We see all sorts come through the workshop, from well-looked-after, showroom-condition tractors to others that are, well, less showroom-condition. We get it. Tractors are workhorses, tools that make everyday jobs easier. And in fairness, most of those workhorses are looked after reasonably well.
But one simple job is often overlooked: greasing.
A quick check over with a grease gun can make a huge difference. It’s not a magical cure, and it won’t stop parts from wearing forever, but regular greasing does slow wear, protects seals, and significantly extends the life of key components, saving downtime and costly repairs further down the line.
Recently, we had a Kubota M5111 with a front loader in our workshop for servicing and repairs. While carrying out the service, our technician lifted the front axle to change the oil in the final drives. That’s when excessive movement was noticed, along with a steering joint that was very close to failing (Something you definitely don’t want to discover while travelling down the road).
With the front axle lifted, the components were stripped down for inspection. It quickly became clear that a lack of regular greasing had allowed dirt and moisture past the seals. Over time, this had caused severe wear to the bushes and swivel pins. The wear was so bad that the swivel casting itself had been damaged, and both sides would need to be replaced. At this stage, simply fitting new bushes would have been pointless.
This is where preventative maintenance really proves its value. The constant pushing, lifting, and turning required for loader work significantly increases the load on the tractor’s front axle, steering system, pivot pins and bearings, making regular maintenance essential. Regular greasing and inspections would have significantly slowed the wear. Instead, what could have been a straightforward maintenance job turned into a much larger and more expensive repair.
Preventative maintenance doesn’t just save money, it improves reliability, reduces downtime, and keeps machines safe to operate. A few minutes with a grease gun can genuinely make the difference between a machine staying productive or ending up off the road and in the workshop.
