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Ownership, Business & ReviewsTool Inventory for Tractor Owners
A tractor owner without the right tools spends a lot of time driving to town. A modest, well-chosen kit handles most routine work and keeps small problems small.
Key points
- Buy quality basic hand tools that match your machine's fasteners.
- Stock the service items the manual calls for, and use specified fluids.
- Use jack stands, rated chains and proper recovery points, never a jack alone.
- Keep a tool list with photos, and call a mechanic for hydraulics, brakes and steering.
What basic hand tools should every tractor owner have?
Start with the tools you will reach for most, and buy decent quality. Cheap tools break at the worst moment and can injure you.
Match the tools to your machine. Check your operator's manual to see whether it uses metric or standard fasteners, or a mix.
For a farm shop, add a torque wrench in the sizes your manual calls for, and use the torque figures from your manual rather than a guess.
- Socket and ratchet set, with extensions
- Combination wrenches
- Screwdrivers and pliers, including locking pliers
- Adjustable wrench and a good hammer
- Pry bar and a set of punches
- Tape measure and a flashlight or headlamp
What service items belong in the shop?
Keep the items you need for routine maintenance on hand, so a service does not become a trip. Use only the fluids, filters and parts the manufacturer specifies for your machine.
Store fluids in labeled, sealed containers, and keep them away from heat and children.
Keep a log of what you used from the shelf so you remember to restock before the next service.
- Grease gun and the right grease for your machine
- Oil filter wrench and drain pan
- Spare filters for fuel, air, oil and hydraulics as the manual lists
- Funnels and clean rags
- Spare belts, pins, shear bolts and fuses
- Battery terminal brush and a battery tester
What safety equipment should you keep with the tractor?
Safety gear belongs where you work. A fire extinguisher, first aid kit and phone signal plan are basic. Wear eye protection, gloves, hearing protection and sturdy boots for most jobs.
Store a fire extinguisher at the shop door and another near where you park the tractor. Check its gauge and the date on its tag.
Include a spare pair of eye protection and gloves near the work area, so a visitor or helper is not tempted to work without them.
Which jacking, blocking and lifting tools do you need?
Never rely on a jack alone. Use jack stands or blocks rated for the load, on firm level ground, and follow the manual's lift points. Never work under a machine held only by a jack or a loader.
Use chains and straps rated for the job, and inspect them before each use. If a task needs lifting beyond your equipment's limits, stop and hire it done.
Wheel chocks belong in the kit too. They are inexpensive and prevent runaway machines on slopes.
What recovery and trailer gear should you keep?
Stuck tractors and flat trailer tires happen. Keep rated chains, a tow strap meant for the purpose and a way to hook up safely. Pull from the right points, as the manual describes, and from the front or hitch point meant for it. Never pull a stuck tractor from a high point, because it can flip backward.
Add a trailer jack, wheel chocks, a spare tire for the trailer and a lug wrench that fits.
How do you organize and track your tools?
Keep a written or digital list, with photos and serial numbers on valuable tools. It helps with insurance claims and with remembering what you own. A pegboard, a roll cart or labeled bins keep tools easy to find.
Return tools to their place after each job and clean them. A tool you can find in thirty seconds gets used, and a lost one gets bought twice.
Spend a little time each season cleaning and oiling hand tools to keep rust at bay.
When is a tool not enough and you should call a mechanic?
Some jobs need training, special tools or safety knowledge. Hydraulic pressure, brakes, steering, fuel injection, charging systems under load and structural welding are examples. Stop and call a qualified mechanic or the dealer service department.
Never check a hydraulic leak with your hand, because fluid under pressure can penetrate skin and cause serious injury. Follow the manual and manufacturer procedures for every task.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.