A new guide is highlighting some of the hidden causes of agricultural machinery downtime, and its solutions might surprise you.
From loose fittings to worn parts, some of the biggest causes of lost time in the field can start with small, easily missed maintenance issues.
While adhesives and sealants may not be the first things that come to mind when a tractor, combine or loader is out of action, the guide from LOCTITE sets out how the right products can help tackle everyday problems such as leaks, loosening, corrosion and wear before they turn into more serious stoppages.
For farmers and contractors, a small fault at the wrong time can have a big impact. A loose threaded fastener, leaking hydraulic fitting, worn keyway, failed flange seal or poorly prepared bonding surface may look minor in the workshop, but in the middle of harvest or drilling it can mean lost hours, repeat repairs and added pressure on already busy teams.
George Hickey, Market & Customer Activation Manager for LOCTITE, said: “Farm machinery works hard, often in tough conditions and at times of year when every hour matters. The guide is designed to show how small maintenance details, from sealing a fitting properly to stopping a fastener working loose, can make a real difference to keeping equipment running when it is needed most.”
The LOCTITE range featured in the guide includes threadlockers for securing and sealing threaded assemblies against vibration, loosening, corrosion and seizure, thread sealants for hydraulic systems, pipework and fittings, retaining compounds for bearings, keyways and cylindrical components and liquid gasketing products for flanges exposed to fluids, gases, operating temperatures and pressure.
Specific applications identified in the guide include cylinder head studs, diesel injectors, timing covers, fuel line sealing, gearbox casing bolts, torque converter sealing, transmission shaft keyways, axle studs, pneumatic brake system conductors and differential cover gaskets. The portfolio also includes products for cab glass bonding, surface cleaning, gasket removal, light lubrication and emergency maintenance.
The guide is available to download now for farmers, contractors and machinery maintenance teams looking for practical ways to reduce avoidable downtime and keep equipment working when it matters most.
