Spring is fast approaching, and soon, your hydraulic reversible plough will be facing the immense stresses of primary tillage. After months of storage, a detailed pre-season inspection is mandatory. This isn't just about spotting broken parts; it's a strategic process to ensure maximum efficiency, minimize fuel consumption, and guarantee zero unplanned downtime when the weather window is open.
Following this ultimate check-up guide ensures your equipment, like the reliable Shakti SS plough, is field-ready.
- Structural Integrity Check: The Frame and Linkage
The main frame bears the entire load and must be sound.
- Inspect for Cracks: Examine all welded joints and high-stress areas (especially near the headstock and where the tines attach to the main beam) for hairline cracks. These often start small but can lead to catastrophic failure under load.
- Check the Headstock: Inspect the mounting brackets and pins that connect the plough to the tractor's three-point linkage. Ensure there is no excessive wear or play, which would lead to instability and poor tracking.
- Verify Fasteners: Go over the entire plough and tighten every nut and bolt. Focus particularly on the shear bolt assemblies and the flange bolts that hold the plough bodies together.
- Wear Parts Assessment: The Soil-Engaging Components
Worn wear parts are the biggest thief of fuel efficiency.
- Shares and Points: Check for excessive rounding or wear. If the share is worn down to the point where the soil is contacting the moldboard or the frog, replace it immediately. Starting with sharp shares ensures the plough penetrates easily and minimizes draft.
- Moldboards: Inspect the surface for deep grooves, pitting, or thin spots. A rough or grooved moldboard increases friction, consuming more HP and leading to poor soil inversion. If the profile is compromised, replace the moldboard to ensure a clean flip.
- Landsides: The landside provides lateral stability. Ensure it is not excessively worn. A thin or damaged landside will cause severe side draft and put unnecessary twisting strain on the frame.
- Disc Coulters (If Equipped): Check the sharpness and rotation of the coulters. They must be able to freely cut through trash and stubble to prevent clogging. Replace dull or bent coulters and ensure their bearings are greased.
- Hydraulic System Readiness: The Power of Reversal
The ability to flip instantly is the core value of your plough. The hydraulic system must be flawless.
- Hoses and Fittings: Inspect all hydraulic hoses for cracking, chaffing, or leaks. Look for dry rot or abrasions near fitting connections. Replace any hose showing signs of failure.
- Cylinder Rods: Fully extend and retract the hydraulic cylinder. Check the chrome rod for pitting or corrosion that may have occurred during storage. Wipe clean. Any visible pitting means seals may fail, causing drift.
- Clean Couplers: Before connecting to the tractor, clean the quick-release couplers on the plough and the tractor. Dirt is the enemy of hydraulics, causing immediate contamination and pressure loss.
- Test Reversal: Once connected, slowly cycle the plough to ensure the hydraulic mechanism flips smoothly, quickly, and locks securely in both working positions.
- Final Alignment and Lubrication
Don't wait until you are in the field to discover alignment issues.
- Check Leveling: Attach the plough and check that the frame is level both side-to-side and front-to-back while on a flat surface. Adjust the top link and lift rods accordingly.
- Lubrication: Locate every single grease zerk (nipple) on the headstock, main pivot points, and depth wheel bearings. Pump them full of fresh, clean grease. This purges old contaminants and ensures smooth, friction-free operation for the entire season.
By performing this thorough pre-season check-up, you protect the robust engineering of your implement, like the Shakti SS plough, ensuring maximum reliability during the critical tillage season.
