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Hay, Forage & Livestock EquipmentTMR Mixer Maintenance
A total mixed ration mixer works hard every day, so small neglected items turn into poor mixing, feed waste and breakdowns at the worst moment. A simple routine keeps it dependable.
Key points
- Do a walk-around before every feeding.
- Inspect knives, augers and wear plates on the schedule in your manual.
- Use only the fluids and fasteners the manufacturer specifies.
- Lock out the tractor every time you enter or clean the tub.
- Send gearbox, hydraulic and structural repairs to a qualified shop.
What daily checks does a TMR mixer need?
Before each feeding, walk around the machine. Look at the driveline shield, the hitch pin and safety chain, the discharge door and any hydraulic hoses. Look for leaking oil, hanging parts and anything caught in the tub from the last load.
Check the scale indicator reads zero on empty and that the display and load cells look undamaged. A scale that drifts gives you an inconsistent ration, which defeats the point of owning a mixer.
- Shield and driveline guards in place and turning freely.
- Tub empty of leftover wet feed.
- Door latch and hydraulic lines in good shape.
- No fresh oil under the gearbox or around the wheels.
How do you inspect knives and augers?
Knives dull and wear unevenly, and dull knives mean longer mixing time and poor chop of long hay. Inspect them with the machine off, the tractor locked out and the key removed. Check for cracks, chips and loose fasteners. Wear plates and auger flighting should be examined for thin spots.
Replace or rotate knives according to the manufacturer's guidance in your manual. Use the correct parts and fasteners. Welding repairs on augers or floors are for qualified welders, because poor welds can fail under load.
How often should you grease and change gearbox oil?
The correct intervals depend on the model, so follow the lubrication chart in your operator's manual. Grease the driveline, bearings, door pivots and any other fittings as listed, and wipe fittings clean first so you do not push dirt into a bearing. Check gearbox oil levels with the machine sitting level, and use only the fluid the manufacturer specifies.
Milky or dark, gritty oil points to water or wear. Do not keep running the machine. Drain, find the cause and have the gearbox inspected.
What should you watch for in chains, bearings and the driveline?
Some mixers use chains or belts for the discharge conveyor or the drive. Check tension and wear per the manual, and keep guards in place. Listen for new noises such as grinding, squealing or knocking, which usually mean a bearing or gear has started to fail.
A worn or damaged PTO shaft is a serious hazard. Inspect the shaft, shield and telescoping tubes, and replace damaged parts rather than working around them. If the shaft binds, vibrates or the clutch slips, stop and have it checked.
How do you clean a mixer between feedings?
Leftover feed spoils, freezes in winter and ferments in summer. Empty the tub as completely as you can after each load. Cleaning inside the tub means a full lockout: tractor off, key out, PTO stopped, and a warning tag on the controls so nobody starts it while you are working.
Never climb into a tub or reach through the discharge while anything is running. If material is packed against the augers, use a tool designed for the purpose and wait for all movement to stop.
When should you call a shop instead of fixing it yourself?
Routine greasing, fluid checks and bolt tightening are owner jobs. Gearbox rebuilds, hydraulic repairs, structural welding, auger replacement and scale calibration are better handled by the dealer service department or a qualified mechanic. Hydraulic fluid under pressure can penetrate skin, so never check a leak with your hand, and let a professional deal with a burst or weeping hose.
What should you watch for as the mixer ages?
Wear shows up as slower mixing, uneven batches and leftover feed that will not discharge. Those are usually signs of dull knives, thin flighting or worn floor plates, and fixing them early costs less than letting them destroy the parts around them. Compare how long a batch takes today with how long it took when the machine was new.
Also watch the tub itself. Cracks, patches and soft spots near the wear plates can let moisture in and weaken the structure. A tub with questionable welds should be looked at by a qualified welder before the next heavy load.
Whoever does the work, keep a short written log of dates, parts and odd sounds. It helps the dealer service department diagnose faster and gives a future buyer reason to trust the machine.
Sources and further reading
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