditions, you should shorten the maintenance intervals. However, he recommends paying attention to key points such as whether tires are visibly flat, rust around bolts, collapsed gaskets, tire leaks, and bird nests forming when the machine sits unused for extended periods. "Do a visual inspection," Hicks advises. "Walk around the tractor before getting on. Check tire pressure, the coolant recovery tank for leaks, oil levels, lift the hood to check fluids, and clear away debris before parking." He also suggests using compressed air to blow debris off the grille and radiator. One issue with compact tractors on hobby farms is that operators may not use them enough annually to reach maintenance thresholds. John Deere offers a Smart Connector attachment that connects the tractor via Bluetooth to the Equipment Mobile app, which displays machine information such as engine hours and can read service intervals from the operator's manual. According to marketing manager Mark Davey, for those who want to at least perform basic maintenance on their tractors, "At John Deere, we design our tractors for easy maintenance, and the information in the operator's manual guides you through proper maintenance throughout your ownership." According to Lena Bioni, marketing manager at Ag North America, New Holland tractor owners enjoy the industry's longest oil and air filter change intervals at 600 hours (the industry average is 400 to 500 hours). She notes that you can conveniently access engine and transmission fill points from ground level.