ELMER DELOS SANTOS ABE 423 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Laboratory Exercise No. 2 ‘TRACTOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE |. Introduction The introduction of tractor vehicles (tractorisation) into agriculture has grossly increased engineering involvement in agriculture and hence the choice of equipment acquisition, hazards prevention programme and increased maintenance activities. In today’s agricultural industry, system automation and remote sensing applications with guided technologies are now being employed in the field of agricultural production. The introduction of mechanical power and advanced technologies into agricultural production system has revolutionized this age-long industry. Agricultural tractors operate in a poor and most unpleasant environment, and as such must be adequately maintained in order to effectively perform their desired functions. As a result, maintenance and repair programme has become inevitable. The serviceability and reliability of any machine in performing its desired function depends so much on how much of the maintenance practices that are observed in operating such machine. I. Objectives At the end of each laboratory exercise, the students must be able to: 1, Operate the tractor and identify each control needed for its proper operation. 2. Perform necessary preliminary checks and conduct appropriate maintenance of the tractor. IL Materials Available tractor in your home or at your area, measuring tools, reference books, catalogs, and manuals. IV. Methodology 1. Inspect the available two-wheel/four-wheel tractor. Consult the operator/owner and identify the machinery's primary parts and functions. 2. Perform some measurements and consult available materials/brochures to properly identify the machinery specifications based on the standards, e.g., PAES (indicate PAES No.) 3, Interview the operator on how the equipment is operated. If possible, try to operate the tractor with the assistance of the operator/owner. Determine the different adjustments or checks before operation and list all maintenance procedures being conducted by the operator/owner after the operation 4, Discuss the procedures on evaluating the available machinery's performance referringto standard tests and procedures (PAES Standards). 5. Discuss and assess how the machinery is operated and maintained, compare and evaluate the operator's procedures based on PAES standards. \V. Results and Discussions General description/operation/function of the machinery inspected Document yourself while operating the tractor; if possible, take a picture showing the machine's parts. Label each part and list its function. Specification of the tractor inspected Standard Method of Test (PAES No. 119:2001) 5 Tests and Inspection 5.1 Verification of Manu! turer’s Technical Data and Information 5.1.1 This investigation is carried out to verify that the mechanism, main dimensions, weight and attachments of the tractor conform to the list of technical data and information submitted by the manufacturer."512° White checking the dimension MMMM 5.1.2.1 the tractor must be standing on a hard horizontal surface. Dimensions of length and width are then measured on horizontal lines and those of height on vertical lines; and 5.1.2.2 unless otherwise stated, the tractor must be stationary with its wheels or tracks and ‘components in the positions they would be in if the tractor was to travel ina straight line, 5.1.3 The items to be inspected and verified are given in Annex A. 5.2 Laboratory Performance Tests 5.2.1 PTO performance test 52. 1 Test conditions The torque and power values in the test report shall be obtained from the dynamometer bench without correction for losses in power transmission between the power take-off and the dynamometer bench. In all tests, the shaft connecting the power take-off to the dynamometer shall not have any appreciable angularity. The use of an exhaust gas discharge device must not change the engine performance. 5.2.2 Hydraulic lifting force and power Tractors without a lifting system and/or without a hydraulic service coupling remain eligible under this test Standard However, the design of these tractors shall be specified in the test report5.2.2.1 Test conditions The hydraulic fluid shall be as recommended by the manufacturer. The governor control lever shall be set for maximum power. At the start of each test, the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in the tank shall be measured. A pressure gauge shall be fitted immediately next to the external tapping of the tractor. The tractor shall be so secured that the reactive force of the power lift deflects neither tires nor suspension, The linkage shall be adjusted in the same way both with or without the coupled frame to achieve typical arrangements as follows: a, the linkage shall be adjusted in accordance with the tables in ISO 730-1. For those tractors which do not achieve the standard power range, the lift force will be measured at the maximum achievable power range; b. the upper link shall be adjusted to the length necessary to bring the mast of the frame vertical