The change of season brings not only the cold months, but also conditions that require proper preparation and maintenance of agricultural machinery.

The aim of winter preparation and maintenance is to protect machinery and equipment, to prevent corrosion during storage, and to ensure that when spring arrives our machines are ready for use at the right time. To this end, we have included some useful tips, without wishing to be exhaustive:

The first essential step in paint stripping is always a thorough cleaning. First of all, the first thing to do when winterizing a machine is to remove all the dust that has accumulated on the machine, especially on the electrical parts. This can be done with a high-pressure washing system using hot or cold water. For oily and greasy parts, an emulsion wash with chemicals is recommended.

After cleaning, do not neglect caring for the machine. Check the oil level and top it up if necessary. Lubricate and grease points with an appropriate lubricant.

Loosen belt tensioners on combine belt drives to prolong their service life. Replace worn paint on parts of tillage and earthmoving equipment and lubricate with oil or grease to prevent corrosion.

As far as possible, find a closed, ventilated and covered place to store the machine during the winter. Preferably keep the machine away from crops, fertilisers and seeds during the winter months. This is especially important to ensure that the valuable machine is kept away from unwanted rodents and the risk of rusting.

For safety reasons, diesel is drained from the machine tanks to prevent the paraffin contained in the diesel from precipitating. Machines equipped with SCR systems must be started once a month during the winter to avoid crystallisation of the Adblue additive. Store stored Adblue in a place protected from frost. Finally, remember to disconnect the machine properly, clean the batteries removed from the machine and store them in the designated place.

In any case, it is advisable to know the quantity and freezing point of the antifreeze and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

It is always best to read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before starting to winterize and carry out the necessary operations accordingly.

In addition to machines, it is also a good idea to empty sprinklers, irrigation devices and garden taps so that they do not freeze and cause problems in the spring.