The tillage season is over, and your trusty Hydraulic Reversible Plough has done the hard work. Now comes the equally critical task of preparing it for the off-season. Improper storage is the fastest way to accelerate wear, encourage rust, and guarantee costly downtime next spring.
Treating your plough—especially a high-performance implement like the Shakti High Tech Mount—as a valuable investment is key. Following these proper storage techniques will maximize its lifespan and ensure it’s ready for peak efficiency when you need it next.
- The Critical First Step: Cleanliness is Non-Negotiable
Soil, especially sticky clay, holds moisture, corrosive fertilizer residue, and chemicals. Leaving it on the plough is an open invitation to rust.
- Remove All Residue: Use a pressure washer or strong jet of water to meticulously remove all mud, soil, and crop residue from the frame, beams, and linkage. Pay close attention to the areas around the mouldboards and the headstock pivots.
- Thorough Drying: Allow the plough to dry completely before moving to the next steps. Storing a damp plough, even under cover, traps moisture against the metal.
- Rust Prevention: Protecting Bare Metal
The bare metal surfaces of the working parts—the shares, mouldboards, and landsides—are the most vulnerable to oxidation.
- Grease the Working Surfaces: Apply a generous layer of rust-inhibiting grease, heavy oil, or a specialized anti-rust paint to all bare metal components. This protective film seals the metal from air and moisture. Note: If storing outdoors, some farmers use a thick coat of used engine oil mixed with grease.
- Touch Up Paint: Inspect the main frame for any chipped paint that has exposed bare steel. Sand these spots lightly and apply a coat of rust-inhibiting primer and paint.
- Hydraulic System Safeguards
The hydraulic system is the most expensive and complex part of the reversible plough. It requires special attention during storage.
- Clean and Retract Cylinders: Clean the chrome hydraulic cylinder rods thoroughly. If possible, retract the cylinder rods fully before parking and disconnecting the hoses. If the rods must be exposed, wipe them down with hydraulic oil or a thin film of grease to prevent pitting and corrosion.
- Cap the Lines: Disconnect the hydraulic hoses from the tractor. Immediately cap the open ends of the hoses and the tractor's quick-couplers using plastic plugs or clean caps. This prevents dirt, dust, and moisture from entering the hydraulic system, which can cause internal damage and seal failure.
- Lubrication and Inspection
Storage time is the perfect time for detailed maintenance that prevents friction damage next season.
- Grease All Pivots: Locate every grease nipple (zerk) on the headstock, linkage pivots, and depth wheel. Pump them full of fresh, clean grease. This purges any old, moisture-contaminated grease.
- Check and Loosen Tension: If your plough uses a hydraulic reset system or shear bolt assemblies, ensure they are clean. For components held under high spring tension, consult the manual to see if the tension should be slightly relieved during long-term storage (though this is less common on hydraulic reset models).
- Ideal Storage Location
- Indoor is Best: Store the plough indoors in a dry, covered shed or barn, away from corrosive materials like fertilizers or chemicals.
- Lift Off the Ground: If storing outdoors is unavoidable, park the plough on wooden blocks or concrete supports, never directly on bare earth or wet grass. This prevents moisture from wicking up into the frame and mouldboards. Cover the implement with a breathable tarp to shield it from direct rain and sun.
By investing just a few hours in proper cleaning and protection, you ensure that your high-quality implement, such as the Shakti High Tech Mount plough, is fully protected against the silent enemy of corrosion and ready to go when the soil conditions are right next tillage season.