when the lower links are horizontal; ©. where more than one upper or lower link point is available on the tractor, the points used shall be those specified by the manufacturer and shall be included in the test report; d where there is more than one attachment point to connect the lift rods to the lower links, the connection points used shall be those specified by the manufacturer and shall be included in the test report; e. these initial adjustments, as far as possible, shall cause the mast to tum through a minimum of 10° from the vertical to the angle at which the frame is in the uppermost position. If this is not possible, the fact shall be stated in the test report; and £ the oil pressure shall be checked during the test.5.2.3 Drawhar power — ballasted and unballasted tractor 5.2.3.1 Test conditions 5.2.3.1 Tire sizes This test may be carried out on one oF more scts of tires of different sizes, and the several results included in the test report. 5.2.3.1.2 Test track ‘The tests at the drawbar shall be conducted according to the following regulations in order to provide reasonably comparable results in all countries The tests shall be carried out on a clean, horizontal, and dry concrete or tarmacadam surface containing a minimum number of joints. Tractors that are not suitable for operation on conerete or tarmacadam surfaces, such as steclwheeled or steel-tracked tractors shall be tested on flat, dry and horizontal, mown or grazed grassland, or on a horizontal track having equivalent adhesion characteristics. A moving track (treadmill) may also be used subject to the condition that results produced are comparable to those obtained on the surfaces mentioned above. The type of test track shall be clearly stated in the report. $24 Turning area and turning circle $.2.4.1 Test conditions ‘These measurements shall be made on a test track. The wheel tread setting shall be as specified by the manufacturer, The tractor shall be unballasted and moving slowly at approximately 2 kin/h. 5.2.4.2 ‘Test procedure Tests shall be made with the tractor tuming right and then turning left without using the steering brakes. Four-wheel-drive tractor with disconnectable front-wheel-drive shall be measured with front-wheel drive disengaged, ‘Tractors which have front and rear steering wheels and which have devices for disconnecting the steering of one or both axles shall be tested in that configuration which provides the smallest radius. Other steering combinations ean be tested at the option of the testing station, For track-laying tractors which can turn on the spot and thus have no measurable turing circle, the radius of the turing area only shall be reported. This shall be the distance from the center of rotation to that point on the tractor that describes the largest circle,5.2.5 Position of center of gravity The test conditions and procedures outlined in ISO 789-6 may be used to determine the position of the center of gravity of the test tractor. This shall be determined with full tanks and the driver replaced by a weight of 75 kg on the driver's seat, the tractor being otherwise unballasted ‘The items to be measured and recorded are given in Annex F. 5.2.6 Braking test This test may be omitted for track laying tractors which are not suitable for operation on the road. 5.2.6.1 Test conditions ‘The performance of service braking devices shall be based on the mean deceleration calculated over the stopping distance. ‘The stopping distance shall be the distance covered by the tractor from the moment when the driver begins to actuate the control of the device until the moment when the tractor stops. The performance of the parking braking devices shall be based on the ability to hold the tractor stationary, facing up and down slopes. 5.3. Field Performance Test 5.3.1 This is carried out to test the field performance of the tractor under plowing or rotary tilling operations. $.3.2 The test shall be carried out on a dry or wet field where the soil type, dimensions, soil moisture content, soil resistance, shape and other conditions are to be recorded, Pre- and post: operation maintenance procedures (Operator/Owner vs. PAES standard) VI. Conclusion and Recommendations A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining oF construction. Most commonly, the term is used to describe a farm vehicle that provides the power and traction to mechanize agricultural tasks, especially (and originally) tillage, but nowadays a great variety of tasks. Agricultural implements may be towed behind or mounted on the tractor, and the tractor may also provide a source of power if the implement is mechanised. VI. ReferencesFarm Tractor Systems: Operations and Maintenance. Retrieved at https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/275642331_Farm_Tractor_Systems_Operations_and_Maintenance Tractor. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tractor PAES 119: 2001 Agricultural Machinery ~ Four-Wheel Tractor ~ Methods of Test. Retrieved from _ htps://amtec.ceat.uplb.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PNS-PAES-119-2001- Agricultural-Machinery-Four-Wheel-Tractor-Methods-of-Test.pdf