Text Box: Tune-ups:   We offer tune-up specials that include filter and fluid change, operational and safety checks, deck service, sharpening the blades, greasing the deck and tractor, inspecting and adjusting belts and levers, and much more for one low price. Pickup & Delivery Service:   Can't bring your tractor in? No problem we offer pickup and delivery service. We find that most "come to your home and fix-it shops" charge you more just to get there and take longer because they don't have all the tools or parts they need, In the end, they cost more and take longer because they have to come back. Ed's Tips:   Ed, our service manger, always has a few good tips to prevent you from having to service your tractor and here are just a few. Remember there is no substitute for your owners manual, please consult it before attempting any repair or service. Fuel systems    Mower Maintenance   Batteries   Engine   Washing Tractors Why perform a tune up?           When you store your equipment for more then one month, taking the fuel out of the tank is not enough, this still leave some fuel in the carburetor. By adding a fuel stabilizer to the fuel, you will prevent varnish and keep your equipment running like new. After testing several different fuel stabilizers by storing fuel for two years and then using it, Ed recommends the Briggs and Stratton fuel stabilizer and fuel conditioner. By far it, was the best at preventing varnish and the fuel conditioner helps your tractor all year around. Ed suggests using it in every tank of fuel. What happens if you do leave your fuel in during storage. Most of the time you will have to remove the old fuel and if your lucky that's it. Often though, the entire fuel system will have to be flushed, filters replaced, carburetor cleaned, and spark plugs replaced. You can also try a trick we use sometimes when getting varnish out of a tank, if the tractor will run. Sea Foam is a product that helps remove varnish from fuel systems. Simply take out the old fuel and add Sea Foam and new fuel to the tank. Then run the tractor for several hours. Sometimes this all that is need but, if not, it will still help remove varnish from the fuel system. Do you know the two easiest way to get dirt in the fuel system? One is when you are putting fuel in the tank and the other is though a broken fuel cap. To fix the latter is as easy as replacing the fuel cap. When you're putting fuel into your tractor, you should always clean the area around the cap so dirt doesn't fall in. Then when adding fuel, use  a funnel with a screen to prevent any dirt from the gas can getting into the fuel tank. Remember if you use a steel fuel can, over time it is possible rust will form in the can. This rust then can end up in your fuel tank.Lastly, if you have ever looked in your gas can you will often see dirt in the bottom. When filling your tractor never use the last little bit in the gas can so the dirt will stay in the can and not get in your tank. If you need a funnel, gas cap, or plastic fuel cans, we keep them in stock. TOP When mowing, grass will often buildup on the underside the deck, this problem becomes worse when mowing wet grass. A mowing deck works like a vacuum, sucking up the grass and blowing out. As the grass builds up, the mowing deck can't suck as much (like a full vacuum bag) and instead of standing the grass up so it gets cut, in simply stays under the blade and pops up later.   To help prevent this, Ed suggests the use of John Deere Slip-Plate. This product sprays on the bottom of the mowing deck like spray paint. It's graphite coating that prevents grass from sticking to the deck. It should be applied when the deck is clean, and reapplied every few months. How important is mower deck service? Well, your tractor without a deck is just a go-cart. There are several things you want to do when servicing a deck. One is grease, grease, grease. Every time you mow, you should grease all the fittings on the deck. When you grease the spindles, or where the blades go, you don't want to over grease them as you could damage the seals. If you grease every time you mow, one to two pumps will be enough. Why are there so many different types of grease? Ed says that's because grease is used in a lot of different ways. A grease made with Polyurea is good for bearings. Greases with a Lithium or Moly base are better for sliding parts such as pins. We carry all three types of grease and will be happy to select the right one for you. Lastly, when serving your deck, you can easily check your spindles and blades. To check your spindles you can do two things.  Slowly spin the pulley. It should turn freely and without making noises. If it doesn't, it should be repaired. Secondly, carefully holding the blade, try to move the blade up and down from the tips. If the blade moves up and down, the spindle should also be repaired.  Blades should be inspected to make sure they are not bent and the ends are not split. If the blade shows any of these problems they should be replaced. Decks also need to be leveled, not only side to side but front to back. Most deck require that the front of the deck is slightly higher then the back TOP Tractor batteries are different than car batteries, Ed says everyone should understand that tractor batteries tend to shake more, are used less often, and have must less power than your average car battery. A battery designed for tractors will last longer if you take care of it. He stresses that if you need to jump start your equipment,  you check your operators manual to see if it recommended, then make sure your vehicle is not running. As that it can cause damage to your tractor electrical system. Fluid film is a product that provides a protective coat to battery terminals and connections to prevent corrosion. At the store we joke that Ed would eat it if he could. If your tractor has ever been here for service, it has been sprayed with some. It can be used as a rust inhibitor or as lubricat. It is also a good idea to charge your battery with a small charger during storage, or at least start your equipment about once a month and let it run for 10 to 15 minutes to charge up the battery.  When charging your battery remember that small batteries should be charged at low amperages to prevent damage to the battery. TOP When it comes to any engine, oil is it's life blood. Ed reminds us that cars and tractors run differently. Generally, a car is only under load part of the time (when your pressing the gas), a tractor on the other hand is under load most of the time (When mower is running as example). This makes the motor oil even more important, as the engine is working harder. You should use a tractor grade oil if possible. This is most important with air cooled and diesels engines. In air cooled engines the oil is the only cooling and sometimes filtering that the engine has. Diesel engines run generally dirtier than a gas engine (ever see a tractor belch black smoke) and they have their own special oil designed to help suspend more contaminates.  TOP Power equipment is not designed to be washed with power washers. Unlike your car which has a shell that covers all the electrical and moving parts, your tractor doesn't. It is best if you can use compressed air to blow off your equipment and if you have to wash it use a garden hose and a rag. When you're done washing it, dry it off with an air hose being careful not to drive water into seals and electrical connections. If you don't have an air compressor, run the tractor for several minutes after washing it, to allow the water to shake off the equipment. TOP So, why should you get a tune-up? There are lots of reasons the most is to protect your investment and have it perform like it was new. A tune-up should not just be changing oil, but an inspection of all the moving, safety and operational parts of the equipment. It will find small problem and prevent them from becoming big.  There are other advantages such as better fuel economy and cleaner emissions.  TOP  

Pickup & DeliveryTune-upsEd's Tips

Home
What's New
Who Are We?
History
Equipment Sales
Building Sales
Parts Department
Service Department
Questions
Directions
Used Equipment